Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VICTORIA'S BEST FESTS
Time your visit well and you can hang with the locals at one of these popular Vict-
oria festivals:
Victoria Day Parade
Marking Queen Victoria's birthday on the Monday before 25
May, this colorful street fiesta shimmies with dancers, musical floats and a full
complement of marching bands.
Victoria International JazzFest
(
www.jazzvictoria.ca
)
The city's biggest music fest-
ival takes place in late June over 10 days. Jazz performances pop up in venues in
and around the city, including some free alfresco shows.
Victoria Fringe Theater Festival
(
www.victoriafringe.com
)
Hundreds of quirky short
plays, reviews and wacky stand-up acts are staged at venues throughout the city
over 11 days in late August.
SLEEPING
Prices indicated are for the May to September peak season (sans taxes), when it is diffi-
cult to find anything central for less than $100 a night; rooms are reduced by up to 50%
off-peak, when the weather is often pleasantly mild. Tourism Victoria's
room reserva-
B&Bs, hotels and everything else.
SWANS SUITE HOTEL
HOTEL
$$
( 800-668-7926, 250-361-3310;
www.swanshotel.com
;
506 Pandora Ave; d incl breakfast $185;
)
This former brick warehouse has been transformed into art-lined boutique ac-
commodation. Most rooms are spacious loft suites where you climb upstairs to sleep in
a gabled nook, and each is decorated with a comfy combination of wood beams, rustic
yet chic furniture and deep leather sofas. The full kitchens are handy. There's also a
brewpub downstairs.
OSWEGO HOTEL
HOTEL
$$
( 250-294-7500, 877-767-9346;
www.oswegovictoria.com
; 500 Oswego St; d $205; )
Well hidden on a residential side street but only a short stroll from the Inner Harbour,
this contemporary boutique sleepover is an in-the-know favorite. Rooms come with
