After we finished strolling through Wharf and Government Street, we took a drive through Beacon Hill Park as the afternoon was getting a little too toasty. The park is actually quite large with playgrounds, man-made ponds and a children petting zoo. There is also free parking here for 1-2 hours which is a nice change from all the metered parking. We drove by this one area in the park which looked poorly maintained. The grass was dry and had turned yellow. It was strange how it was just that one patch while the rest of the park was vibrant with flowers and trees…
From the park we drove down Dallas Road as recommended by my friend for a scenic drive and we arrived at Ogden Point. Ogden Point has a 20 minute walking trail out to the waters with a lighthouse at the end. This reminds me Of Iowna Beach, my favourite walking trail in Richmond! There was also a small pet exhibit going on nearby so I took a quick stroll. They had a doggy diving competition which was quite neat.
We had seen stores of this local coffee chains several times and decided we would give it a try. It was a nice break from all the walking we were doing outside. At Serious Coffee, we ordered the cappuccino. The appearance of the drink was so so but the quality of the coffee was quite good. Definitely worth a try when you are in Victoria!
After doing some caffeine recharge, we went to Christ Church Cathedral to see the recital at 4 p.m. Many people on Tripadvisor recommended this so we went to check it out. The performance had started already when we arrived so we quickly found a seat. They had three performers playing the clarinet, piano and one was singing. The lady was performing an opera and her performance was very entertaining! The decor of the church is very nice with tall ceilings. It reminds me of the churches in Europe.
We still had some free time before our dinner date so we went shopping at the Bay Centre downtown. There are not too many shopping malls in Victoria and this was one of their largest. There’s not much to see here and it looks a little tired. I think it’s best to stick with the outdoor activities in Victoria!
Our friends in Victoria took us to this Indian restaurant called Masala Bites downtown which claims to serve the best Indian food in Victoria. It was prime dinner time on a Saturday night and the place was not very full. It is nice when you do not have to worry about reservations unlike Vancouver downtown.
They served us papadum after we placed our orders. We ordered the vegetable pakora for appetizer. We also each ordered an entree which came with naan or rice. I thought the naan looked a little oily but the taste was fine. My butter chicken was very delicious but the proportion was too big for me to finish.
We also ordered the rasmalai (mashed carrots with condensed milk) for dessert which was also very good. I never knew you could make dessert with carrots! Service was just so so but still worth it to go for the food!
After a hearty meal, we decided to go for a walk by the pier again to watch the sunset and snap a few photos of the parliament building at night. We met up with my friend who was also in town and we grabbed a drink on the patio of Steamship Grill. Their drink menus are limited and the view of the pier isn’t as nice as Milestone. I had a Summer Sangria and it tasted very sour because they used canned fruits.
After a long day yesterday, we slept in and relaxed at our apartment in the morning. At 11 a.m. we checked out and went to the Fort Rodd Hill again to see the lighthouse. The admission is $3.90 for adults. After you pass the entrance, there is a short introductory video about the site’s history. From there it is a 10 minute walk to the lighthouse. On the trail, you will also pass by the Upper and Lower Battery (fortress). There are also some other military exhibits for you to see.
The lighthouse is just amazing…We were in such a big rush we did not get to go inside but the view is just absolutely breathtaking. It felt like we were teleported to Halifax…Haha..
We really wanted to try Pagliacci, an Italian restaurant that was highly recommended by our friend. We came here for brunch on Sunday around 1 p.m. and fortunately there was no queue. Instead of bread, they serve you buttered bagel to start. Their bagel was amazing! It was so soft and creamy..we had to ask for another one!
My boyfriend and I each ordered a pasta and they were absolutely delicious as well! I ordered the salmon and pesto cream. There were lots of salmon and the pasta was very rich! It was nice that they offer two sizes for the pasta because the small was just enough for lunch. Prices were also very decent for a restaurant downtown.
Our last stop in Victoria was the famous Butchart Garden. Frankly, I feel that the admission price is way overpriced at $32.10 per person. Even the food inside cost an arm and a leg (ice cream cone was $4.50). Admission is free at Queen Elizabeth Park although the park is a little smaller.
It was not too busy when we went so we were able to see everything at our own pace. The flowers were in full bloom and the weather was gorgeous that day.
My favourite part of the garden was the water displays they have. Each were unique and were nicely dispersed in the garden.
We went through the garden in 1.5 hours and headed to the ferry terminal. It was Sunday evening and the ferry sailings were quite full. We got there a little early to make sure we catch our sailing.
OVERALL
There is always something to see in Victoria each time you visit that you will never get bored of this place. Although the Island is small, there are many off the path attractions that are worth checking out for the view. Next time I come back, I will be sure to check out Salt Spring Island as well. Three day and two nights should be sufficient time for you to get a good glimpse of Victoria!