Parkside Victoria Travel Blog

In the wake of the incredible success of our very first art event held in November 2009, Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa will be having a follow-up art showing!

Parkside Paints the Summer is an evening of local art, wine and cheese. The exhibition features paintings by Erica Messing, Craig Bauer and mixed media representations by Coral Clay that explore their own observations and encounters with Victoria, the West Coast and the world around them. 

Both Erica and Craig will be showing their art at one of Victoria's premiere art events, the Moss Street Paint-In earlier in the day. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend part of the year living on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia? 

Or what about living in a luxury urban second home with a fitness centre, 25-metre ozonated pool, rooftop gardens, designer furnishings and a gourmet kitchen - right in the heart of downtown Victoria on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia? 

Well now's your chance! 

Do you Foursquare? If you do, you could unlock some great deals at Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa!

For our first Foursquare special, simply "check-in" at AquaTerre Spa to receive a $10 Gift Certificate towards a spa treatment at AquaTerre Spa in Parkside!

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa has been listed as a finalist for the Canadian Home Builders' Association (Victoria Chapter) CARE Awards in multiple categories!

They are:

- Best Commercial Project

- Best Interior - Commercial

- Best Condominium - Mixed-Use Development

- Best Project Website

- Award for Outdoor Environmental Achievement

Visiting British Columbia this summer and want to help conserve it? 

Consider going on a Conservation Holiday with The Land Conservancy for part of your trip. 

Help conserve the beautiful BC outdoors by working on a variety of projects, such as learning about ecoforestry education at the Wildwood Ecoforestry Site near Ladysmith or participating in nesting box installation and weed control on the Horsefly River near Williams Lake.

Nothing beats sitting outside on a sunny patio with a glass of wine and a tasty meal after a long day of exploring downtown Victoria. 

Walk along any number of streets downtown and you will see there is no shortage of great restaurants with outdoor patios.

So where should you stop in for some sun, drinks and a bite to eat this weekend? 

In honour of our July contest, here are some of the many environmentally-conscious initiatives and features that Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa has implemented on its way to becoming Canada's first LEED® Platinum Certified resort hotel.

• During Parkside's construction, waste and materials were diverted from landfills at a rate of 92.3%.

With the hot summer weather finally upon us, there is one question both Victoria visitors and locals are asking: Where's the beach?

Lucky for us - being an island and all - we have amazing beaches of all kinds, shapes and sizes and in every direction; pebble beaches, rocky beaches, sandy beaches, beaches by the ocean, beaches on lakes and beaches on rivers.

Here is our round-up of the best places to soak up the sun, swim, skim board and tube in and around Victoria, BC.

For our July contest, we're asking our Living Planet Community what they do to help conserve our environment.

Check out how Parkside Living Planet Community group member Skedaddle lives sustainably:

"When we built our log home, we incorporated passive solar features.  We do not have a central heating or cooling system.  

Vancouver Island has some of the best places to hike in British Columbia. 

Whether you're looking for a leisurely walk in the wilderness or a challenging uphill trek, there are many amazing hiking and walking trails around Victoria to suit all levels and abilities.

And the best part is, it won't take all day to get to your favourite hiking spot!

Many of the best places to hike are only a 30-minute drive or bus ride from downtown Victoria.

So read on to find out our picks for the best places to hike near Victoria, BC!