Parkside Victoria Travel Blog

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.     

By Neil Judson

The parting of three black curtains revealed the Royal BC Museum's 2011/2012 exhibition schedule on Wednesday (Sept. 28).

From the gaping jaws of a towering dinosaur to the glitter and grace of a waving Queen Elizabeth II, the international lineup is designed to appeal to a wide demographic, including budding paleontologists, royalty aficionados and nature lovers.

The three touring international exhibits will begin December 16 with the North American premiere of Wildlife Photographer of the Year from London's Natural History Museum. An ancient-looking tortoise slowly greeted the audience to help announce the exhibit, which will showcase more than 100 award-winning photographs in 18 categories, chosen from more than 40,000 entries from around the world.

In May 2012, Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries will shed new light on these fascinating creatures that were first identified nearly 200 years ago. Perfect for all ages, this exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York and is making its only Canadian appearance in Victoria.

With the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton in June 2012, the Royal BC Museum will be the place to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Nearly 100 photographs from the royal photographer will tell a visual tale of princess, monarch and mother alongside extracts from Beaton's personal diaries and letters.

A convincing Queen Elizabeth II helps introduce Cecil Beaton's royal photography

The international touring lineup follows a year-long exploration of the museum's 125 years of research and collections, which concludes October 10.

"After a successful run offering a behind the scenes glimpse of our own natural history collection, we are throwing open the doors for our visitors to experience new explorations and discoveries," said Pauline Rafferty, Royal BC Museum CEO. "This year’s exhibitions herald from collections across the country, across the world and across time - there is something exciting for everyone."

 
                                 The tortoise attempts to exit stage right

On Thursday (Oct. 6), Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is sponsoring the Royal BC Museum's presentation of Artifact or Artifiction, a fundraising gala where guests will put their trivia knowledge to the test. Parkside 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.                     

Fans, supporters, Tour de Victoria volunteers and fellow cyclists filled Parkside's atrium on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 to welcome home Ryder Hesjedal, celebrate the success of the inaugural Tour de Victoria (which took place on May 28, 2011) and to support Ryder's Wheelmen/Wheelwomen Ride Bicycles initiative.

The night kicked off with a barbecue hosted by M&M Meat Shops and live music courtesy of the Casey Ryder Trio. Guests got to check out Ryder's ultralight bikes on display while footage of the 2011 Tour de Victoria and the Tour de France played on a big screen. Wheelmen/Wheelwoman T-shirts were also available for sale at the event, with the proceeds going to support young up-and-coming cyclists through Ryder's Wheelmen initiative.

It's the end of some long roads. Now it's time to party.

Both Ryder Hesjedal and his hometown fans have a lot to celebrate after the cycling star followed up a successful first edition of the Tour de Victoria with a top-20 finish at the Tour de France, helping his Garmin-Cervélo squad win the overall team title.

Riding towards a common goal will be a prevailing theme at Ryder's Welcome Home Shindig, which will be held as a fundraiser for the Wheelmen/Wheelwomen Ride Bicycles initiative and in honour of the more than 500 Tour de Victoria volunteers.

As we pack our bathing suits away for another year and pull on our sweaters, don't despair: there are plenty of fun things to do around Victoria, BC in the fall.

Outdoor Activites

Just because the weather gets drizzly and the temperature drops a few degrees, it doesn't mean you have to stay inside! Head to one of Victoria's many outdoor clothing stores, grab some Gortex and get outside.

- Goldstream Park Salmon Run - Goldstream Park is worth visiting year-round, but it's particularly stunning in the fall when the leaves in the old-growth temperate rainforest turn from lush green to crimson and gold.