Located in close vicinity to each other stand two of western Canada’s most remarkable buildings: The Empress Hotel and the British Columbia Parliament Building. If you’re coming to Victoria this winter, take the time to visit one or both of these architectural marvels. Don’t hesitate to ask our friendly and helpful staff for directions to these nearby buildings.
The Empress Hotel was designed by Francis Rattenbury for Canadian Pacific Hotels as the terminus hotel for Canada Pacific’s steamship line. Although originally planned as a travel hotel for the wealthy, eventually, as Vancouver eclipsed Victoria as a departure point for international travel, the hotel remade itself as a tourist destination in the salubrious climate of southern Vancouver Island. The hotel resembles many hotels of its era found in other Canadian cities designed in the Edwardian Chateau style. A fine treat is to take afternoon tea at the empress, which costs only $60!
After seeing the empress head only a few steps south to the British Columbia Parliament buildings. This stately yet idiosyncratic neo-baroque building offers free tours year round. Interesting sights are a statue of Queen Victoria on the front lawn as well as a gilded statue of British colonial explorer George Vancouver atop the highest dome of the building. For information about visiting the parliament buildings, click here.
Welcome to Victoria BC, our province’s capital city with a small town feel. If you’re coming to Victoria to see some of its fine architectural sites this holiday season, book a room at the BEST WESTERN Inner Harbour Hotel in Victoria. We’re located just a stone’s throw away from the Empress and the B.C. Parliament. We look forward to welcoming you at our spacious and comfortable Victoria hotel this winter.
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Surrounding Christmas, everything is firing on all cylinders, and life during that time becomes a slightly exaggerated version of itself; homes are brighter, spirits uplifted, waistlines more generous. So fervent is the Navidad tornado, most of us are readily swept up in its’ spiraling magnetism. Though amidst all the hoopla, it’s imperative not to let the materialism of the holidays take center stage, and to remind oneself that the true essence of Christmas lies within expressing appreciation to your loved ones. There is no better token of gratitude than the gift of time, so spend yours wisely with friends and family at these spirited events in Victoria:
1.) Heckler’s Presents-Darryl Lenox feat. Ivan Decker, Dec.02- Speaking of modern-day Christmas being far removed from its’ intrinsic roots, it also has a tendency to be a great source of stress for many; beating the lines, finding that perfectly combinative gift of practicality and sentiment. Before resorting to that generic gift card, why not kill two birds with one stone: alleviating your holiday-induced anxiety, and proving in gift form to a good friend that laughter is in fact, the best medicine. Darryl Lenox (featured on Conan O’Brien and hailed as being ‘The best comic under 30 in Canada’) will be bringing down the house at Heckler’s Bar & Grill, for a ticketed price of $20 per person.
2.) 23rd Annual Festival of Trees, until Jan.06- With the same area of our brain that houses cognitive memory also being the center for scent, sensory smells are a trigger point for recollection. No more synonymous a scent correlation with Christmas is that of tree needles; Pine, Cedar, Douglas species that give off an almost intoxicating aroma and make us feel instantly festive. Come unlock the memories of Christmas’s past at this fragrant festival at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria. Hundreds of lush trees will be draped in bedazzling lights and décor, and all donated proceeds (no admission cost, and all donations are at the viewer’s discretion) will be donated fully to the BC Children’s Hospital.
3.) Flamenco Hoy, Nov.29-Dec.01-Flamenco is one of the oldest and most expressive forms of dance; textured emotions conveyed in a glance, or the sweep of a skirt. So gifted are the crafters of this art form, that watching them evokes inspiration in onlookers to implement such dedication to the talents in our own lives. Presented by the dancers of The Flamenco de la Isla Society, this seduction set to music will grace the stage in support of the art of Flamenco on Vancouver Island of the Berwick Royal Oak theatre or an admission price of $22 per person.
Set your priorities over the holidays this year to be about reconnecting with family, and leave the rest in our capable hands. At our luxurious downtown Victoria locations: the Best Western Plus Inner Harbor, and the Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza, we’d be honored to align all the pieces of the puzzle in place, so that all you and your family have to do is enjoy each other’s time.
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“The sweet science” is about to get even sweeter, as Fight 4 the Cause returns to Victoria on November 22. The event, which is hosted by the Victoria Conference Centre’s Carson Hall, is an amalgam of philanthropy and amateur boxing. Yes, the evening will pack a truly positive punch, as its proceeds support a number of local charities.
This year, there are four beneficiaries. First, there’s The Brazilian Cultural Foundation, an organization whose focus is the promotion of Brazilian culture, and the creation of economic opportunity on Vancouver Island. Next, is The Victoria Fire Fighter’s Charitable Foundation, an organization helmed by local fire fighters who (as if they don’t do enough already), aim to promote health, welfare, and community spirit in Victoria. Then, there’s the Help Fill a Dream Foundation, whose goal is fulfilling the dreams of young people with life-threatening illnesses. Last but not least, is Tanelle’s Journey, a campaign to support severely injured Lethbridge-local Tanelle Bolt. All worthy causes, to say the very least.
Fight 4 the Cause’s November return will be its third event— a testament to its past success and perennial popularity. More of a numbers person? Well, since its conception, the charity boxing organization has raised a whopping $36,000 dollars for local charities. Unless you’re Bill Gates or Oprah, that’s a serious chunk of change.
Is boxing not your cup of tea? Well, worry not. The evening’s 15 amateur contests will be interspersed by an array of additional attractions. Last year, that included performances of capoeira (provided by The Brazilian Cultural Foundation) acrobatics, and of course, fantastic food for those in attendance. And while evening’s tempo will be kept by a metronome of jabs and uppercuts, the black eyes will be outnumbered by black ties. Yes, Fight 4 the Cause is a formal affair, so dress to impress.
Admission prices for this glamorous evening depend on table sizes, but start as low as $45.00 for single seats. Considering the perks, that’s some real bang for your buck. And best of all, the Victoria Conference Centre is just a stone’s throw from a number of our hotels. It’s in walking distance of our Carlton Plaza and Inner Harbour locations!
So why not get comfortable in on our rooms, treat yourself to a night of hard-hitting excitement, and affect positive change at the same time? That’s a winning combination, ladies and gentlemen, just like the job-hook-cross.
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Music transcends, music mentors, music unifies. In place as the culmination of an epic summer, for your listening pleasure comes Rifflandia Music Festival, highly regarded as Canada’s mini Coachella. After all, what is life without a soundtrack?
This concert series will draw thousands to Victoria over September 11-14 to occupy Royal Athletic Park, and a variety of other selected venues throughout downtown Victoria. With the park serving as the nucleus around which the party happens, each venue surrounding the epicenter will radiate the sound waves in concentric circles, permeating all corners of the town. Quaint Victoria by day, come nightfall the treble and bass will be turned up during concert show times ranging from 8:30pm until approximately 1:00am.
The showcase of adept artists featured at this year’s festival span the entire musical spectrum. With these modern times perhaps representing arguably the most exciting period for music, with no boundaries or limitations in sight, the crème of the innovative crop will add theirs to give Rifflandia it’s collective voice this year. Not to be circumscribed by conventional genre labels, some of the most noteworthy acts that will be stepping outside the circle to bring you their ingenuity are: Death Cab for Cutie, Zeds Dead, and Dragonette.
With such an effervescent festival comes a variety of ways to soak up its light. Tickets have been categorized to offer all inclusivity, VIP treatments, or day-specific entrance.
We know that a weekend long musical festival isn’t for the weak of heart; for any such endeavor, adequate rest and relaxation are imperative to keep the beat going. Luckily, facilitating your relaxation happens to be the Best Western area of expertise. At our prime downtown Victoria locations, the Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza and the Best Western Plus Inner Harbor, we’d be honored to play a role in enhancing your getaway weekend.
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It might not be that surprising discover than Vancouver Island has a number of amazing local markets that locals and visitors flock to. Here are some of the best and most eclectic that you can check out around the Island!
Every Wednesday from 11-3 and Saturday & Sunday until December 31
Local farmers, food producers, craftspeople and artisans all join at The Hudson on Douglas Street to share their local goodies. Enjoy this market in Victoria’s quaint downtown right through until the end of the calendar year!
Every Tuesday until September 9
Enjoy this beautiful oceanfront farmer’s market in the idyllic coastal town of Ladysmith (only 12 minutes from our Best Western Plus Chemainus location)! Enjoy a picnic in the park fashioned entirely from what’s for sale at the market! A wide variety of foods, goods and knick-knacks will be for sale.
1st and 3rd Sunday of each month until December 30
This year-round local market features local art, crafts, produce, baked goods and more. Hosted at the charming Little Red Church in Comox.
Wednesdays until October 14
Now in its 8th year, this Nanaimo farmer’s market celebrates local, sustainable food production. Musical entertainment, and lots of friendly local vendors make this a fun, lively community event every Wednesday! All food is grown within a 50 mile radius of Nanaimo!
If you want to explore Vancouver Island and check out some of these farmers markets, then you’re in luck! With 12 Best Western Vancouver Island locations throughout the island, you’ll never be far from an exquisite and affordable hotel experience regardless of where you end up! Pick a destination and book a room today!
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Our two Penthouse Suites were recently completely re-designed and are now truly luxurious suites each with a unique and elegant style, not to mention offer the BEST view. Both top-floor Penthouse Suites include the additional sleeping area in the living room with a queen sized sofa bed, wood burning fireplace, vaulted ceilings, a full kitchen and dining area. Each Penthouse suite also has a wrap around patio that features priceless panoramic views of Victoria’s scenic Inner Harbour, James Bay area and beyond to the Juan de Fuca Strait!
One Bedroom Penthouse
The One Bedroom Penthouse continues the relaxed less formal island experience with authentic, natural live edge reclaimed wood furniture in the bedroom, dining room and living room. Even the art relates to what is natural. The separate bedroom has a pillow-top king bed and flat screen TV. The living room offers a reclining leather chair to read or daydream, a large leather couch to stretch out on, a fireplace, and, the most incredible panoramic view of the Inner Harbour. The One Bedroom Penthouse suite measures 840 square feet in size.
Two Bedroom Penthouse
Our Two Bedroom Penthouse was designed with a comfortably elegant global approach. From a contemporary crystal chandelier hanging over the French style dining room table and chairs to a modern leather reclining chaise to oversized upholstered headboards in both bedrooms. Add the combination of new artwork and elegant lighting and you will be at home anywhere in the world. The master bedroom has a pillow-top king bed, walk-in closet, flat screen TV, and en suite bathroom with soaker jetted tub. The second bedroom has a pillow-top queen bed with flat screen TV and there is also a second full bathroom. The Two Bedroom Penthouse suite measures over 1,150 square feet.
Check out all the photos of each Penthouse in our Photo Gallery and in our Virtual Tours, at www.victoriabestwestern.com. Our well-appointed Penthouse Suites book up well in advance. For rates and availability please call our Victoria BC hotel directly at 1-888-383-2378 or check out our on-line reservation tool.
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There's usually no better way to beat the summer heat than to head to the water. And while swimming, surfing, and even beachcombing are all activities that one can find no shortage of on Vancouver Island, there's a simple, majestic and truly Canadian alternative: canoeing. There is often no better way to explore a body of water than by the tranquility of a canoe. While Vancouver Island may be surrounded by the unpredictable currents of an ocean, there are a number of inland lakes that offer all sorts of excellent canoeing opportunities. Here are some spots that locals love:
Elk/Beaver Lake
Located near Victoria, this spot is popular with tourists who flock here to swim, paddle, windsurf and more. A favourite getaway for Victoria locals, don't be surprised if you see Olympic rowers and kayakers training on its peaceful waters!
Cowichan Lake
This warm-water lake is popular with summer outdoors enthusiasts. A number of lakeside parks and sandy beaches make it a favorite for both locals and tourists who wish to have a quick swim or enjoy a picnic lunch.
This spectacular canoeing lake features impressive limestone cliffs. Guided paddle tours (and also tours of the nearby Horne Lake caves) are offered during the summer months.
Comox Lake
Just outside of the Courtenay/Comox region lies Comox lake, a beautiful multi-use recreational area that is a prime spot for a canoeing day trip.
Feel like heading out on the water? Grab some sunscreen, bug spray and your canoe and get out to Vancouver Island to experience some of the best canoeing anywhere. And chances are that no matter where you end up, a Best Western Vancouver Island location will be close to you! Book your stay at any of our 12 island locations today!
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As any good Canadian knows, July 1st is Canada Day. There are all sorts of Canada Day Events going on all over the island—here are some events to watch out for!
Victoria
Victoria Celebrates Canada Day 2014
Downtown Victoria’s Canadian pride will be on full display as it kicks off July 1st with live music and special Canada Day events such as the Living Flag and A Flavour of Canada. Canada Day Fireworks get underway at 10:20 pm. Full Schedule Here
Old-Time Penny Carnival @ The Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum celebrates Canada Day will host a variety of activities within the historic buildings on their grounds. Participate in a good old-fashioned egg-and-spoon race or try your hand at the fishing pond. And don’t forget to bring your old pennies!
Chemainus’ Canada Day will feature all sorts of activities: a petting zoo & pony rides, a bouncy castle & other kids games, live music, food and more! Festivities get underway at 11:00 am in downtown Chemainus.
Nanaimo
Downtown Nanaimo turns red and white for a day of patriotic fun. Opening ceremonies start at Maffeo Sutton Park at 11:00 am. Afterwards, enjoy the Multicultural Food Fair and other interactive street booths. Live entertainment will also be going on all day!
Celebrate Canada Day in cool Tofino style. Celebrations take place in the Village Green and feature food, beer gardens, live entertainment and the Tuff City Skateboard competition! Stick around for fireworks in the harbor once it gets dark.
With so many great Canada Day options around Vancouver Island, it might be hard to choose just one! Luckily, the world’s largest hotel chain just so happens to have hotels in each of the cities mentioned above, so regardless of where you end up spending Canada Day, you’ll know that you can look forward to modern, affordable accommodations.
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It is thought that an integral part of achieving and sustaining overall contentment lies in establishing a strong connection with Mother Nature. In Tofino, we are no strangers to this, our personal mantras being to shape our lives around the pristine and idyllic backdrop in which we are so fortunate to live. Come and join us for these vivacious upcoming events, and experience the rejuvenative power of the outdoors for yourself.
Tofino Shorebird Festival, May 2-4: Life is beautifully dynamic, juxtaposing the life cycles of all the species that inhabit the World. Every year through this time, a plethora of sandpipers, Whimbrels, and countless other shorebirds punctuate their long journey from South and Central America toward the Arctic with a rest and feeding pit-stop right here in Tofino. For attendees, this festival is a perfect opportunity to bear witness to the synchronization of season and species, and to broaden their knowledge on the topic with a series of activities, workshops, and lectures offered at the festival.
Special Class SUPYoga, May 30: Yoga has been such a long enduring and ever-expanding art form because it promotes reciprocity between body and mind, a kinship that maximizes body awareness and mental clarity. With the progressive new direction fitness these days is taking, many practices offer fusions of various styles. This class, offered by Tofino Paddle Surf and SUP Vancouver, is one such hybrid, integrating the ancient art of yoga into the modern recreation of paddle boarding! It is open to all abilities of yoga, with basic paddleboarding skills and preregistration required.
RIP Curl Pro Tofino, May 31-June 1: Every great place has a defining characteristic with which they are synonymous, and in Tofino, we are proud to be Canada's crown jewel of surfing. Sanctioned by the Canadian Surfing Association, and the largest competition of it's kind in Canada, this tournament will make champions out of prevailing men and women in a variety of Pro, Master's, and Junior surfing and longboarding divisions.
At the Best Western Tin Wis Tofino, we are excited about where we live, and want to share the beauty of Vancouver Island with you. Make selecting one of our comfortable and affordable rooms the first step in creating your perfect getaway
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Photo courtesy of www.destination360.com
It’s the perfect time to hit the big—or should we say biggest—screen in Victoria. Victoria’s IMAX Film Festival is currently underway, with 6 amazing films gracing the IMAX screen over a calendar month from March 21 – April 21. Festival passes are $36. And with showings of all six films twice every day, you’re more than likely to get your money’s worth! Here’s a look at the films that are playing:
Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk
Running Time: 45 minutes
Adrenaline rush explores two separate types of risk-takers: those who boldly push science further than it’s ever gone before and those who are willing to perform extreme physical feats for the purpose of pure adrenaline. These two worlds collide when world-renowned parachutist Adrian Nicholas tests Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous parachute invention.
Adventures in Wild California
Running Time: 42 minutes
Become one with California’s wild as you slip down ice slopes, fly with skysurfers, swim with otters and much more. You’ll be thrust into the middle of the action in this fast-moving film!
Dolphins
Running Time: 39 minutes
Plunge under the sea to swim with various dolphin species in different corners of the globe. You’ll learn about how they communicate, see how they eat, and join them in their play in this fascinating look at one of nature’s most intriguing animals.
Majestic White Horses
Running Time: 38 minutes
Discover the incredible life of the Lippizans horses of the Vienna Riding School. Watch them develop from young foals to proud members of the world’s most prestigious riding school.
Penguins
Running Time: 39 minutes
Visit a special King Penguin as he returns to Penguin city, an island heavily populated by penguins and other wildlife in the sub-Antarctic. Follow this one penguin as he struggles to provide for his young and fight the elements.
D-Day: Normandy 1944
Running Time: 45 minutes
Relive one of the most important battles in World War II. Audiences of all ages will learn about the history and significance of this momentous moment in modern history.
Are you in southern Vancouver Island and want to catch IMAX show or six? Luckily, Best Western Vancouver Island has FOUR locations within an hour’s drive, including two within Victoria itself. Come stay with us for quality, affordable accommodations.
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