WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA

GET OUTSIDE AT GOLDSTREAM PARK

It’s always amazing to see the circle of life played out every year at Goldstream Provincial Park: In late fall, thousands of chum salmon return to the Goldstream River to spawn. But spring is a lovely time to visit this provincial park, too, with its massive old-growth trees, impressive waterfall and the largest concentration of Bald Eagles in Canada — all just 16 km from downtown Victoria and accessible along wide, flat trails. Stop at the Goldstream Nature House for more information, guided walks and other educational programs.

Or for a little more adventure, hike the Mount Finlayson Trail and camp in the impressive provincial campground.

TASTE THE CAPITAL’S COCKTAIL CULTURE

Victoria is famed for its cocktail culture and there are several local distillers contributing to this phenomenon. Sheringham Distillery is one of the local pioneers, known for it’s seaweed-infused Seaside Gin and alcohol-free line of Lumette products. The company recently moved its production from Sooke to Langford, and has a tasting room that’s open daily. Check out the website for weekend events featuring local chefs.

The art of the cocktail is also on display at the new Humboldt Bar, an homage to the street’s namesake, explorer, philosopher and scientist Alexander von Humboldt. And for visitors (and locals), there’s the aptly named new Tourist Wine Bar, dedicated to by-the-glass natural wines.

DINE AT AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS

Victoria is a food-obsessed town — with more restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars per capita than any other city in Canada. So it’s no surprise that Victoria restaurants keep making awards lists, the latest being Ugly Duckling and Marilena Café, both among Air Canada’s enroute magazine’s top 30 best new restaurants in Canada.

The former is a hip new space at the centre of Canada’s oldest Chinatown, with chef Corbin Mathany offering innovative menus, all featuring local ingredients and celebrating the Asian history of the locale.

At Marilena (named one of the top 10 restaurants in Canada by enroute), the stunning restaurant and raw bar from Vancouver’s Top Table Group, chef Kristian Eligh oversees an impressive menu ranging from sushi to seafood towers, whole grilled branzino and Japanese Wagyu beef.

More noteworthy new spots to explore include the funky and locally focused End Dive, with its handmade pasta and creative cocktails, the expanded farm-to-table dinner menu at Nourish, and casual eatery Tombo, from Crust Bakery’s chef Tom Moore.