Victoria Express

Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles, WA

Memorial Day Weekend is just a few days away, and it brings with it the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles, WA. Canadians from Vancouver Island should take this opportunity to ride the passenger ferry from Victoria BC to Port Angeles WA. The first run of the season for The Victoria Express will be Friday, May 22nd, and in honor of the festival we are running a Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts Special. The Festival Special includes round trip ferry tickets from Victoria to Port Angeles, lodging at the Red Lion Inn, and passes to the festival. The Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts will feature over 125 performances of music, dance and theater from around the world. In addition, there will be a street fair, great food stalls, public art, musical workshops and special activities for children. It is simply one of the biggest events of the year on the Olympic Peninsula, and so convenient for folks coming from the Victoria area.

This year, the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles WA is celebrating Canada by highlighting Canadian performers on Sunday, May 24. Corbin Keep, Harry Manx, and Ivonne and Kalissa Hernandez are all outstanding musicians who will be on stage this Sunday. Likewise, The Ecclestons will play “full-contact folk” and Tiger’s Folly should stir your souls. We hope that people in the Victoria area will ride the Victoria Express passenger ferry from Victoria BC to Port Angeles WA to partake in this festival. Likewise, folks on the Olympic Peninsula should consider taking the walk-on ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria after the festival.

Travelers are reminded that as of June 1, 2009, passports or enhanced driver’s licenses are required for travel between the United States and Canada.

The Juan de Fuca Festival will be at E and A

This is it – Memorial Day Weekend is upon us at last. Tomorrow marks the start of the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles, WA, which sits just across the Straits of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, BC. To encourage Canadians to partake in this festival, which annually brings folk music from around the world to the Olympic Peninsula, the Victoria Express is running a Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts Special. This Festival Special includes round trip ferry tickets from Victoria to Port Angeles aboard the Victoria Express, Lodging at the Red Lion Inn and passes to the festival. The complete package is $251 for one night or $477 for two nights – based upon double occupancy.

Don’t forget that Sunday, May 24, the Juan de Fuca Festival is celebrating Canada Day by featuring several top Canadian musicians. That’s right, Canadians will be celebrated in Port Angeles, WA. It only seems right that residents of Vancouver Island head across the water to partake in the festivities. So take the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles this Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy a weekend of great music, street vendors, and family activities.

The Juan de Fuca Festival for the Arts runs Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, 2009. Travelers between Canada and the United States will need passports or enhanced driver’s licenses starting June 1, 2009.

Olympic Peninsula fans of custom motorcycles and cars should know that there is a great event on the horizon in Victoria. All they need to do is ride the passenger ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, BC, and they will be able to participate in the 2nd Annual Vancouver Island Custom Motorcycle and Car Show. This Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, custom motorcycle and car aficionados will have the chance to see some great specimens in Victoria. This show promises to be great fun. There will be over 80 motorcycles and 40 cars on site, including the 2008 Canadian Champion. In fact, some of the finest custom built cars and motorcycles from all over North America will be in Victoria this weekend – a rare opportunity for fans.

There will be vintage bikes and cars in the traditional, or old-school, style, along with racing cars and bikes. But there will also be State of the Art new creations that will display their creators creativity. Take the passenger ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria and vote for your favorite creation to win the “People’s Choice” Award.

In addition to motorcycles and cars, there will also be artists on hand – both tattoo and paint – to discuss how to best accent you or your vehicle. And be sure to check out the specialty vendors that will be on hand for this event only.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Vancouver Island Association for Injured Motorcyclists. So be sure to head across the water on the Victoria Express and check out the 2nd Annual Vancouver Island Custom Motorcycle and Car Show.

Take advantage of the Hood Canal Bridge closure to travel on the Victoria Express, explore Victoria, and get to know your neighbors to the north. Riding the Victoria Express is a great, inexpensive way to travel to one of the most beautiful cities on the west coast.

We are fortunate to be so close to a city that is steeped in British traditions. One of the most charming of these traditions is Afternoon Tea. Historically, Afternoon Tea in Britain is served before 5pm, and includes a small selection of sandwiches and little cakes. It is served at small tables in the parlor or outside, not in the dining room. If Afternoon Tea is skipped, Brits traditionally take High Tea after 5pm. This is served at the dining table, and includes a variety of hot foods

Tea at the Empress

Consider signing up for one of the Victoria Express Afternoon Tea specials. A reminder of British Columbia’s English roots, Afternoon Tea at The Empress Hotel has been one of Victoria’s traditions for almost a century. You haven’t had a scone until you’ve eaten one of award-winning Pastry Chef D’Oyen Christie’s freshly baked raisin scones with heavy cream and strawberry preserves. It is the perfect accompaniment to a cup of the hotel’s secret Tea at The Empress blend in the Library. You will transported to another era.

For a different setting, try Afternoon Tea at the Gardens -Butchart Gardens, that is. This is a melange of Afternoon and High Tea traditions, serving warm sausage rolls (made from Vancouver Island pork) and quiche in the afternoon. Lemon Poppy Seed loaf or chocolate Grand Marnier truffles guarantee that those with a sweet tooth will not be disappointed. These are of course accompanied by a large pot of tea of your choice.

Victoria Express Afternoon Tea Special – Includes round trip ferry tickets from Port Angeles to Victoria aboard the Victoria Express, Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel. $93 per person.

Victoria Express Afternoon Tea at the Gardens – Includes round trip ferry tickets from Port Angeles to Victoria aboard the Victoria Express, Afternoon Tea at Butchart Gardens. $116.50 per person

Don’t forget that United States Citizens will need a passport or an enhanced driver’s license to travel to Canada after May 31, 2009.

There is a lot going on in and around Victoria, BC this weekend. Since this is also the last weekend when travel between Canada and the United States is permitted without either a passport or an enhanced driver’s license, why not hop on board the passenger ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, BC and have a little holiday?

Plan on spending Saturday night listening to four of the greatest voices in the world. Il Divo creatively blends opera with popular music, and the results are out of this world. In fact, they have awed audiences around the world with their versions of “Amazing Grace” and “Power of Love”, among others. David Miller, Carlos Marín, Urs Buhler & Sébastien Izambard are not to be missed.

Canadians have been fans of Il Divo since their inception, and Saturday’s concert is guaranteed to leave listeners breathless. Staged and choreographed by William Baker (Kylie, Jamiroquai) on a state of the art set, with a tour wardrobe designed by Giorgio Armani, the show will certainly look as good as it sounds.

Saturday night is set. Now, what to do the rest of the weekend? The Selkirk Waterfront Festival is one thought. Sponsored by the Burnside Gorge Community Association, and located on the beautiful Selkirk Waterfront, this event is perfect for the whole family. There will be live cultural performances, interactive workshops, a family fun zone, food and vendors. This is a perfect way to be out in the great weather and experience a little culture, too.

Or, take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria and attend Fired-Up! Contemporary Works in Clay. This pottery show at Metchosin Hall in Metchosin, BC has been going on for 25 years. The combined experience of participating potters adds up to 750 years, which means a lot of clay has passed through these able hands. This show will display a great deal of innovation and even more talent, and should be seen by anyone who enjoys the ceramic arts.

Victoria Express offers a number of overnight specials in Victoria. So why not plan to spend a sunny, fun filled weekend in Victoria now?

The 16th Annual Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts starts Friday, May 22 at noon, and runs through Monday night, guaranteeing that this Memorial Day Weekend will be memorable. Over 125 artists from all over North America and the world are converging on Port Angeles to bring some of the finest music out there to the Olympic Peninsula. You can dance, write songs, or just kick back and listen.

Sunday, May 24th, is “Oh Canada Day” with lots of performers from Canada. Harry Manx, Corbin Keep, and Ivanna Hernandez will be there, astonishing audiences with their talent and delighting all with their sense of fun.

Tiller's Folly plays Canada Day

Tiller’s Folly, based out of Vancouver, Canada, pays tribute to their beautiful Pacific Northwest home with their music. According to their website, Tiger’s Folly “has been captivating audience with their music, stories and smoking live shows” for more than ten years. “From the dynamic vocals, driving acoustic guitar and classic songwriting of Bruce Coughlan, through the wild, virtuoso layers of creative color added by award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Nolan Murray, to the solid driving foundation laid down by bassist and vocalist, Laurence Knight, Tiller’s Folly is a high-energy acoustic roots music experience like no other.” They will be bringing down the house on the main stage at 9:30pm.

Victoria Express is offering an “Oh Canada Day” special during the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts: Victoria Express Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts Special: Round Trip to Port Angeles from Victoria, Festival Passes and One or Two nights lodging at the Red Lion Inn and passes to the Festival: One night – Double Occupancy $251 / Two nights – Double Occupancy $477 USD – For reservations call 250-361-9444.

Travelers on the Victoria Express will need either passports or enhanced drivers licenses starting June 1, 2009.

The Victoria Express begins service this summer on May 22, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Plan to ride the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC during that long weekend, and take advantage of some of the spectacular special deals offered by Victoria Express.

Victoria Express trips to Craigdarroch Castle

Their Afternoon Express Special Includes round trip ferry tickets from Port Angeles to Victoria and a Grand City Drive tour. At $53.50 per person, it is an affordable way to leave the country for the day. Victoria Express takes care of all of the details – you simply sit back, relax, and take in the glorious views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the city of Victoria.

If you would like to add a taste of old Scotland to your day trip, check out Package 3a, which adds a trip to Craigdarroch Castle. According to the castle’s website, “Craigdarroch was built between 1887-1890 for Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. This legendary Victorian mansion, built on a hill overlooking the City of Victoria (Craigdarroch means “rocky, oak place” in Gaelic) announced to the world that Robert Dunsmuir was the richest and most important man in Western Canada…. The immense fortune of the Dunsmuir family is reflected in the four floors of exquisite stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and fabulous Victorian era furnishings.” A trip to the castle makes a delightful outing for anyone interested in Victorian architecture.

Take some time to plan your summer getaways on the Victoria Express. Remember that as of June 1, 2009, travelers between the United States and Canada will need passports or an enhanced driver’s license.

Whales can sometimes be spotted from the Victoria Express

It’s spring, and spring is the beginning of whale watching season in the Pacific Northwest. The Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Puget Sound area are some of the most beautiful waterways in the world, offering views of the Olympic Mountains, the Cascade Mountains, volcanoes and islands.

Orcas, also called Killer Whales, are local residents of the waters around Victoria and Vancouver Island. Whale sightings can be spectacular in May, June, July, August and September during their migration to the feeding grounds of Alaska’s waters.

Orca whales, gray whales and humpback whales are amazing to see, yet they are not the only sea life worth looking for out there. Keep an eye out for porpoises, Pacific white-side dolphins, sea lions and harbor seals. Or scan the skies and tree-tops for bald eagles.

Whale watching is an experience many say they will never forget. A typical whale watching tours is 3 hours in length. Be sure to bring your camera and your excitement. Victoria Express can book your entire tour, including ferry to and from Victoria B.C., a whale watching expedition and even an overnight visit in one of Victoria’s hotels.

If you choose to stay overnight, you can tour Butchart Gardens the next day and have time to explore lovely downtown Victoria.