Oh Happy Day !!
Take a couple of days to experience not only an overnight stay in downtown Victoria BC, but a 2-3/4 hr mini cruise that takes you there on a "state-of-the art" high-speed catamaran.
The ferry-hotel specials include both the ferry from Seattle to Victoria plus one nights’ accommodation in a downtown Victoria hotel - all for under $600.00*
The ferry travels though the Salish Sea which is home to seals, sea birds and 3 resident Orca pods. Since the birth of 2 baby Orcas last year, the pod numbers have increased to 75 !
On arrival in to the Inner Harbour, you disembark on the Harbours south shore in front of the BC Parliament Buildings and the BC Royal Museum.
The 5 start Hotel Grand Pacific & the Pendray Inn and Tea House are opposite the ferry terminal, and the famous Empress Hotel sits at the head of the Harbour .
Only a few minutes walk from the ferry terminal, the shopping along both Government & Douglas Street begins. Numerous art galleries & craft shops, clothing shops and fine china shops serve to entice visitors to take advantage of a strong US dollar.
Also close to the Harbour is Beacon Hill Park. Here one can watch peacocks spread their spectacular tails & laugh at the little goats as they stand on their roof tops & beg for a treat. Beacon Hill park is where Victorians go to feed the ducks.
Victoria is located on Vancouver Island and is the capital city of British Columbia. Many people describe the city as a "wee bit of Old England. "
That description is a little less accurate today, but in the past, the city was reputed to be more English than the English.
Hanging baskets, high tea and numerous shops selling British woolens, Scottish tartans, Irish linens and yummy British confectionaries serve to preserve the "English" feeling in this capital city.
Just 45 minutes from the city is the world famous Butchart Gardens - 55 acres of fabulous gardens started back in the 1800s by Jenny Butchart.
The land was once a cement quarry but 115 years ago Jenny Butchart began what is now recognized as one of the "Great Gardens" of the world.
The "Gardens" provide almost a million visitors each year with the ability to not only enjoy the horticultural experience of what is now a National Historic Site of Canada, but to also visit the gift shop to purchase experience reminders, (more often referred to as souvenirs); or to snack on a scone or other bakery treat in the casual Blue Poppy.
To enjoy a more serious meal or plan a special celebration, one can make a reservation for in The Dining Room at the gardens.
Once you visit Victoria, you will be enticed to visit again and again.
The ferries to Victoria from Seattle, from Vancouver and from Port Angeles operate year-round and because of the Islands temperate climate, every season on the Island holds special appeal
For more information on booking one of the high-speed ferry /hotel packages, email info@ferrytravel.com or call 1-800-686-0446.
* hotel prices rise depending on available vacancies so always try to book a hotel/ferry package special as spoon as you know your travel dates.