Originally posted by Amanda, September 2010 at http://oceanisland.wordpress.com
Some people say Victoria’s a city made for Spring, what with the flowers and gardens and whatnot. But here at Ocean Island, we believe the city is just as nice, if not nicer, in the fall. Here are some things to do in Victoria once the rain and the leaves start falling:
Go for a walk:
Beacon Hill Park
This local park’s beautiful 1890s gardens, meadows, totem poles, petting zoo, cricket pitch, tennis courts and lawn bowling make this a perpetual destination for the locals, and tourists as well. Stroll through the 89 hectare park and check out the wildlife (including swans, tons of ducks, turtles, herons), the water, the fields, and the second tallest totem pole in the world.
The Children’s Farm / Petting Zoo is open until October 12th, so stop there and take a few minutes to get up-close and personal with African pygmy goats, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, donkeys, horses, peacocks, and more. Admission by donation.
Ross Bay Cemetery
What’s Autumn without Halloween? And what’s Halloween without an old spooky cemetery?
From Beacon Hill Park, head East along Dallas Road until you reach Ross Bay cemetery in Fairfield. There you’ll see graves and tombs of some of Victoria’s founding mothers and fathers. The Old Cemeteries Society of BC offers a variety of tours in the fall: check their calendar of events for the complete list. The ghost tours are a Halloween tradition!
Mount Douglas Park
It’s big, it’s green, it’s got a big mountain (Mt. Doug) in the middle of it, and… well the cool thing about Mt. Doug Park is that there are a million different trails, so you never have the same time there twice. It’s also got a nice typical west-coast (rocky) beach, a big fireplace to build safe fires, picnic tables etc. At the top of the mountain (a nice climb), you’ll find some more picnic tables, a cool sort of… thing to sit in with a compass in the middle with arrows to other places like Seattle and stuff. And there’s a radio tower.
Get something warm to drink:
Mirage Coffee
One of the cooler coffee shops downtown. The decor is extremely colourful and bright, everything about the way they serve you and prepare stuff is classy, the music is great in a latin way, they have really great desserts (including Gelati), and then there’s the little things, like they give you fresh water after you’re finished with your coffee. It’s good. Two locations: 1122 Blanshard and on the corner of Government Street and Courtney.
Paradiso di Stelle
If you want a proper cappuccino, this is the place to go. Paradiso is run by some serious-about-coffee guys and is probably one of the top three places for good espresso. The patio is right in the excitement of Bastion Square market and has a view of the ocean. They also have a selection of fresh flavoured gelati that tastes even better than it looks. 10 Bastion Square.
Discovery Coffee
Beautiful decor and simply amazing coffee! Perhaps the best americano in the city. Perfect for a rainy afternoon with the paper. 664 Discovery St.
Silk Road Tea Company
Not only do these guys have awesome teas and some really cute teapots, but they give you free hot tea to browse the store with and have a great assortment of tea-related gifts, aromatherapy and pampering products. What sets this apart from other tea shops is that is that Silk Road is also a spa that uses only fresh, organic all nautral products. 1624 Government Street
Do some reading:
What better way to spend a rainy afternoon than with a good book?
Munro’s Books
Munro’s is kind of the classic Victoria favourite bookstore downtown. It’s big (one of the biggest in Canada), and it’s got pretty much everything you can think of. You’ll find a great collection of books by local authors, as well as some of the biggest magazine and children’s lit sections on Vancouver Island. 1108 Government Street
Curious Comics
These guys will likely have every comic you are looking for as well as books based on comics and fun toys of all kinds. 631 Johnson Street
Russell Books
A great second-hand bookstore – definitely a favourite among Victoria’s young and old bookworms. Be sure to check out their newly renovated second floor! 734 Fort Street.
Rock out!!!
Rifflandia Festival
One of the best music festivals in BC, and it takes place right here in Victoria! This year’s festival will span four days (September 23-26, 2010) at eight venues, featuring a tonne of artists including K’Naan, Hot Hot Heat, Great Lake Swimmers, Aesop Rock, Lee Ranaldo, D.O.A., Dayglo Abortions, Hey Rosetta!, and like a thousand more.
So there you have it! Grab your scarf and umbrella and get out there!
