Victoria Express

For a culinary experience you will never forget you must check out one of the best kept secrets in Victoria. You may have heard rumors of a Legislative Dinning Room in the Parliament building that was open to the public. Now is the time to find out what it is all about.

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and the Parliament buildings are where the BC Provincial Government assembles to make the laws and decisions of the province and it is also where the legislation assemblies are held.

Located across the street from the Inner Harbour, the Parliament buildings are easy to access from our terminal and offer one of the most striking landmarks to visit, tour, photograph....and even experience a great lunch.

Yes, it does indeed exist, the food is delicious and it is even at a great price.

This best kept secret is located in the main building where a free guided tour is available during the summer. In the evening the BC Parliament Buildings light up the skyline with over 3,300 light bulbs casting a 'magical spell' throughout the Inner Harbour of Victoria, BC.

20th Anniversary - $20 Round Trip To Victoria

Plan your trip to visit the historic Parliament building and sail on the ferry to Victoria. Victoria Express currently departs from Port Angeles daily at 8:10 am, 12:15 pm and 4:15 pm. For only $20 you can book a round trip to Victoria. Head to Victoria for the day, or stay for a night or two. The staff at Victoria Express will be happy to take care of all your travel needs, including lodging, tours and even whale watching.

Call 360-452-8088 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Travel to Victoria, Canada from the United States does require a passport or enhanced driver's license. Please see our ID Requirements for more information.

Bobbi Fuller, owner of the Elwha Dam RV Park just east of Port Angeles shares this story with travelers visiting the Pacific Northwest: “If you are researching points of interest, breath-taking "must see" places to visit, and fun things to do while visiting the Olympic Peninsula, be sure to put on the top of your ‘To Do’ list a boat ride with "Captain Jack" on the Victoria Express passenger ferry.

Of course that means a quick 55 minute sailing to beautiful Victoria B.C. or a full day cruise to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in the Salish Sea. “Captain Jack” will enthusiastically name all of the sea birds and other critters encountered on the cruise. In fact, he may even make an opportunity for passengers to enjoy a few moments watching the dolphins, Orcas, harbor seals, or sea otters playing in the kelp; all the while keeping on time with his Victoria BC, Friday Harbor and Port Angeles passenger ferry schedules.

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.

Victoria Dragon Boat Festival

Each year, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese year, Chinese communities all over the world celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. The exact origins of the festival are vague. One theory is that it was to somehow ward off evil on the most evil day of the most evil month of the calendar in ancient Chinese society. At some point during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the festival became a commemoration of Qu Yuan, a wise man who served the Emperor Huai and fought against corruption. The wise Qu Yuan flung himself into the Miluo River upon learning that his country, the Chu State, had been defeated by the Qin State. Legend has it that fisherman took to their boats in an effort to find him, and then threw zongzi (wrapped rice dumplings) and other food into the river so that the fish would not touch his body. According to the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival website, “in the centuries since his suicide, people have commemorated Qu Yuan by recreating the circumstances of his tragic death. They race dragon boats and eat zongzi every year on the anniversary of his death – the fifth day of the fifth month.”

This year, the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival will be August 14 – 16. The festival will start in the Inner Harbor on Friday the 14th with the “awakening of the dragon” ceremony, performed by priests from the Ching Chung Taoist Church. This is an essential part of the festival, for the dragons cannot race unless their spirits are awakened. All people are welcome to watch the priests cleanse and bless the arena and ultimately awaken the spirits of the dragons by painting on red “eyes.”

Races will take place Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in Victoria’s Inner Harbor. Ninety teams from across North America will race 500-metres, from Laurel Point to the Royal London Wax Museum. If you have never seen dragon boat races before, you will be delighted and amazed by the colorful boats and the skill of the paddlers. In addition to the races, a variety of vendors and all sorts of entertainment will be on land, including a Kids Tent. This is definitely an event that is fun for the whole family.

Taking the passenger ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, or the passenger ferry from Friday Harbor to Victoria, is a great way to travel to see the festival. You may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the races while on board the Victoria Express.

“Dragon boat races are now held worldwide, and the ideals of Qu Yuan are still honoured – through Taoist ceremonies, the spirit of the paddlers, and the invitation and involvement of the local community. Through the festival’s many activities, people are reminded of the importance of loyalty and commitment to the community.” (Festival website)

Summer is the season for exploring, so take the passenger ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, and hop aboard a Harbour Ferry for a fun adventure in the Inner Harbor of Victoria.  These jaunty little boats offer a fun and unique experience.

The Ferry Captains are extremely knowledgeable about the waters around Victoria and the history of Victoria. They will lead visitors on Old Town Shopping Hops, Westsong hop and walk, Victoria Harbour and Gorge Waterway Tours, and various group tours and charters.

Ask your captain to lead you to Fisherman’s Wharf and check out the eclectic collection of float homes. Stop for lunch. Have tea at Point Ellice House. Stare in awe at the reversing waterfall, and make a list of areas to revisit after the 45-minute tour.

Even if you decide not to  hop aboard one of the Harbour Ferries, while in Victoria you should definitely plan to be near the Inner Harbour on Sunday morning at 10:45 AM to watch the Harbour Ferries perform a water ballet to the music of the Blue Danube Waltz.

The Victoria Express also offers overnight packages in Victoria that allow ample time to explore the rich history in and around this amazing travel destination.

As of June 26, it will be possible for folks to ride a passenger ferry from Friday Harbor to Victoria Fridays through Mondays (through September 7). This is a great opportunity for the islanders of the San Juan Islands to travel directly to the beautiful international city of Victoria B.C. and even continue to the natural wonders of the Olympic Peninsula.

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.

This weekend, ride the passenger ferry from Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC and be among the first to check out Giant Landscape: British Columbia Landscapes Exhibition. Beginning Saturday, June 6th, 2009 and running until September 7th, 2009, this exhibit will run seven days a week at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, which is an easy walk from the passenger ferry terminal in Victoria.

British Columbia is an area graced with magnificent physical beauty on a very grand scale. Much of the land is undeveloped. To stand in the wilderness of British Columbia is to experience humility in the face of Nature. Artists over the years have found the vastness of the wilderness, the size of the trees and the proximity of the Pacific both alluring and intimidating; a hardy few have captured some of the extreme beauty of the place – their work forms the basis of this exhibition.

According to the museum’s website, the exhibit “explores how approaches to the monumental and richly varying topography have changed from the romantic visions of early visitors to the region to interpretations by those living here such as Emily Carr, Fred Varley, E.J. Hughes, Sybil Andrews, and B.C. Binning.”

Amazing British Columbia Landscapes

There are a number of specials offered by the passenger ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. Many include lodging and enough free time to explore the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria at your leisure. The Victoria Express is a great way to travel across the Salish Sea.