A huge thanks to Empress 1908 and Victoria Tourism for inviting me on this special trip! All thoughts, opinions and experiences are my own.
Happy Wednesday friends! And welcome back to travel week! Last September I headed to Victoria, British Columbia with the Empress 1904 Gin team on an unforgettable trip. Today I want to share the whole experience with you and provide you with a few tips on what you have to do while you visit this beautiful city.
About Victoria
Before we jump in, let me tell you a little about Victoria. Located an hour outside Vancouver, Victoria is known for its mild climate and its gardens that bloom year-round. The city is tied closely to both land and sea and the rugged natural beauty of the Pacific coast encourages all-season adventures in the great outdoors.
Easily explorable by foot and at your own pace, a visit to Victoria can be as relaxing and rejuvenating as it is educational and exciting. Take advantage of the diverse historical, architectural and multicultural makeup that comes from being the oldest city in the Pacific Northwest.
Where We Stayed: The Empress Fairmont
After catching a flight from Atlanta to Seattle (4 hours) then another quick flight from Seattle to Victoria, I arrived to the beautiful island. Along with a group of fabulous bloggers, I was fortunate enough to stay at the historical landmark, the Fairmont Empress. This stunning hotel has been recognized as one of Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler magazine, honored with Travel + Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Award for Top 10 City Hotels in Canada, and regarded as a Condé Nast Readers’ Choice and Gold List hotel.
While we were there we learned that the Fairmont Empress just completed a $60+ Million restoration that celebrates its proud history while moving the hotel into a new era of modern luxury; transforming this iconic property into an elegant must-visit destination for the world’s discerning travelers. This Forbes Four-Star, 4-Diamond property offers 464 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Willow Stream Spa {which you will read about later in this post!} with signature West Coast experiences, Q at the Empress Restaurant and bar, and a reimagined Fairmont Gold Lounge with stunning harbor views. And of course you can’t miss the world famous high Tea at the Empress {which I will talk about later}! Known as Canada’s Castle on the Coast, the Empress is the ideal starting point to explore British Columbia’s stunning natural beauty. And trust me when I say, from the moment you first lay eyes on this castle you are immediately captivated by its beauty. But its not just it beauty that set this hotel apart, it was its attention to small details and welcoming staff. As you can see from the photos above, everything that was presented by the hotel was of top quality. I especially loved how they put my name on the toiletries! Such a unique touch!
What We Did, Drank and Ate
Victoria Distillery
After getting a full nights sleep at the Empress Fairmont, we kicked off the trip with a tour of Victoria Distillers. Although they are known for the beautiful Empress 1904 gin, Victoria Distillers also feature other spirits such as vodka, whiskey and even a chocolate liqueur.
When we arrived to the distillery, we were greeted with a warm welcome by President and Master Distiller Peter and his team. They immediatly poured us each their famous gin and tonic! After snapping a few photos, we all went on a tour of the distillery and learned how Empress 1908 is made. We even got to label our bottles {pictured above} and take it home! We also learned about the other handmade spirits they have been creating for the past 10 years.
This larger distillery facility opened its doors in May 2016. It maximizes the opportunity to involve the local community and visitors in the experience of creating artisan spirits. The project creates a regional focal point at a site that is unmatched anywhere in the province, in terms of both its natural setting and environmental sustainability.
The waterfront site houses two copper pot stills, which continue to produce their award-winning spirits. It was really neat to see how their spirits are made and to learn about the hard work that goes into creating them. If you are visiting Victoria make it a point to stop in for their tours and tastings!
Whale Watching
After getting a full tour of the distillery and eating a delicious lunch, we headed to out to sea for some whale watching with Eagle Wing Tours. For me personally, it was an experience of a lifetime to see these majestic whales in the wild. I truly cannot put it into words how captivating the whole tour was. Our guide was extremely knowledgable and did a great job answering all our questions. On our tour we saw various pods of whales- both orcas and humpback whales. Although they were both fascinating, the humpback whales were my favorite. Various times we saw them breach and smack their ginormous tales out of the water! It was amazing!
Willow Stream Spa
On our last day in Victoria we got a real special treat by checking out the famous Willow Stream Spa. Recognized by Condé Nast as a Top Resort Spa in Canada and Spas of America Top 100 Spas of the Americas, Willow Stream Spa is a serene oasis. When we first walked in we were greeted with warm aromas and the welcoming staff. They then took us to the lockers and invited us to partake in their spa ritual. The spa ritual includes a Finnish style sauna, steam inhalation room and mineral pool that is designed to open up inhalation, cleanse, detoxify and warm the muscles.
After the soothing ritual, I headed into my Neroli Body Treatment. Featuring energy balancing to calm the spirit, eucalyptus infused foot cleansing ritual with reflexology to clear the mind, and a lymphatic dry brush with a luxurious application of Neroli Blossom Bath and Body oil to invigorate the body. It was 60 minutes of pure bliss!
Tea at the Empress
To close out our trip we got to experience a century old tradition at the Empress- afternoon tea! As you can see by the photos above, the tea was absolutely beautiful. And very tasty too! During out high tea experience we sampled various locals teas and the famous, Blue Suede Shoes that features the same butterfly pea blossom that colors Empress 1908 Gin.
Dinner at Q Restaurant
For our final evening in Victoria we were fortunate enough to try out the award wining Q at the Empress Hotel. This atmospheric space has a fresh contemporary feel, all the while staying true to the building’s unique iconic heritage. It’s known for its fresh, creative Pacific Northwest cuisine that values the importance of farm to table cuisine. While we were at dinner, Chef Ken Hookham came out to say hello and shared that some of the herbs and vegetables were sourced from his very own garden! It truly made the meal that much more unique and special. You could taste the freshness with every bite! A huge thanks to Chef Ken for creating such an exquisite and delectable meal!
As you can see by my long post, there is a tremendous amount of amazing things to do in Victoria. Although everything we did and ate was fabulous, what really stood out is how warm and welcoming everyone in Victoria was. From the Empress 1908 distillery team, to the staff at the Empress Fairmont, this gem of a city is one you want to put on your travel itinerary for 2019. Happy traveling friends!
Xo,
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