beyondBorders

If you're ever in Victoria...
Given my fondness for playing 'tour guide' (and my penchant for inexpensive outings), I've decided to compile a list of recommended activities *in Victoria* that cost $5 or less.

* Visit the Legacy Gallery and Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria. Both venues are free of charge; the Legacy focuses on works by established artists (a Ted Harrison retrospective is currently on exhibit there) while the Community Arts Council's small (but worthwhile) space spotlights local and lesser-known artists.

* Walk the Breakwater. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the tip of the breakwater from the entry point on Dallas Road, but the views of the Olympic Peninsula, Juan de Fuca Strait, and Ogden Point Pier are spectacular. Newly-installed benches enabled John to spend an hour watching floatplanes arrive and depart on a recent afternoon.

* Walk the Inner Harbour from Songhees Point to Fisherman's Wharf. This pleasant route showcases the skyline before terminating in Fisherman's Wharf, a 'floating village' in James Bay. From Fisherman's Wharf, return to Songhees Point via a Victoria Harbour Ferry ($4).

* Browse the aisles of the 'Big 3' independent bookstores. Munro Books, one of my favourite booksellers in Canada, is located just two blocks west of Russell Books, the province's largest used bookstore. From Douglas Street (located 'between' these two retailers), take a double-decker BC Transit Bus ($2.25) to Bolen Books, the biggest independent bookstore in BC (ask for a transfer on the bus which allows for free return fare).

* Take a self-guided tour of the grounds at Government House. The property, which encompasses 36 acres, is open to the public and includes 14 acres of formal gardens and 22 acres dedicated to a native Garry Oak ecosystem.

* Take a walking tour of Old Town and Chinatown. Maps for self-guided tours are posted at http://www.victoria.ca/visitors/wlkngt.shtml ; however, if you're in town, I'll be more than happy to give you my own 'narrated' tour. :)

* Enjoy an espresso-based beverage at an independent coffee shop. I recommend Discovery Coffee, Union Pacific Coffee, and Habit Coffee + Culture in the downtown area. My other local favourites include Moka House (Cook Street Village), Caffe Fantastico (Quadra Village & Dockside Green), and Black Stilt Coffee Lounge (located near Bolen Books).

* Explore a local park. Beacon Hill Park, located just south of downtown, is highly recommended, as are Mount Tolmie Park and Mount Douglas Park (both in the nearby suburb of Saanich) as they offer spectacular panoramic views from their respective summits.

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