Captain's Blog
Now this make perfect sense!
The Victoria Harbour Ferries are a fleet of charming mini ferries that travel throughout Victoria's iconic Inner Harbour. You can choose to take short trips to specific destinations, spend several hours hopping on and off at various stops, or stay on board for guided tours. I'm a fan of hopping on and off, because there are many great places to stop for a drink, some delicious snacks, or to take in an incredible lunch or dinner, and you can also enjoy some superb shopping along the way. My first trip aboard a Victoria Harbour Ferry came about because my niece who lived out of town was visiting, and I thought it would be fun to take her on a trip along the harbour. But on that first ride, I was instantly bewitched by the beautiful views, the ocean air, and the various stops that you could visit along the way, so now I find excuses to enjoy a trip aboard a ferry, whether I have guests in town or not!
Some of my favourite stops include:
-Spinnaker's Gastro-Brewpub, which is Canada's oldest brewpub, and remains renowned today for terrific beer and excellent food featuring local ingredients. They have excellent views of the Inner Harbour and the Olympic Mountains as well.
-Reeson Landing, which is steps away from the Lojo District, and a gateway to fabulous boutique shopping.
-Rice Mill Landing, which is one block from Victoria's Historic Chinatown which is my absolutely FAVOURITE part of the city. Victoria's Chinatown is Canada's Oldest, and it's a vibrant and colourful area. Enjoy Dim Sum or dinner at Don Mee, or lunch or dinner at Forum Seafood Restaurant.
-Point Ellice House, which has a beautiful garden that contains some very unique heirloom flowers, trees and vegetables. Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea there, and visit the intriguing historic museum.
-The chic and trendy Glo-Europub, which has one of Victoria's most beautiful waterside outdoor patios, and some great food and delicious cocktails as well.
-Dockside Green which is a new residential development renowned for leading edge sustainable design and principles. Check out Fol Epi Bakery for artisanal breads and pastries which make foodie Victorians swoon. Serious coffee lovers will adore Caffe Fantastico.
-Fisherman's Wharf is a fun stop for Fish & Chips.
-Aura, which is an award winning restaurant and lounge with stunning vistas of the Inner Harbour, and the food and cocktails are equal to the view! It's located within the Inn at Laurel Point. There's also a gorgeous outdoor patio, and it is the perfect destination for drinks or a romantic dinner for two.
Jun 26, 2010 | 0 Comments
We Aim to Please!
Hi. We are back from our 3 day outing to Newcastle Island. We are extremely appreciative of your assistance and especially kind service to our Pathfinders. We enjoyed the camping and exploring on the Island. With our bikes, this was a far more enjoyable experience for our girls.
With such helpful and friendly service from Dick and all the men, we were able to have a much better travel time than we had expected, as we had more gear than originally planned. The girls were ready to pitch in where they needed to, but they were very happy to know the last hike from the boat with the gear was much shorter....a great surprise!
Thank you very much for your contact with us prior to our trip. It made us feel better prepared and welcome!
Thanks,
Susan, Clare, and Tamsin - 7th Crown Pathfinders.
Apr 28, 2010 | 0 Comments
How to create ‘memories’
This is a story about just one of the many people we 'wave' to every day as we pass their homes in our little pickle boats.
Well, another joyous day thanks to one of your ferry captains... I got to Sunset Lodge early today, about 1:45 pm and just as Kathleen and I were walking down to the Gorge along came a harbour ferry so we stopped at the higher lookout and she waved like mad and the captain and all the passengers waved...then we walked on down to the water level and waited for the craft to return, and when it did Kathleen was up again and waving away...this time the captain not only came close by, and he had everyone waving, but he also gave a wee toot on his horn that just brought a radiant smile to her face. She had had a rather tough morning, and she said this whole event had "washed her clean and been like a breath of fresh air." So once again, thank you one and all. The little things in life that can mean so much to someone. Michael
Apr 21, 2010 | 0 Comments
What the Little Boats Do When You Think, They Are Resting - By Valerie Walther
Here's a little poem written by Written Valerie Walther... the wife of one of our Captains.
The little boat chug, chugged away
“My”, she said, “it’s been a long, long day”
People riding to and fro
Some just asking where to go
But now it’s dark, the sun has gone
Captain Bob takes his small charge home
He ties her up and zips her down
Says “Good night”, and then he’s gone
The harbour‘s still
People at rest
The time the little boats
Love the best
Boats are quiet, not much astir
Then there’s a mutter, engines purr
It’s very dark – no one in sight
Ten little boats go out – for the night
What the Little Boats Do When You Think They Are Resting
Apr 20, 2010 | 0 Comments
Save Victoria Harbour
From the Save Victoria Harbour Association
"Developers have an application before the Provincial Government to lease a 6.4 acre Crown Land Water Lot in Victoria's Harbour, effectively PRIVATIZING our public harbour for a mega yacht marina.
This project poses a serious threat to SAFETY and the ENVIRONMENT as well as Riparian Rights and Navigable Waters Act issues. The Harbour is the jewel of Victoria... a hub of recreational, tourist and economic activities... enjoyed by tens of thousands annually. Paddling groups, ferry and sea plane operators, business owners, residents, tourists, Victoria City Council, Provincial and Federal Politician, Community Associations, Environmental experts and former Mayors have all expressed grave concerns over this proposal. A petition opposing eh marina, containing over 7,000 signature, was formally presented to the Provincial, Federal and Municipal Governments."
For more information, go to www.savevictoriaharbour.com
Mar 22, 2010 | 0 Comments