Tucked between Vancouver Island’s pristine waterways, lush forests, and rugged wilderness is some downright delicious coastal cuisine. Chefs, distillers, and purveyors here rely on locally grown ingredients to infuse their creations with the flavors of the destination itself.
But to find these gourmet gems, you have to know exactly where to look—or, in this case, where to stay. Enter the Magnolia Hotel & Spa.
The award-winning boutique hotel in British Columbia’s charming capital city of Victoria is putting Vancouver Island’s tastiest bites on the map (literally!) with its new Sooke Flavour Trail guide. Available exclusively to Magnolia Hotel guests, the handheld map and itinerary highlights key points of interest for culinary-minded travelers as they explore the Vancouver Island’s coastal communities. It’s the newest addition to the hotel’s vast collection of curated trail maps.
No restaurant, distillery, or attraction can buy their way onto the map—it has to earn it. Each listing on the Sooke Flavour Trail guide is a top pick from the hotel’s concierge and staff who have personally visited each spot and fell in love with it as a local.
In other words, following the guide is a sure-fire way to have an incredible local experience on Vancouver Island.
Here’s a taste of what you can experience on the Sooke Flavour Trail from the Magnolia Hotel, along with other ways to make the most of your trip to Victoria.
Follow the Magnolia Hotel’s recently released Sooke Flavour Trail map to explore the natural beauty and foodie scene of three coastal communities in Southern Vancouver Island: Sooke, Metchosin, and Langford. Everything on the itinerary is located within an hour’s drive of the hotel, which makes it an easy day trip from Victoria.
Your trip can start out on a blissful note in the picturesque lavender fields of Bilston Creek Farm. The historic farm, which dates back to 1851, has a quaint shop filled with products made with the French and English lavender it grows and harvests throughout the summer. Snap some photos in the purple fields (in bloom from late June through early September), then stock up on lavender-infused products, like simple syrup, rose tea, honey, and hot chocolate, to take home.
You could also consider grabbing some takeout from Metchosin mainstay My Chosen Cafe—another favorite on the Sooke Flavour Trail—and enjoying a picnic back at Bilston Creek Farm.
Then, drive another 15 minutes for something sweet at Sea Chest Ice Cream. This seaside nook is known for its innovative ice cream sandwiches, like fig leaf praline with chewy oat cookies, butterscotch swirl on cardamom sugar cookies, and scoops of salted caramel ice cream smooshed between peanut butter cookies. If the frigid treats
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Travelers now have the chance to win enough airline miles to last for many trips to come.Air Tahiti Nui's “Share The Love” contest will give away a total of 1,000,000 airline miles from the loyalty program in increments of 25,000 miles each to winning travelers. As for the ‘sharing’ component of the contest, each winner who gets the prize of 25,000 miles, can give 25,000 to a person of their choice. The original winner also receives a private helicopter flight courtesy of Tahiti Nui Helicopters.
When visiting Tokyo, it’s key to book a luxurious hotel that feels like a serene retreat removed from the crowds. After all, Japan’s sprawling capital is populated by 37 million people, making it the single largest city in the world.
For U.S. News & World Report, the road from weekly news magazine to publisher of company rankings has been a long and winding one. The key, though, to its shift toward data-driven ratings of companies and institutions was its 1983 publication of “America’s Best Colleges.”
By traditional measures, Alaska Airlines is a carrier of decidedly modest size, even after its acquisition of Virgin America. Its own flight network is small, compared to those of American, Delta, and United. And it’s not a member of one of the three global airline alliances.
A recent report released from travel marketing engine Sojern, analyzed travel trends from January 2015 to April 2016 and found the top international destinations for U.S. travelers as well as the top emerging and declining international spots.
Americans use 500 million of them a day without thinking about it, and now, a growing number of countries, cities, airlines, and restaurants are banning this popular item. Plastic straws—we use them to sip our cold brew coffee, they come unasked for in our cocktails and sodas, and they are killing our environment.
Ever wish you could buy a rail pass for the skies? This summer, Norwegian regional airline Wideroe is once again offering a seasonal fly-all-you-want Norway air pass covering all of its routes. The airline flies a relatively dense route system throughout Norway, plus flights to/from Aberdeen, Goteborg, and Kobenhavn.
Here’s a secret: If you want to visit Europe during peak season without the crowds, take to the ocean. A small-ship sailing tour lets you explore the hidden gems of Croatia, Italy, or Greece, without having to fight traffic or cram yourself on a crowded train.
Few lodging situations can beat the coolness of a houseboat. There’s just something about falling asleep on the gentle undulation of water that makes for a more relaxing experience than even the most luxurious hotels. That’s why the Paolyn Houseboat on Coron Island, Philippines, is a must.
Surrounded by the pristine beauty of Félicité Island in the Seychelles, Six Senses Zil Pasyon offers an escape into the lap of luxury. This stunning resort seamlessly blends in with its natural surroundings, providing guests with an intimate and immersive experience in these East African islands. From its sweeping views to its world-class amenities, Six Senses Zil Pasyon truly a tropical paradise.