The Malahat Highway on Vancouver Island Offers the Ultimate Route for a Memorable Weekend Road Trip

The Malahat Drive is widely considered as one of the scenic roadways in Canada. If you want enjoy a leisurely weekend drive and simply soak in the breathtaking view of the southern part of Vancouver Island, Malahat lives to deliver its promise of a wonderful trip.

All Geared Up for a Pleasant Drive

With the pressures and demands of daily life, it has been quite awhile since I had a chance to enjoy a trip, all without the worry of arriving on time. When I finally got a chance to schedule one last weekend, I naturally brought along by camera to capture a few landscape shots. For those who have not tried this route, the pictures will easily tell you what you have been missing.

The Malahat Drive starts at the Goldstream Park, which is located on the northern part of Victoria on Highway #1. To tackle the Malahat, you need to travel up towards the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. The reason why this particular route is able to afford a scenic view is the fact that the road is constructed hugging the seaside mountains, and gradually carves through the thick forests of Arbutus, Douglas Fir, Red Cedar and Maple.

Enjoy Some of the Most Breathtaking Views of the Island

There are a number of lookouts and rest stops along Malahat, not to mention a string of wonderful accommodations for people planning a weekend getaway. The Malahat Drive provides an overlooking view over the Saanich Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands, which I can easily say is one of the most spectacular views you can find anywhere on the island. If you have scheduled a full day of adventure, it’s a good idea to check out the Goldstream Park before you head out. It features a nature center, which you might want to check out as well.

If you are wondering about the interesting name Malahat, it is actually named after the Malahat First Nation. This is a beautiful rugged region made up of steep cliffs and heavy forests on the northern regions of Victoria. The Malahat Drive climbs towards a summit of approximately 356 metres (1, 156 feet), which ends up just south of Mill Bay.

Popular Viewpoints

To fully appreciate the views, make sure to check out the strategic rest areas and stopping points along the Malahat Drive, which offers magnificent views of the Saanich Peninsula, the Saanich Inlet, Saltspring Island, Victoria International Airport, BC Gulf Islands and the Mount Baker in Washington State from a distance.

• Goldstream Provincial Park – this is known as the camper’s paradise, which is especially busy during the month of November for the annual salmon spawning run. You can enjoy nature walks and trails and a leisurely lunch at the picnic grounds. If you are feeling up to it, hike up Mount Finlayson, which is about 413 metres (1, 375 feet), which offers a beautiful view of the Finlayson Arm along with the surrounding Victoria area.

• Spectacle Lake Provincial Park – if you fancy a few hours of fishing and canoeing, enjoy a few hours roaming around the park. The lake is teeming with rainbow trout, which you can easily see from its crystal clear waters.

• Bamberton Provincial Park – if you prefer to enjoy lunch on the terraced slopes situated above the beach, then this is the perfect rest stop for a picnic. The place presents a quiet retreat, with the warm waters ideal for a quick dip.

Tips for Enjoying the Malahat Drive

• Make sure to schedule the trip on a fine weather, when it’s not raining. Fog will most likely cover the views during cold weather conditions.

• Make sure your vehicle is equipped with all-season tires when traveling during winder since the road conditions are expected to be slippery.

• Expect traffic delays during the summer season since there are a number of tourists who also want to enjoy and share the roadway.

• The best time to fully enjoy the spectacular views is on a clear evening, especially when the full moon rises above the mainland.

• The ideal way to travel back to Victoria is the Niagara Creek Hike.

Accommodations

If you are planning a visit to Victoria, ensure a comfortable stay all throughout your vacation. There are a number of great accommodations available around Victoria, including one of our sponsors, BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Downtown Victoria Hotel:

BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Downtown Victoria Hotel

642 Johnson Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W1M6

Phone: (800) 663-7241/(250) 388-5513 | Fax: (250) 388-5343

Email: reservations@bestwesterncarltonplazahotel.com

The Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel is a 3 diamond, award-winning hotel located at the heart of downtown Victoria. It features clean, spacious and well-appointed guests rooms and suites for travelers and tourists looking to find a comforting haven.

Carlton Plaza Hotel is just a few blocks away from a number of popular attractions in Victoria, including the whale watching tours, the parliament building, National Geographic IMAX Theatre, the Butchart Gardens, Antique Row and so much more.

Whether you are staying for business or for pleasure, you are sure to find the perfect place to stay, with hotel staff available to provide 24-hour service.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Hatley Castle is a beautiful National Historic Site near Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. It is a short 20 minute drive from downtown Victoria and is open all year with tours available.

The Castle has an amazing history and is now a university. Decades prior to that it was a military college and before that an estate of the Dunsmuirs who built the Hatley Castle as wells as the Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria.

Breathtaking View of Hatley Castle

The Castle itself from the exterior is quite stunning. The Castle is located on a hill with a breathtaking view especially from the parking lot near the lake. The rolling hills make the whole experience quite beautiful.

A very peaceful and quite place indeed!

The Hatley Castle Gardens

The Hatley Castle and Gardens are a wonderful side trip when you are in the Victoria area. In addition to the historic castle there are five spectacular gardens to walk through and take pictures.

The rose garden is both beautiful and charming. You may even get the chance to meet the gardener who has been there nearly two decades. There is also a formal Italian garden and a large sprawling Japanese garden. Striking peacoks wander about the gardens.

Hatley Castle Tours

Guidend tours of the Castle are available but are not fequent so you need to plan your visit. The guides are very informative and will point out the spaces where scenes from the X-Men series were shot along with the history of the Castle. Queen Elizabeth has visited the Castle twice.

Hatley Castle Specialty Programs

• Afternoon Tea in Hatley Castle - Featuring English tea sandwiches along with pastries, specialty teas and coffees. Reservations required. Minimum 12 people.

• Geocache – an adventure where you can learn how to use a GPS (global positioning system) at Hatley Park. Reservations required. Minimum 10 people.

• Garden Rambling – Explore this beautiful garden by taking a one tour with one of Hatley Park’s gardeners. Small fee of $5 plus admission. Minimum 4 people.

Hatley Castle Conference & Meeting Rooms

Three venues to select from: the Mews Conference Centre, the Quarterdeck and Hatley Castle. Accommodations and catering also available on site. They also have corporate team building events.

• Mews Conference Centre – main floor with a 2,500 sq ft ballroom, lounge and four meeting rooms.
• The Quarterdeck - has banquet space for up to 250 guests – utilized also for banquets, dances and weddings.
• Hatley Castle - 40 room heritage building with old world charm and modern day facilities.

History of Hatley Castle

You can enjoy a one hour guided tour which walks the estate and where you can gain insight into the history of Hatley Castle from the First Nations, Dunsmuir family, Royal Roads Military College and currently the Royal Roads University.

The Hatley Castle is as vibrant as in past with university classes, administration offices and public events.

The mansion was originally build as a home for the Hon. James Dunsmuir in 1908 with a design by Victoria's premier architect, Samuel Maclure based on the English Queen Anne and Elizabethan revival styles of the Edwardian period.

This web site has an excellent description of the Castle’s history.

Contact information

Hatley Park National Historic Site
2005 Sooke Rd., Victoria, BC V9B 5Y2 Tel: 250- 391-2666 Toll free: 1-866-241-0674
info@hatleypark.ca www.hatleypark.ca

Directions to Hatley Castle from Victoria, BC

• About a 20 minute trip - travel north from Victoria on Douglas Street which turns into the Trans-Canada Highway – Highway 1.
• Take exit 10 heading to View Royal-Colwood.
• Follow this to Sooke Road
• Continue on Sooke Road till you see the signs for Royal Roads University & Hatley Park National Historic Site.
• Bus service also available but the walk up the hill is a bit challenging.

Victoria Accommodations

There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Hotel is proud to offer the finest in accommodations and friendly customer service at an affordable rate! The convenient downtown location of this Victoria hotel is ideal for guests visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria’s IMAX® Theater. Butchart Gardens is just a short drive away.

Guests looking for things to do in Victoria will enjoy being close to local attractions, theaters, golf courses, and whale watching expeditions. Favorite attractions also include Antique Row, the Royal London Wax Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.

Contact info: BEST WESTERN Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel, 642 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 1M6, CA. Toll Free: (800) 663-7241 (800) 663-7241; Local: (250) 388-5513 (250) 388-5513; Fax: (250) 388-5343. Email: mailto:reservations@bestwesterncarltonplazahotel.com

Enjoy all that the Victoria area has to offer and please tell your friends.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.

Great Events and Sports at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Victoria BC. The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC), the largest arena in British Columbia outside of Vancouver, is a state-of-the art indoor arena located in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. It is home to the Victoria Royals hockey team. You can also enjoy top caliber sporting events, concerts as well as, trade shows, conferences, figure skating, family shows and more.

Some of the diverse acts that have performed here include: Elton John, Walking with Dinosaurs, Bryan Adams, The Black Eyed Peas, Cirque du Soleil, Sarah McLachlan, Larry the Cable Guy and CATS to name a few.

Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre

• 7,000 seat facility with special club seating
• Kings Feast, a fine dining restaurant
• Retail outlets
• Club lounge
• Meeting space
• Full trade show and conference facilities - 17,000 sq ft
• Excellent acoustics

Victoria Royals Play at SOFMC

Victoria is a hockey town and now has the Victoria Royals who begin playing in the WHL (Western Hockey League)in the 2011-12 season.  They are in the BC Division of the Western Conference.  SOFMC was formerly the home arena of the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL.

The WHL is a major junior hockey league with teams from Western Canada and Northwestern United Stats. Teams play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's National Junior Championship.

Contact Info:
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
1925 Blanshard St,  Victoria BC
www.sofmc.com

Box Office (250) 220-7777
Located near Gate 1 of the building

Victoria Accommodations

There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Hotel is proud to offer the finest in accommodations and friendly customer service at an affordable rate! The convenient downtown location of this Victoria hotel is ideal for guests visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria’s IMAX® Theater. Butchart Gardens is just a short drive away.

Guests looking for things to do in Victoria will enjoy being close to local attractions, theaters, golf courses, and whale watching expeditions. Favorite attractions also include Antique Row, the Royal London Wax Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.

Contact info: BEST WESTERN Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel, 642 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 1M6, CA. Toll Free: (800) 663-7241 (800) 663-7241 ; Local: (250) 388-5513 (250) 388-5513 ; Fax: (250) 388-5343. email:mailto:reservations@bestwesterncarltonplazahotel.com .

Enjoy all that Victoria has to offer and please tell your friends.

Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.