Things for kids to do in Victoria

I'm in the empty-nest-but-no-grandkids stage of life, so you might ask what I know about entertaining kids in Victoria. Well, I admit my knowledge is not first-hand, but I can still offer some suggestions.
First, there are the obvious commercial attractions designed for families. They tend to be clustered in the Inner Harbour area: the Victoria Bug Zoo, the Royal London Wax Museum, Miniature World.
But some of the best kid-friendly entertainment is free.
For example, in the waterfront area near the tourism bureau's information centre, you and the kids can listen to buskers play music, watch street entertainers (comedians, dancers, living statues and such) and have an ice cream cone. If they get bored with that (not likely), the kids can watch the harbour ferries and other boats come and go.
Not far from downtown is a jewel of a park. Beacon Hill Park is Victoria's version of New York's Central Park. Kids will have fun at the water park and the Children's Farm.
At Fisherman's Wharf, an easy walk from the visitors centre, there's a spot where harbour seals know they can always get a ready meal. There's even a fish market right there that will sell you little pieces of fish to feed them. Across town at the Oak Bay Marina is another spot where you can feed the seals, and again, you can buy fish right there.
Finally (and surprisingly), your kids might find a trip to the University of Victoria delightful. Why? The campus is practically overrun with bunnies. No one knows exactly why, but they are everywhere. Just park on campus (or take a bus from downtown), stroll around and enjoy counting how many you see.

Money matters

If you're visiting from the U.S., almost every store and restaurant in Victoria will be happy to separate you from your Yanqui dollars. But you won't get the best exchange rate that way. (At the moment, we are so close to parity it wouldn't make that much difference.) And be prepared to get Canadian (OK, let's get the joke out of the way ... Monopoly) money back in change.
A better strategy is to head directly to the first ATM you see in Victoria and get as much Canadian currency as you think you'll need. You'll get the current bank rate, although your bank back home might charge you a fee.
But don't get more Canuck bucks than you'll need, because when you get back to the States, no one will accept them. (I couldn't even spend Canadian quarters at the Sea-Tac airport!) It's a pain to convert your money back to U.S. funds, so you might as well spend it here before you leave.
And in case you didn't know, the smallest Canadian bill is a five. We use one-dollar (loonies) and two-dollar (toonies) coins.

Eating on the cheap in Victoria

Victoria locals never pay full price for a dinner for two at the James Bay Inn. That's one of the things you learn after you've lived here for a while. The JBI has two adjacent dining facilities — a pub and a restaurant — that share the same menu in different settings. The food is OK, and you can get satisfying pub grub and a pint. What you won't know as a tourist is that you can easily find coupons that let you get a second entree for $2 when you buy one at full price. The coupons usually run in the Friday TV book in the Times Colonist and in the free tabloids like Monday Magazine you can pick up around town.
The entertainment.com book for Victoria has JBI coupons, too, as well as lots of others. Typically you'll get two-for-one offers at local restaurants and attractions such as Butchart Gardens. If you're going to be here for more than a day or two, it might be worth ordering it early, so you'll have it when you come.
Another secret: Some restaurants in the more touristy areas have a "local menu" they'll give you if you ask for it. Presumably the prices are lower, although I can't vouch for that. One that advertises its local menu in the Times Colonist is Chandlers on Wharf Street, right on the harbour. They offer good seafood in an attractive setting. Ask for the local menu and see what happens; just leave the bermuda shorts and straw hat back at the hotel.

Bellinis in Victoria

My wife, who might be the world's biggest bellini fan, suggested this post.
In Venice, you can find a dainty little cocktail called a bellini, which I think combines peach juice and champagne and maybe some other stuff to make a light, fruity conconction.
Victoria's bellinis are nothing like that.
Victoria's bellinis are the consistency of slushies with some peach schnapps and rum as the primary ingredients. And yes, they are tasty.
So who makes the best bellinis in town? My wife, the connoisseur, swears by the Cactus Club. She had her first one at the Cactus Club in Vancouver, so she may be partial that way. On Tuesdays, bellinis are the featured drink with a reduced price.
Right on the harbour is Milestones, which probably runs a close second and might be more convenient if you are staying in one of the Inner Harbour hotels. Moxies also touts its bellinis, but my expert says they are not quite up to snuff.
My friend Sarah at the Times Colonist, who is much younger than I and therefore a lot smarter about this stuff, concurs on the Cactus Club. She adds that excellent bellinis and a lovely patio view are available at Canoe Brewpub, and that the classic Venice version can be had at Veneto.
Cheers!

Panhandlers: Victoria's sad reality

If you're coming to Victoria, I suggest you plan in advance how you're going to deal with panhandlers, because you will encounter them. We have a significant homelessness problem, as well a number of people with mental illness and addiction, and they find their way to the streets.
If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind sharing the wealth in this manner, by all means bring a couple of rolls of quarters. You'll have plenty of opportunities to give them away. Personally, my policy is look panhandlers in the eye, say "hello" pleasantly and keep walking. Others choose to ignore them completely, but in my view everyone deserves to have his or her humanity acknowledged, so I do what I do. I've never been hassled.
Victoria also has buskers, some of whom are quite talented, and I think they deserve a little something if you stop and listen, and maybe even if you don't. They add something positive to the city, and I think we should encourage them.
And on the topic of addiction, you might well observe people nodding out, sleeping in doorways or even using hard drugs in broad daylight. It's sad, but it has to be admitted. The best I can say is you don't need to worry about your safety ... although be aware that abandoned needles are not an altogether uncommon sight downtown.

Successful gathering again! 6th June 2009 market

Lots of people came to get a shot of the bollywood music and dancing. 

Alongwith Red Dragon's Tiko Japanese Drumming and Bellydancing, people enjoyed watching young Australian girls have fun with free Bollywood dancing lessons. There were smiles and giggles!

People bought seedlings, fresh produce, jewellery, clothes and a variety of food including spicy chai tea. There was jumping castle, fairy floss, popcorns, clown heads and lucky dips for kids to enjoy. A new stallholder with her knitting and cushions said, "It was a record market day for me. Definitely the best ever sales." 

Victoria is a walking town

For the most part, you don't need to rent a car if you're visiting Victoria. It's a wonderful walking (or biking) city. I've already blogged about the Westsong Walkway, but there are plenty more great places to walk.
If you're planning an extended stay, or you just love to discover a new city on foot, you should get a book called Walk Victoria by John Crouch. It features 50 walks of all kinds in every part of the city. It advertised for sale here, and I'm sure you could also pick it up at Munro's Books on Government Street in downtown Victoria.