Visiting Victoria, B.C.

Victoria is absolutely beautiful. I have to start by saying that I especially fell in love with Brentwood Bay. While most people choose to stay in downtown Victoria, I opted for the quieter, peaceful part of this Vancouver Island and I am so glad I did. My stay at Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa was the highlight of my entire trip. I have never felt such serenity away from home. Much of that was due to the gracious staff at the Resort, but the scenic views from my private & very large balcony didn't hurt. Everything at this Resort was spectacular. From the welcoming champagne and personal tour upon my arrival, to the relaxing pillow spray at my nightly turn down service, my stay at Brentwood Bay was truly picture perfect.

The heart of downtown and it's main attraction, the Fairmont Empress, are truly impressive as well. Although, not exactly my "cup of tea" (pun intended) for a place to stay, I enjoyed walking around the grounds and taking photos of all the grand events that take place at this monumental landmark. Stunning would be an understatement. A walk through the Empress will leave you feeling like royalty. And yes, I visited the Tea Parlor. As expected, it's fit for a Queen.


My favorite of the many Victorian houses was Gatsby Mansion.  Located in the inner harbor, the Mansion is a beautiful boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant. There are three houses on the property, the Main House (shown here), the middle house, & the Judges house (also known as the Haunted Mansion) It is decorated in Queen Anne style and the beautiful wrap around porch with hanging flower baskets makes this the perfect stop for afternoon tea.

Bastion Square

Chinatown

Fan Tan Alley

My favorite way to get around the Inner Harbor has to be by water taxi. Much like the gondolas in Venice, the water taxis move about the harbor stopping at favorite tourist spots. The best view of the Parliament buildings are from the water and it's a cool and refreshing break from walking. The drivers are friendly and informative and the mere fee of $5 makes NY taxis seem like limousines. Make sure to take one to Fisherman's Wharf. The wharf is lined with floating houses and fantastic eateries like Grilligan's where I had the best Vegan hot dog ever!!

Call me a movie geek but the float houses here reminded me so much of Sleepless in Seattle, I kept wondering why they were in Canada! There is a walkway all the way from the wharf to downtown that is beautifully lined with flowers and waterfalls. It takes about 30 mins to walk it one way but it's well worth it and there are many benches and places to stop and just enjoy the view. My best advice is make sure you explore outside the downtown lines in Victoria. There's more to this Canadian gem than a few government buildings.

 I kept hearing about how Victoria is so much like England that I just had to search out castles. The first one I found was Craigdarroch Castle. Located in the hills above Victoria, the castle was built in the late 1800's. You can tour it's more than 20,000 square feet inside for a $14 fee. It's worth it once you make it to the top circular sky room that has 360 degree windows overlooking Victoria, the strait of Juan de Fuca, & the Olympic Mountains.

Across the strait and through the woods to Hatley Castle we go... Located on the grounds of Royal Roads University, this majestic beauty was completed in 1908. The castle itself may be smaller, but the gardens here are quite lovely. Tours are booked in advance so plan accordingly. You can walk to the water from this castle too so make sure to bring a picnic with you.

Not far from the castle stands Fisgard Lighthouse. It was built by the British in 1860 before it officially became Canadian property. The Esquimalt harbor on which it stands is part of Fort Rodd Hill, one of the most photographed spots of the area. When standing out by the lighthouse, it feels like you're in another world, and all alone. Stay until sunset if you can, you won't be disappointed!

 You can hardly visit Victoria without going to this tiny little place called Butchart Gardens. Okay, it's huge and I could put up about 200 of the most amazing photos I've ever taken but I won't. Instead, I'll share with you my favorite of the MANY gardens here, the Italian Garden. Let me be frank, if you want a picture like this without hundreds of people in it, you better be there first thing when they open and run, I mean walk quickly. All kidding aside, this place is breathtaking. It's on your bucket list, right? Just do it.
If you're up for a different garden adventure, make a stop at The Butterfly Gardens. They are not far from Butchart and you'll be glad you did. I've never seen so many of these fluttering beauties in one place. You have to watch your step here, because they are everywhere! Remember, they live in different climates so it's humid inside their world but oh so gorgeous!


Last, but certainly not least was my visit to Sidney, more commonly known as Sidney by the Sea. A quaint little harbor town, Sidney was the perfect finalization of my time in Victoria, B.C. I shall forever remember this place as the land of flowers & water, both of which can't survive without the other. There is a definite sense of camaraderie on the island here. And in case you're wondering, yes, Sidney does sell sea shells by the sea shore!

Washington Wine Country

Wine Country in Washington is quite different than the wineries found in California. Grapes are grown in regions such as Walla Walla, Columbia, & Yakima but many tasting rooms are located just 30 miles east of Seattle in a relatively small town called Woodinville. The benefit? There are over 50 wineries to choose from and most are within walking distance. If you really want to taste a variety of Washington wines, Woodinville is the place to be.


Woodinville is home to a few big wineries such as the beautiful grounds of Chateau Ste Michelle. One of the few tasting rooms that actually has vineyards, the Chateau is a beautiful spot for a lovely picnic lunch. If you're lucky, you will see some of their gorgeous peacocks running about. Their tasting room also houses one of the best gift shops in the area. And of course the wine here is undeniably good.

     

 With so many wineries to choose from, how do you pick which ones to visit? Well, I did a bit of research first, talked to folks along the way and got recommendations, & at times, I just got plain lucky. The one thing I must admit to is there was not one single wine I tried that I absolutely could not drink. In other words, I was extremely impressed with the quality of Washington wines, coupled with the price, I was purely amazed.

 Trying to comment on all of them well, would make for a very long blog, so I'm going to highlight my top picks. Catapulting to one of my favorite white wines ever has to be Poet's Leap Riesling. One of seven distinct wines from Long Shadows Vineyards, the 08 Riesling from Columbia Valley is juicy, vibrant, & clean. It just leaves your taste buds screaming for more. Receiving a well deserved 94 pt rating from Wine Enthusiast, I'm only wishing I came home with more than 3 bottles. I can confidently say I can't wait to see what this winemaker does next!

My top pick for Reds came as a bit of a surprise, even for me. My visit to the islands not only brought out my adventurous side, but enlightened my admittedly obscured view on where to find the best wines. My first thought would never be an island, let alone a small one off the coast of Seattle known as San Juan... that is until I walked into The Island Wine Company in Friday Harbor, Washington. I was greeted and kindly offered a tasting by the owners themselves. The whites were quite lovely, but the Merlot really got my attention. I had to try it twice in order to believe how complex and rewarding it was. I shipped home a case and it's nearly gone. Enough said.

If you can't make it to all the tasting rooms, check out the Purple Wine Bar. With hundreds of local wines by the glass, you're sure to get some top picks. A few I have to mention are Andrew Will "Mays" Discovery Vineyard 07 Cabernet, Mark Ryan  09 Dead Horse, and any vintage of Gramercy Cellars Syrah you can get your hands on. I could go on and on, but while you're here, you'll need a place to stay...

Welcome to Willows Lodge. The perfect location in Woodinville couldn't be more beautiful. With wooden beams & black iron accents, the lodge has a very rustic and relaxing feel to it. The rooms are quite spacious, and the Lodge has mastered the art of catering to wine lovers.  The Fireside Lounge has many local wines available & two of the areas finest restaurants are located here including the Barking Frog which serves up the best huckleberry pancakes!

Right across the way lies the most enchanting place known as The Herb Farm. A themed wine and food pairing extravaganza, the Herb Farm offers up a 9 course dining experience you are sure to never forget. Make your reservations early because this place is the creme de la creme of Washington. Just wait til you see what's inside....


Spending time in the Pacific Northwest and experiencing such high quality wines made me want to learn more about the industry here. I searched out the perfect learning material and came across this book which is a fascinating read. Cole Danehower has spent a lot of time in the vineyards with the winemakers and I felt like I was right there with him. The book is knowledgeable, resourceful, and entertaining, especially if you're a wine enthusiast. When I first began my Pacific North West wine adventure, I had a similar reaction to Cole, "a typical American wine bias: California was the only real wine country in North America." Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm excited about exploring this territory a whole lot more. Next thing you know, I'll be living there ;)