Day rides out of Victoria

[kdxwhit]

My buddy and I are planning on taking our wives on a 3-4 day trip to Victoria. I am looking for suggestions for day rides and hotels. We will be up there in August. I have never been there, so any suggestions would be great.

[Deuce]

Drop in any bike shop here in town and they will give you a really good map of local routes etc. It's free

[configurationspace]

Out to Port Renfrew, then the short hike down the Botanical Beach is a lovely little day trip. There's a great little cafe in town that almost always has 6 or 8 motorcycles in front of it. You can make it a loop if you go up to Cowichan lake, but personally I prefer to take the road between Renfrew and Victoria both ways. Along the way there's plenty of places to stop for little hikes. The first one is East Sooke Park, and then there's plenty you'll see along the road.

If you want less riding and more hiking, I'd take a ferry to one of the nearby islands, like Pender. There's some great hikes in there.

A bigger ride would be out to Bamfield. If you take the Cowichan road route, be ready for oodles of potholes and gravel. The Port Alberni route is paved but it's also where all the traffic goes.

Tofino and Ucluelet are longer day trips and that'll also take you through Port Alberni.

[OurBC]

My buddy always stays here http://www.executivehouse.com/index.php?page=26.

[OldPete2112]

Originally Posted by configurationspace

Out to Port Renfrew, then the short hike down the Botanical Beach is a lovely little day trip. There's a great little cafe in town that almost always has 6 or 8 motorcycles in front of it. You can make it a loop if you go up to Cowichan lake, but personally I prefer to take the road between Renfrew and Victoria both ways. Along the way there's plenty of places to stop for little hikes. The first one is East Sooke Park, and then there's plenty you'll see along the road.

If you want less riding and more hiking, I'd take a ferry to one of the nearby islands, like Pender. There's some great hikes in there.

A bigger ride would be out to Bamfield. If you take the Cowichan road route, be ready for oodles of potholes and gravel. The Port Alberni route is paved but it's also where all the traffic goes.

Tofino and Ucluelet are longer day trips and that'll also take you through Port Alberni.

Agreed, all very good rides. Take your time on Renfrew ride, it claims a lot of riders. Allow lots of time for hiking at Botanical beach, it is a very cool place.

Saanich peninsula has some really nice easy roads for meandering while going for coffee. Easy to get to Munns Road, head to Francis King Park for a hike, then for some twisty fun between shopping or dinner. Or out that way head to Butchart Gardens if that is your thing. Heading out to the west shore Humpback road is getting to be full of pot holes, but if you are careful it is fun too. Good hiking at Mount Wells.

If you want the downtown experience there are plenty of hotels, for all budgets. If you want something better head up to the Westin at Bear Mountain, reasonable prices and right on a Jack Nicholas golf course.Or better yet head out a bit west to Sooke, B&B is a great way to experience our area, lots of them out in the Sooke Area where I live, all these places are within a few blocks of my place. I have friends that stay the following places when they come visit as I only have one guest room, and that fills up quick when fishing is hot!

Speaking of fishing, I have several friends that own fishing charter businesses, so if you want to do that I can hook you up with any of them. Check out my buddy Dave's charter right here, we do a LOT of fishing on his 42' Bertram sport fisher. Yes, it is most excellent.

http://hookedonsooke.com/

If you want smaller boats, he has that too, so do about 20 of my other clients.

Hotels and stuff here:

Brand new Best Western waterfront:
http://bestwesternbc.com/hotels/best...anfront-resort

Time share condos that also rent, great place to stay as you have BBQ, deck, garage etc
http://www.sookeharbourmarina.ca/

B&B
http://www.whiffinspitlodge.com/

http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/ very well known, prices reflect it but so does the food! Excellent.

Send me a PM if you have questions. Can always meet up for coffee and ride, the wife and I can give you a tour.

OP

[woofer2609]

I am intrigued to try the vacation packages offered through BC Ferries at this site:
http://www.bcferriesvacations.com/pa...ls03191201.php
If you factor in the (high) cost of ferries, which you have to take anyway, it makes the lodging very inexpensive. I linked to one that has a spa, figured the ladies would like that! They are a reputable vendor to be sure, large corporation and all (no, I do not work for them)
If you're into them, the Royal BC Museum is outstanding, not sure where you are coming from though.
I personally love the road from downtown, up the west coast to Port Renfrew (stop along the way for sure) I like to continue on the road between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew, but do ride safe and enjoy the view. This section has lots of gravel on the road. Here are some photos.





There is a logging museum in Lake Cowichan if that floats your boat.
You'll come out of Lake Cowichan heading east and end up in Duncan. From here you can head North, or back south to Victoria. If you are heading North, take the water route, you can ride to Nanaimo only riding the main hwy for about 15km's.
I like Chemainus, and Ladysmith is nice as well.
I like Pagliachi's for pasta dinner in Victoria, walking distance downtown.
Hope you enjoy your trip!

[jackd]

Originally Posted by Deuce

Drop in any bike shop here in town and they will give you a really good map of local routes etc. It's free

This map sounds interesting - who created it? I'll have to drop by a shop and pick one up.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by jackd

This map sounds interesting - who created it? I'll have to drop by a shop and pick one up.

Don't know who did it. It has locations of all the bike shops from here to Nanaimo plus coffee shops etc. Great map. I used to carry 1/2 dozen in my tank bag to give to riders from out of town if I met them on the ferry, stop lights etc.

[jackd]

Thanks for the details. Are these maps still available?

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by jackd

Thanks for the details. Are these maps still available?

Roger that. Saw some on the counter at Savage when I was there today, drooling over the Pangile