Barbara Ballard Articles
Victoria, BC – The Royal British Columbia MuseumCaptain Cook first encountered them in 1778 on Vancouver Island’s remote, windswept west coast when his ship, wrapped in thick fog, rang its bells. “Nootka, nootka” – cries came over the water through the mist as the aboriginal people in their war canoes warned the ship it was about to crash on the rocks. [...]
Victoria, BC – The Harbour Towers HotelThe Harbour Towers Hotel has been around for quite some time, but it’s just undergone a complete makeover with totally refurbished rooms and lobby area. Colors are soft teals, purples and burgundy.
It’s conveniently located within walking distance of the Inner Harbour with its attractions and ports of entry. The upper floors of this 12-story [...]
Victoria, BC – Plush Places
Historic Inns Awarded Five Star Rating by Canada Select
Short of looking under the dust ruffles, I couldn’t find anything to dispute the five star rating given to these inns by Canada Select. They were all immaculately kept, beautifully appointed and clearly appreciated by guests.
However, it is well to remember that these are historic [...]
The Ocean Pointe Resort Hotel and Spa’s ambiance begins with its location on Victoria’s Inner harbour and continues in the elegant lobby with its gas burning fireplaces.
The picture postcard views, from the lobby’s large glass windows across the water to the Parliament Buildings and the Olympic Mountains are unrivaled. It’s fun just to [...]
Nightclubs
Though all the clubs listed are considered safe spots to hang out, Victoria, like any city, is not a place to wander the streets late at night. The Yates/Johnson St. areas can be particularly dicey, so best to take a companion with you when you go clubbing.
Legends is one of the longest lasting [...]
Flowers and Family Fun
Okay, so it’s not really spring until the 21st of March. And, after days of gloomy gray skies, we are all counting the hours. The crocuses, pansies and early flowering fruit trees are out. The commercial flower growers have fields and fields of daffodils ready for cutting – a sure sign that [...]
Winter in Victoria usually means rain and cloudy skies with an all-pervasive grayness to the weather. Hours of daylight are short, and the city does seem to lose its ambiance. However, there are advantages to off-season travel. Room rates can be almost half the high season ones – and there’s still lots to see and [...]
Victoria, BC – Getting to VictoriaVictoria is reached by air or ferry, unless you can afford your own boat. You can opt to board the ferry as a foot passenger or drive on board. But be warned, during peak tourist season and holiday weekends, car lineups can stretch to several hours wait time. Whether you choose to go by [...]
Victoria, BC – Fine DiningThe Restaurants
Conde Nast Traveler reported that “Both of Victoria’s best restaurants are at the Ocean Pointe Resort: the Boardwalk…and the Victorian.” My eating experiences with these restaurants certainly bore this out.
Enjoying good food at any time is a treat. Throw in a world class view and it’s memorable – both the Boardwalk and the [...]
Romance in the Air
Ah, true love – Valentine’s Day and all that. Victoria has the reputation of being a honeymoon destination, so it seemed an appropriate focus for this month. So, all you romantics, here are some possibilities.
First, there’s that all important hotel room. You want it to be just right, to exude that [...]
