Is anyone else not able to log into BC Hydro website? I haven't been able for 2 days now.

Works for me

i got a Victoria trip planned for me and the wife this week.

Going to go:

Hatley Castle
Craigdarroch Castle
Fishermens Warf
Having afternoon Tea at the empress
Butchart Gardens
Fan tan alley / lower jervis shopping
Coastal drive

We went to the BC museum like 10 years ago and don't really want to visit it again.

Still need a dinner recommendation and if you guys know of anything else kind of cool/hidden spot that's interesting to see.

I was at Boom + Batten a few weeks ago. Great spot on the water. Food was very good. I plan to return the next time I’m over and explore the menu further.

https://boomandbatten.com/

I went to 10 Acres Bistro about a year ago for a dinner, thought it was a fantastic atmosphere / great food... farm to table place:

https://10acres.ca/bistro-restaurant/

Nowhere *a Restaurant: Google Maps / Website

VICTORIA’S BEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2022: NOWHERE A* RESTAURANT

$99 tasting menu. Only open for dinner Wed-Sat.

cool! thanks gents! Any interesting drives / scenic locations would also be appreciated.

Hit up Great68, he's a super cool guy and been living there for a long time... former Richmondite

Fine Dining style, ordered from my favourite down:


Brasserie L'Ecole (French bistro style, gotta go and get your name on the list early, no reservations and they can book out for the night in 20 minutes after opening)

Little Jumbo (Bistro-y as well, good cocktail bar)

The Palms - Hotel Rialto (Casual food, my favourite cocktail bar)

10 Acres (Bistro-y, Farm to table)

Chorizo & Co (Kind of Spanish Tapa Style, good cocktails)

Il Covo (Homestyle italian)


And then there's like a million Pubs, so I'll put them into their own category from my favourite down:

Bard & Banker

Bellevilles

Swans

Darcy's

Garrick's Head

Irish Times

Thanks Great68!

i got this drive planned so far for the first day. i recall the oak bay area is a nice drive along the water.

https://goo.gl/maps/Hm6HJUhupNDJbLyc8

then after hatley we'll probably head up to Butchart or see the other castle before it gets too hot.

I used to go to Victoria often as a teen, nearby Craigdarroch Castle is Government House which is a nice walk through the gardens/grounds.

Also theres a lookout point on a big rock hill/mountain at Mount Tolmie Park.

You can be like this guy:

oh cool thanks Tos! those 2 are for sure going on the list. this is exactly what i was looking for! interesting places that dont really show up on tripadvisor

If you have time, def recommend doing the Pacific Marine Circle Route https://vancouverisland.travel/itine...-circle-route/

Can be done in a day with stops for lunch and sightseeing.

Amazing stretches of twisty roads and great views.

Although if you have a very lowered car, watch out for a few areas with really hard, unmarked, bumps particularly on the west-coast stretch.

Also ensure you have gas and tell somebody where you are going, as cell reception is spotty for significant stretches.

I'd recommend to plan Butchart to be it's own day (or at least half a day).

The Beach Drive loop is nice (but can be slow). If you're going to do that, I recommend turning left at Sayward Rd from the highway, and then across Fowler onto Cordova bay rd. And then just follow along the coast (Cordova Bay Rd, Ash Rd, Arbutus Rd, and then onto Beach)

After Hatley Castle, another fun little loop is go across Esquimalt Lagoon, get onto Metchosin Rd south, and then connect up to Kangaroo Rd (Very twisty fun road). It will connect up with Sooke Hwy 14, and then just truck back on that.

dang, i should have booked another day, that route looks amazing too. We only booked 2 days and its already pretty full.

Sweet! route modified per your advice great
https://i.postimg.cc/kMkGfpxc/Capture.jpg

Honestly, what I would do is hit up Butchart right off the ferry. Spend as much time as you need there (It'll cost you $76 for two people, so you want to get your money's worth), and then spend the first evening around downtown. Then plan to hit up Hatley, and the other spots you need to drive to on your second day.

If you're short on time, I'd drop Craigdarroch. It's not really much more than a big old house.

Definitely hit up Red Fish Blue Fish for some chowder and fish and chips

Red Fish Blue Fish is a big no from me.

I only managed to try it once, it was several years after it opened we were in the area and the line was somewhat reasonable.

So first they fucked up my order (gave part of my order to someone else) thereby making wait for another 15-20minutes while they cooked up a replacement (and gave me some weird eye roll when I asked them about it).

But then I had a massive hair in my fish, just about gagged while eating. And I could tell the dirty hipster in the kitchen it came from.

And otherwise the flavour did not live up to the hype. It's just fish and chips.

Never again.

Oh man, Nowhere and Hank's are sooooo good. A must go when in Victoria. They are tiny, so I definitely recommend a reservation.

Wife and I got married in Victoria pre-Covid, so we spent a bunch of time there.

Nowhere and Hank's for an incredibly fun and intimate tasting menu. Go with the wine pairing as well. We ended up getting 6 different wines and two cocktails.

Wind Cries Mary is another hidden gem most people don't know about. It is not only Hendrix themed, it also has a good farm to table menu and a delicious late night burger menu.

Il Terrazo is always a classic. Order a bottle of red wine and have a great night.

Part & Parcel - casual joint. North of downtown, but worth it.

Fernwood Coffee and Little June for great coffee shops. I also really like Discovery Coffee, especially the location on Broughton. Great people watching patio.

Damn that's shitty, I've tried it twice and both times were quite good lol

Not fine dining but...
https://www.standardpizza.ca/
Edit: Caveat - I do not know if it's still the same young husband/wife team that runs the place. They were always super nice and pizza top notch. I suspect nothing has changed since when I was last there.

My must go to when I head to Victoria. Best pizza. Ever.

Red Fish Blue Fish is also a no go for me. Similar experience as Great68 minus the hair incident.

I've never personally tried Hank's, Nowhere or Wind Cries Mary but I've heard very good things. I really really want to go to Hank's but it just hasn't worked out (I don't really go for fancy dinners downtown nearly as much as I used to when I was younger)

So i tried to reproduce a shot from Hatley Castle today that i did in 2008 w/ my old CTS
and was instantly surrounded by those rent-a-cops. Wouldnt let me stop the car, wouldnt let me take a picture, said they would write me a ticket, etc etc. Im like its 9:45 in the morning and all i want to do is take a nice shot of my car next to the castle.

NOPE. NOPE NOPE.
https://i.postimg.cc/xd2SG6w8/Picture-1134.jpg

whats with the intense security at royal roads nowadays? Back in 08 i parked there for hours walking around the grounds taking nice photos and nobody said a peep.

They were just jealous of the Lexus and hating on you for it.

curse you ratrolla colored rexsus !!!!