Ariel & Steve's Guidebook

Ariel & Steve
Ariel & Steve
Ariel & Steve's Guidebook

Hiking

Vancouver Island has many great hiking and walking spots!
Just up the road. Our favorite spot for quick hikes. In the winter the under forest shines with ferns, giant cedars and many animal and bird species
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Francis King Regional Park
Munn Road
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Just up the road. Our favorite spot for quick hikes. In the winter the under forest shines with ferns, giant cedars and many animal and bird species
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Thetis Lake
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A wonderful day spot for hiking and swimming. Parking can be intense in the summer so go early. There are many parking lots, it the first ones are full keep going. Hike in to beautiful river swimming holes, clear water and beautiful forest
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Sooke Potholes Provincial Park
Sooke River Road
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A wonderful day spot for hiking and swimming. Parking can be intense in the summer so go early. There are many parking lots, it the first ones are full keep going. Hike in to beautiful river swimming holes, clear water and beautiful forest
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I-French Beach Provincial Park
Juan de Fuca Highway
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Goldstream Provincial Park
Finlayson Arm Road
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A short hike down to a huge wonderful beach. At low tide you can walk way out and explore the shoreline. Great spot for flying kites, summer swims and a beach day
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Witty's Lagoon Regional Park Nature House
4115 Metchosin Rd
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A short hike down to a huge wonderful beach. At low tide you can walk way out and explore the shoreline. Great spot for flying kites, summer swims and a beach day

Food scene

Great Japanese food. Dine in or take out. Owner and operated by the same family for over 15 years. Some of the best sushi in town!
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Ebizo Japanese Restaurant Ltd
604 Broughton St
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Great Japanese food. Dine in or take out. Owner and operated by the same family for over 15 years. Some of the best sushi in town!
Take out only. Fun to sit on the rock and people / boat watch. Pro tip - order online in advance and skip the line.
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Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf St
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Take out only. Fun to sit on the rock and people / boat watch. Pro tip - order online in advance and skip the line.
Victoria’s most classic cozy spot. The best live music in town and delicious American Italian food with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Also their Manhattan is the bomb! Arrive early as the lineup can be long and they don’t take reservations.
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Pagliacci's
1011 Broad St
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Victoria’s most classic cozy spot. The best live music in town and delicious American Italian food with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Also their Manhattan is the bomb! Arrive early as the lineup can be long and they don’t take reservations.
Great vibe, cocktails and shared plates.
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Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar
506 Fort St
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Great vibe, cocktails and shared plates.
You have to try their breakfast sandwich.
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Hey Happy
560 Johnson St
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You have to try their breakfast sandwich.
The best croissants in town! Next level French pastries made with organic ingredients. Grab a pastry and coffee and walk the path to the Selkirk trestle or all the way downtown.
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Fol Epi
398 Harbour Rd
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The best croissants in town! Next level French pastries made with organic ingredients. Grab a pastry and coffee and walk the path to the Selkirk trestle or all the way downtown.
Authentic modern Japanese cuisine in a fun atmosphere.
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Yua Japanese Bistro
622 Fisgard Street
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Authentic modern Japanese cuisine in a fun atmosphere.
Small local spot made from seasonal ingredients.
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Uchida Eatery
633 Courtney St
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Small local spot made from seasonal ingredients.
Authentic soul warming ramen. Serving lunch and dinner.
Ramen Arashi
2950 Douglas Street
Authentic soul warming ramen. Serving lunch and dinner.
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Baan Thai Wok & Bar (Broadmead)
777 Royal Oak Dr
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Perfect date or night out with friends. Cool your own Korean grilled delicious and order cold beer!
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Sura Korean Restaurant
1696 Douglas St
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Perfect date or night out with friends. Cool your own Korean grilled delicious and order cold beer!
Our favorite brunch spot. Get Eggs Benny on a latke! Near willow beach and in estevan village, great spots to wonder and walk.
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The Village Restaurant
2518 Estevan Ave
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Our favorite brunch spot. Get Eggs Benny on a latke! Near willow beach and in estevan village, great spots to wonder and walk.
Local seasonal beautifully crafted food. Stop here after a hike. Reservations needed.
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WILD MOUNTAIN Food & Drink
1831 Maple Avenue South
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Local seasonal beautifully crafted food. Stop here after a hike. Reservations needed.
Fun loving local gay bar and restaurant. Drag shows, good cocktails, night scene
Friends of Dorothy - Victoria
Fun loving local gay bar and restaurant. Drag shows, good cocktails, night scene
No reservations. Fills up so show up 20-30 min before opening to wait in line. 100 percent worth the wait. Mussels and fries, burger, wine, all the good stuff. Especially fun in winter.
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Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government St
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No reservations. Fills up so show up 20-30 min before opening to wait in line. 100 percent worth the wait. Mussels and fries, burger, wine, all the good stuff. Especially fun in winter.

Amenities

Just two minutes from the farm this plaza has most things you need. Quality Foods grocery, Cascadia liquor store, Peoples Pharmacy among others!
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Eagle Creek Village
29 Helmcken Rd
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Just two minutes from the farm this plaza has most things you need. Quality Foods grocery, Cascadia liquor store, Peoples Pharmacy among others!
Our favorite local grocery store! Go for the fresh island grown produce but be sure to check out their meat counter, small nursery and specialty items like our favorite local made salad dressing (Yeshi) and local made tortillas (Maiiz).
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The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer
1286 McKenzie Ave
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Our favorite local grocery store! Go for the fresh island grown produce but be sure to check out their meat counter, small nursery and specialty items like our favorite local made salad dressing (Yeshi) and local made tortillas (Maiiz).

Sightseeing

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Island View Beach Regional Park
3215 Island View Rd
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Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook St
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The Gardens at HCP
505 Quayle Rd
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Esquimalt Lagoon
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Dallas Road
Dallas Road
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One of Victoria’s loveliest neighborhoods. Great spot to grab a bite, walk through Beacon Hill Park and down to Dallas Rd.
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Cook Street
Cook Street
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One of Victoria’s loveliest neighborhoods. Great spot to grab a bite, walk through Beacon Hill Park and down to Dallas Rd.

Activities

A unique experience and an amazing way to see some of the city. This books up quickly so schedule in advance as you can. You pay per person and drive the boat yourself!
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Hot Tub Boat Victoria
450 Swift St
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A unique experience and an amazing way to see some of the city. This books up quickly so schedule in advance as you can. You pay per person and drive the boat yourself!
Great for kids. We love to go here in winter to soak in the tropical air, beauty and admire all the colorful creatures.
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I-Victoria Butterfly Gardens
1461 Benvenuto Ave
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Great for kids. We love to go here in winter to soak in the tropical air, beauty and admire all the colorful creatures.
Fun for kids!
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Victoria Bug Zoo
631 Courtney St
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Fun for kids!
Wonderful floating sauna / hot tubs. Reservations needed. Enjoy their lounge, cold plunge. Night bookings get a beautiful view of the downtown lights!
HAVN Saunas
Wonderful floating sauna / hot tubs. Reservations needed. Enjoy their lounge, cold plunge. Night bookings get a beautiful view of the downtown lights!
Classic and popular Victoria activity. Enjoy high tea at this beautiful spot. Reservations needed.
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Tea at The Empress
721 Government St
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Classic and popular Victoria activity. Enjoy high tea at this beautiful spot. Reservations needed.
World famous show garden
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Izithunzi zase-Butchart
800 Benvenuto Ave
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World famous show garden

Shopping

Fun and eclectic local spots
Our favorite downtown florist - selling candles, perfume and other delights. Great for gifts or special items for your home.
Zingaro floral perfumery
561 Johnson Street
Our favorite downtown florist - selling candles, perfume and other delights. Great for gifts or special items for your home.
Another locally owned spot - amazing teas, soaps and a wonderful spa
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Silk Road Tea
1624 Government St
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Another locally owned spot - amazing teas, soaps and a wonderful spa
One of Victorias best hidden gems. The creation of an Alice in Wonderland mad hatter visionary. You have to just go there. Great spot for finding gifts and goodies to take home for loved ones.
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The Market Garden
810 Catherine St
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One of Victorias best hidden gems. The creation of an Alice in Wonderland mad hatter visionary. You have to just go there. Great spot for finding gifts and goodies to take home for loved ones.
Wonderful selection of local and imported liquor and spirits. Locally owned
Vintage Spirits Liquor Store
653 Pandora Ave
Wonderful selection of local and imported liquor and spirits. Locally owned

Day Trips

Wonderful spots you can get to and from in one day and take in the sights!
Saltspring Island
East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot
Beautifully crafted wine, nice drive up the island. Make a booking at their restaurant for lunch!
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Unsworth Vineyards
2915 Cameron Taggart Rd
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Beautifully crafted wine, nice drive up the island. Make a booking at their restaurant for lunch!
Drive up for a day of swimming snd sightseeing. Book a float on the Cowan river and spend hours lazily floating down on a hot day
Cowichan Lake
Drive up for a day of swimming snd sightseeing. Book a float on the Cowan river and spend hours lazily floating down on a hot day
Float down this tranquil river. Arrive and get your float, they pick you up on the other end and drive you back to your car!
Cowichan River Tubing -Cowabunga Tubes
Float down this tranquil river. Arrive and get your float, they pick you up on the other end and drive you back to your car!