Parkside Victoria Travel Blog

By Jessica Woollard

Humans have long been fascinated with observing our civilization in microcosm. As far back as ancient Egypt, populations constructed tall structures to climb and look out at the expanse before them, drawn to experiencing the world at a small scale and enjoying the sense of perspective such an experience brings. The tradition has continued in the modern world, with tourists ever drawn to climbing tall structures around the world, whether ascending to the top of the duomo of St. Peter’s Basilica or the top of the planet at Mount Everest’s summit.

Even children through the ages have shown an interest in the world in miniature, playing with dolls and toy soldiers, recreating life on a small scale, a life they can more easily understand.

>> Read full article on the A-Life BC Travel Blog

This year, we're making the crown jewel of Parkside available for your private New Year's Eve party!

Sweeping views of the city, rooftop gardens, chic design... the Penthouse City Club Lounge is the perfect venue for hosting private, festive gatherings in style. Located at the top of the Rockland Tower, the City Club Lounge features luxurious open living spaces and accommodates up to 80 guests.

Reserve the Penthouse City Club Lounge for your New Year's Eve party and receive a free e-reader. Contact events@parksidevictoria.com for details.    

With the launching of our new mobile website at m.parksidevictoria.com, you can now request a reservation, view photos of our guest suites, and explore specials and packages from the palm of your hand!

It's a convenient way to plan your next stay with us while you're on the move.

Check it out >> 

We are often asked about the captivating paintings that adorn Parkside's front and rear lobbies. Well, guests will soon be able to ask the artist in person.

Salt Spring Island painter Wesley Clark is featuring recent works of acrylic on canvas in Parkside's atrium during a free art show on Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 3 and 4) from 10am-6pm.

Selected themes will include landscape, fish and antiquity. Experienced in the local environmental scene, Wesley is well known for depicting wilderness areas around British Columbia.

Guests attending the show can receive special nightly rates at Parkside starting at $119.

About the artist:

By Jessica Woollard

When November’s rain clouds roll in and block the view of the Olympic Mountains, it’s time to set your sights on a few indoor activities, and preferably those that combat dampness while lifting spirits. In other words, it's best they involve chocolate.

This year, Silk Road Tea Company presents the ultimate champion of dreary weather: the Tea & Chocolate Pairing. This workshop mates organic, locally-made loose teas with decadent, homemade truffles that have a melt-in-your-mouth filling made from Silk Road teas. The maturity of the tea matched with the magnificence of chocolate is staggeringly satisfying. I can honestly say I will never forget my first bite.

Since 1992, Silk Road has attracted Victoria tea drinkers to its bar, which is North America's first established tea bar. Customers can peruse the selection of 100 locally-made, 100 percent organic teas on their self-proclaimed "Great Wall of Tea." Silk Road’s trained tea masters will help you choose the perfect tea to suit your taste buds, or they can provide a deeper exploration of taste, smell, and state of mind and help you reach a desired level of energy from a tea selection.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is pleased to welcome back three truly talented local painters to our atrium on Saturday Nov. 26.

Erica Messing, Shari Young and Jonathan Gleed will be displaying new works of acrylic and watercolour from 6-9pm during a public art event entitled "Connections." Guests can also enjoy wine and cheese while receiving artists' insights.

"Connections" is the trio's second art show at Parkside. In May, "Going Places" attracted about 150 art lovers to Parkside's atrium, which complemented the show's exploration of the environment with its tropical gardens and fish-filled ponds. Watch our video documenting "Going Places."    

About the artists:

Erica Messing fell in love with BC during a family trip to the Kootenays. A prairie girl whose existence was marked by the swings between the extreme heat and cold of Winnipeg, her move to BC provided an evergreen and ever-growing calmness. She chooses her landscape subjects based on depth, light, movement, and patterns of texture and colour. She paints to communicate the feelings she experienced in a place.

Every WOMAN™-Victoria is an interactive and fun health conference designed to inspire everyday women and to promote the opportunity to try fitness, dance and wellness workshops in a comfortable setting.

The day of activity at Parkside connects, supports and motivates women of all ages, shapes and sizes to be active. It features more than 30 workshops in one day, including: Bellyfit Flow, Bellyfit Warrior, GrooveFit, Nia, DownDawg Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Your Future By Design, Red Carpet Walk, Capoeira, African Dance, Zumba, Your Best Self, StreetStrider and more.

Register by Nov. 11 using promo code "PARKSIDE" to receive $50 off. Participants also receive a special $99 rate in a One Bedroom Deluxe Suite at Parkside!   

More than 11,000 people from 16 countries are registered to participate in GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon events on Sunday (Oct. 9).

Runners, local dignitaries and volunteers gathered at Frontrunners today (Oct. 7) to launch the 32nd annual marathon weekend, which also includes a 1/2 marathon, 8K race and Kids' Run. The group celebrated a few of the reasons we run here in Victoria.

For instance, World Champion rower and Victoria local Silken Laumann of the GoodLife Kids Foundation noted that part of what makes the marathon so special is that many people are running for personal bests and beyond.

By Bri Wilson

More than 11,000 people will lace up to run the 32^nd annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon (formerly the Royal Victoria Marathon) on Sunday (Oct. 9).

The race route starts in Victoria's Inner Harbour and follows scenic city streets through Oak Bay to the Uplands and back, with stunning ocean views to enjoy along the way.

Whether you're a Victoria resident or visitor, running your first 8K road race or a seasoned marathon runner hoping to set a new personal best, here are some tips to help you shine this weekend.

Last chance to participate in the Artifact or Artifiction fundraising gala presented by the Royal BC Museum on Thursday (Oct. 6).

Twenty peculiar artifacts from the Royal BC Museum collections – and 20 even stranger tales about the items’ origins – are displayed throughout the gallery spaces. Your task: decipher fact from fiction by determining which stories are tall-tales and which are truths.

CHEK News and CBC News Vancouver anchor Tony Parsons will guide guests through the exciting evening, which includes a delectable roving buffet of fresh local ingredients; select BC beer, wine and cider; and a chance to win fantastic grand prizes. Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is donating one of the grand prizes: seven nights at the winner's choice of Aviawest properties across BC (any combination), along with $200 at AquaTerre Spa and $200 at The Landing West Coast Grill.   

Tickets are $150 each (10% off for Members) and can be purchased online or by calling 250.387.7222 today or tomorrow 9am-5pm.