Things to do in Victoria on the weekend?

[calf]

Hey CP -

I'm finding myself in Victoria over the weekend (currently here for work). Naturally, I don't want to be cooped up in the hotel (staying downtown). Does anyone have any recommendations on stuff to do? I don't have a car at my disposal, although I could get one if I absolutely have to...but am looking more for quick/cheap/easy things to do around town.

Thanks!

[SteveToms]

If your looking for some good food your in luck, there's a lot of great places downtown. I'll try to find some of the names for you.

[calf]

Sweet - thanks! Walking around, there's definitely no shortage of places it sees. I've already discovered the awesomeness of Alli Babba's Pizza. Wow.

[redforever]

If you walk around the harbour by the Empress and the Leg Buildings, there are many microbreweries, lots of beer to sample.

Try some of the B&B's in that location for some great meals. They have a top notch museum close to the Empress and harbour, they change their exhibits much like the Glenbow does.

If you just want to walk along the ocean, head to the southern tip, there is a park where Cook landed.

And on the east side, you can walk all the way to the top of the highest hill or whatever, I think it is called Mount Baker, and get a great view of the surrounding area, kindof north somewhat of the old Oak Bay Beach hotel. This hotel has a pub that is worthy of spending some time at too.

[flames_fan13]

I haven't been to Victoria in a while but the parliment buildings there are pretty good to check out, went on a tour in highschool and was probably my favourite part of the field trip. If you like gardens and don't mind travelling outside the downtown core there's Buchart gardens but that might be a little pricey, I think there's a bus that can take you there as well. I've never been there but working in the hotel industry in vancouver it's one of the most popular destination for Victoria and have heard nothing but good stuff about it, but then again it is usually from elderly people going on cruise ships.

Some friends liked the wax museum, if you like seeing statues of some historians made out of wax it might be a good idea to check it out. Personally though it didn't really interest me.

[enthused]

Go to the Sticky Wicket for a drink... or several! That was my favourite place when I was living there.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Irish Times pub is the nicest pub I've ever been to. Great food, cute staff, and something like 100 beers. Live celtic style music at night on the weekends too.

[fatso]

Ya Sticky Wicket was my suggestion too. Is Steamers still open?

[NuclearFart]

I second the parliment building tour, its pretty good and runs like every half hour from the front of the building. Also take a wander around the chinatown, theres a whole bunch of hidden/historical alleyways

The whale watching that leaves from the inner harbour is kind of overated in my opinion.

A good vegetarian restaurant is ReBar. The best French restaurant is "Brasserie l'ecole".

[troutman]

Seniors and blow

[Aeneas]

Miniature World!!!!!
Always my first stop in DT Victoria.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by troutman

Seniors and blow

Nice, I did a spit take on that one.

[Boblobla]

Hitchhike to Calgary?

[Kipper is King]

Eat at Chandler's. Even though it's in the touristy part by the harbour, the food there is so good, especially the grilled salmon. I eat there whenever I'm in Victoria.
http://www.chandlersseafood.com/

I could spend a whole day at the museum!
The petting zoo in Beacon Hill Park is cool if you like to get molested by peacocks and goats...

[North East Goon]

Barb's Place for some damn good Fish and Chips.

[Circa89]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Barb's Place for some damn good Fish and Chips.

Is that the one on Fisherman's Wharf. If so that is pretty cool. Eat some fish and chips, feed the seals and check out the floating houses. If the weather is nice grab a cab down to Willows or Cadboro beach and chill and check out the scenery.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by fatso

Ya Sticky Wicket was my suggestion too. Is Steamers still open?

No, Steamers closed earlier this year. Which is a shame because Central Bar and Grill closed last year, so the number of venues for live music in this town got cut in half.

Places to eat in Victoria
QUICK:
Noodle Box - south east asian take-away noodle bar, 2 locations downtown, Fisgard St (chinatown) and Douglas St (Near the Empress)
Rising Star Bakery - Soups and sandwiches, Broad St between Yates and Johnson
Hernandez - Authentic Latino food, the best Tacos in Canada guaranteed. Located in the breezeway mall between Yates and Fort st. Entrance next to the Fido cell-phone dealership on Yates.

SIT DOWN:
Ferrises' Oyster Bar - Brilliant oysters, great pastas. Bottom of Yates St.
Pagliacci's - Phenomenal pasta, really utterly phenomenal pasta. Broad St between Broughton and Fort.
Garrick's Head Pub - Awesome simple pub, usually uncrowded too. Bastion Square.
Canoe Brewpub - Fantastic food, one of the best patios in town. On the water, bottom of Swift St. Try the Espresso Stout.
Futaba - Incredible sushi and sushi here in Vic is amazing. Corner of Quadra and Pandora.
Mole - Best breakfast in town. Expect to wait if you're here for the weekend. Pandora, south of Government St.

Things to do:
Beacon Hill Park - Nice, big urban park with a couple of duck ponds, a petting zoo, and a cricket oval. South of downtown.
Harbour Ferries - Tiny little passenger boats that will run you around the inner harbour and up the Gorge Waterway. Also will run to one of two great places to eat - Spinnakers brewpub, Glo bar and Grill.
Chinatown - The oldest, and smallest, Chinatown in North America. Also visit the narrowest street in North America, Fan Tan Alley. Fisgard St.
Fairfield/Rockland - Beautiful residential area, old, old houses great area to walk around, stop at the Moka House for coffee. Fairfield and Rockland streets and south.

Coffee:
Habit - This is the only coffee shop you need to know about. Best coffee in town, locally owned, collaborated with Canoe on that Espresso Stout I was telling you about. Next door to Mole on Pandora.

Shopping:
Johnson St - Most of the best shopping in town, guys or girls - clothing, shoes (look for Baggins shoes at the back of a short breezway) and a row of comic-book stores. Johnson st, south of Douglas.
Government St - More touristy shopping, but some good places. Munroes is the best book-store in town and Decade clothing is good, urban fashion.

Avoid:
Irish Times - Over priced beers, only for the tourists.
Bay Centre - It's just a mall, you have those back home and they're bigger and better.
The Empress - Everything is overpriced, rooms, food, tea, etc.

[BuzzardsWife]

My son and I used to go to Victoria when he was little just because he loved the buskers, he used to say he wanted to be a busker when he grew up. They are always on the promenade and some are actually good. It's free anyway. The Empress lobby is impressive. If you want the most amazing Shrimp croissant there is a place on Gov street, the very end towards the Empress, can anyone help me out here?? I heard of this place on a show about the best sandwiches in North America. There must be a pound of shrimp on this croissant

[driveway]

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

My son and I used to go to Victoria when he was little just because he loved the buskers, he used to say he wanted to be a busker when he grew up. They are always on the promenade and some are actually good. It's free anyway. The Empress lobby is impressive. If you want the most amazing Shrimp croissant there is a place on Gov street, the very end towards the Empress, can anyone help me out here?? I heard of this place on a show about the best sandwiches in North America. There must be a pound of shrimp on this croissant

I know the place you're talking about, but I can't remember the name. The sandwiches there are good, really good. It's hard to miss - bottom of Government, just up from the Empress, empress side of the street. Only sandwich place anywhere near there.