Oak Bay "Travel Bites" Spring/Summer 2007

Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy the Scenery
Now there are even more ways to explore Oak Bay! Big Bus is a hop on, hop off city tour that loops through downtown Victoria and other points of interest close to the city. Stops in Oak Bay include Oak Bay Village and Oak Bay Marina, making it even easier to spend a day exploring Oak Bay. Pick up is every 45 minutes during the week and every 30 minutes on weekends. Tickets may be purchased from the driver and are valid for two full days. Tours run seven days a week from 8:30 – 6:30 May to October and 9-4 November to April. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children and $75 for two adults and all children under 12. Cash, credit, debit and travelers cheques are accepted. See www.bigbus.ca for schedule and info.

Royal Blue Line offers a hop on, hop off City Tour that includes a stop in Oak Bay Village. City Tours run every day May 1 to September 30, departing from the Beleville terminal in downtown Victoria every hour on the hour. Visitors can ‘hop off’ to enjoy shopping and people watching in Oak Bay Village and then ‘hop on’ to enjoy the remainder of the city tour. Cost is $25 for adults and $15 for youth five to 12. Info at www.royalbluelinetours.com.

Stay and Play in Oak Bay
To celebrate the arrival of Titanic at the Royal BC Museum the Oak Bay Guest House is welcoming visitors with an unsinkable package. The Titanic Package includes two nights accommodation for two in a queen guest room, breakfast for two each morning, two tickets to the Titanic Exhibit and two tickets to the IMAX movie Titanica. This package is available for $359 CDN per couple from June 1 to September 15. More information and online booking at www.oakbayguesthouse.com.

Located two blocks from the ocean and only a few blocks from Oak Bay’s main shopping district, Oak Bay Guest House is a charming retreat in the heart of Oak Bay. Travelers have made the Guest House their accommodation of choice since 1922.

Oak Bay Expands Gallery Tour
Oak Bay’s self-guided gallery walk has expanded! Now seven galleries and two jewellery artisans are located within four blocks of each other, each with their own unique offerings. In addition to artists from Canada and around the world, Oak Bay galleries feature a large selection of British Columbia artists. Unique souvenirs ranging from pottery and papercrafts to wearable art such as scarves and handbags can be found in Oak Bay. A complete list of galleries can be found at www.oakbaytourism.com/attractions/art_galleries.htm.

Oak Bay is the home of eco adventure
Visitors looking for a taste of marine adventure should check out Oak Bay’s host of off-the-beaten-track options. Sailing adventures are available out of the Oak Bay Marina through Blackfish Sailing Adventures. Blackfish specializes in hands on sailing excursions for small groups and features cruising around wilderness islands and ecological reserves which are populated with wildlife. See www.blackfishal.com for information on half day and full day adventures.
Not sure if sailing is for you? Try a four hour introduction to sailing with Oak Bay Sailing School. Tours can be booked directly with the school or come as part of a sailing package with Oak Bay Guest House. See www.oakbaysailingschool.com or www.oakbayguesthouse for more information.

For a more “up close and personal” marine adventure try kayaking Oak Bay with Blackfish Wilderness Expeditions. Enjoy a paddle along the Oak Bay coastline or, for a more challenging paddle, along Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park.

Visit Oak Bay For Fun Family Events
Oak Bay hosts a variety of family entertainment events through the summer.

For a taste of the international visit Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen. Festa Italiana on June 16 celebrates Italy with food and wine tasting, a display of Ferraris and Vespas on Oak Bay Avenue and the impressive “Splitting of the Parmigiano” a 35 kg wheel of cheese! Ottavio’s Spanish Day is August 11, featuring tastings and a special tapas menu, live Flamenco guitar, Spanish wine tasting and some other surprises

The Oak Bay Tea Party celebrates its 45th anniversary June 2 and 3, 2007 at Willows Park. The event kicks off with the Tea Party Parade and a Mad Hatters fun run. Musical entertainment and a midway run throughout the weekend. Special events on Sunday include an airshow with sky divers, military aircraft, aerobatic aircraft and a sea rescue demonstration. Also on Sunday afternoon, don’t miss the annual bathtub race and the tea cup challenge, featuring floating tea cups powered by a pair of mismatched oars. Details at www.oakbayteaparty.com.

The Blethering Place Car Show is a popular event that continues to grow every year, extending for several blocks throughout the Oak Bay Village. On August 12 between 250 and 300 cars, including a number of street rods English cars, one-of-a-kind cars and vintage race cars from the 1950s and 60s will line up in the Oak Bay Village. Cars at all stages of the restoration process are on display. Entertainment takes place along the Avenue through the day as well as a prime rib barbecue. See www.bletheringplace.com for more information.

Also on August 12, the Bowker Creek Brush Up will be held along Bowker Creek, a short walk from Oak Bay Village. The Brush Up features 35 artists demonstrating their craft ranging from painting and pottery to weaving and textile arts. Art will also be on display and may be purchased directly from the artists.

Palm Tree Capital
Oak Bay continues to be crowned the Palm Tree Capital of Canada. There are an estimated 4,000 palm trees growing in Greater Victoria, the large majority of which make their home in Oak Bay. Annually Oak Bay Tourism holds “Palm Saturday” where several hundred palm trees are sold and more than 1,500 palm trees have traded hands, destined for yards throughout Greater Victoria, in the four years the sale has been held in Oak Bay. While the sale is open to everyone it does help Oak Bay maintain status as the Palm Tree Capital of Canada. Oak Bay Tourism’s website www.oakbaytourism.com includes a self-guided palm tree tour as well as information about caring for hardy windmill palms.