Victoria Express

2009 Juan de Fuca Festival

The 16th Annual Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles is a great way to spend May 22 – 25, 2009. Check out Victoria Express special sailings, deals on lodgings, and Arts Passes for Canadians during this fantastic event. Sunday, the festival will be celebrating Canada Day by featuring Canadian musicians such as Victoria natives Ivonne and Kalissa Hernandez, two fine fiddlers. Ivonne began playing the violin at the age of three, and by five she won her first contest. She has been developing her skill and her own unique sound ever since. When describing her Debut CD “Playing With Fire” on her website, Ivonne says “I’m going to be playing some traditional fiddle tunes, but my background is Chilean on my father’s side and east coast on my mother’s side, so all that will come together with my own modern sound.” Kalissa Hernandez is a tour de force at 20, with her award winning fiddling and step dancing. The two are sure to raise the roof when they play

Wild Cellist

Corbin Keep, from Gabriola Island, BC, is a cello virtuoso with a reputation as a wild cellist. How often do you get the opportunity to witness a wild cellist play? It is not to be missed. Also check out Tigers Folly; one of their most recent projects is “Stirring Up Ghosts”, which commemorates the 150th anniversary of British Columbia and fosters awareness of the Pacific Northwest. The Ecclestons, who were voted best live act on Vancouver Island in 2004, have been playing throughout Canada and the world for decades; they offer full contact folk music.

Ride the Victoria Express and walk to the festival’s seven interior and exterior venues. There are so many opportunities to hear great music, and Canada Day is a unique opportunity for Canadians to see a wide variety of top Canadian musicians close to home. You can choose from traditional bluegrass to big band swing, from international Latin jazz to Flamenco. You will be able to sit back and listen or get up and dance. This is the perfect time for Canadians to cross that water border and take advantage of an amazing array of talent on the Olympic Peninsula.

Victoria Express is offering the following 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.

Canadians and Americans alike need to remember that the open border we have shared for so long will soon require a passport or enhanced drivers license to cross. Come June 1, 2009, all travelers will need to provide one of these two forms of identification when crossing into Canada from the U.S., or into the U.S. from Canada. Fear not, with the proper documentation, border crossings should be as seamless as ever. Take advantage of the fact that passports and enhanced licenses are not required until June 1, and travel between Canada and the United States now. The Victoria Express is a great, scenic way to travel from Victoria to Port Angeles, and there are many reasons to do so.

Harry Manx

Sunday, May 24th, the 16th Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts will be highlighting Canadian performers with Canada Day. Mysticssippi performer Harry Manx is one of the festival’s most exciting guests this year, and folks will have three opportunities to see him perform on Sunday; he will be at the Elks Stage at 11am, the Main Stage at 5pm, and the Chamber Stage at 8:15pm. Manx has been called an “essential link between the music of East and West,” for he blends “Indian folk melodies with blues, a sprinkle of gospel, and compelling grooves” (see his website).

Manx tours throughout the world, and this opportunity to see him just a short boat ride away from home should not be missed. The Victoria Express is offering special packages for this event; so ride the Victoria Express and check out the 16th Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles from May 22 – May 25. Details about our special are as follows: 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.

This is guaranteed to provide foot-stomping fun.

July 1 was Canada Day, when Canadians in Victoria stepped out in great numbers to celebrate being Canadian. Victoria was hopping all day to the sounds of live music as people created an enormous living Canadian flag, participated in walking tours, rode in horse-drawn trolleys and strolled through Market Square. Enthusiastic fans also attended a baseball game.

Take the passenger ferry to watch the Victoria Seals

Baseball, you say? Yes, Victoria has its own team, the Victorian Seals, and fans are not merely Canadians. Some folks on the Olympic Peninsula consider the Victorian Seals to be their home team. It’s true, although they don’t say that too loudly for fear of insulting fans of the Seattle Mariners. But you have to admit that it is easier to ride a passenger ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria than to drive all the way to one of those other ferries in order to cross Puget Sound.

The Victoria Seals are at this moment engaged in a four game series with the Tucson Toros. It’s not too late to be spontaneous and catch the last game of the series, on Friday evening. Or plan ahead a bit: the Seals will be hosting the Edmonton Capitals and the Yuma Scorpions over the coming days, and will play at home frequently during July and August. Check out the Seals‘ schedule.

The ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria offers numerous specials that include lodging in Victoria; they are a great value. Make a long weekend out of it, or a mid-week vacation, and take in a game while you are there. See how the Canadians put their own twist on baseball.

Passports or enhanced drivers licenses are now required for travel between the United States and Canada.