Experience Providers

Discover the power of art on your next trip to Vancouver with a visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery, one of North America’s most exciting and innovative visual arts institutions. Works by renowned Canadian Modernist painter Emily Carr are often on view as well as ground-breaking exhibitions and selections from the permanent collection. Open 7 days a week, a visit to the Gallery is an opportunity to meditate on more than a century’s worth of Canadian and international art, from historical masters to contemporary visionaries. Enhance your experience by attending one of the Gallery’s engaging special events, educational tours or programs designed for families, youth and art enthusiasts of all ages. Weekly Family Programs are featured every Sunday and are free for children 12 and under. Spend time in the Gallery Store; a locals’ favorite or refuel in the Gallery Bistro (currently under renovation).

IMR is based in Cumberland, BC which is quickly becoming Vancouver Island’s riding Mecca. If mountain biking is your religion then a pilgrimage to Cumberland is a must! Cumberland boasts a wide variety of trails right out the back door in it’s neighbouring forests. Cumberland is centrally located on the Island and is the perfect place to access the trails of other areas, such as; Forbidden Plateau/Comox Lake, Hornby Island and Campbell River. Island Mountain Rides is owned and operated by Martin Ready. Martin uses 8 years of guiding experience and over 20 years of mountain biking experience to ensure that you have a great time. Island Mountain Rides has legal land use agreements/tenures in all locations advertised. IMR is fully insured and has a comprehensive risk management plan in place to ensure your safety.

Sun n’ Sup is a full service paddle board shop in the village of Naramata. The Village sits at the end of the road off the famous Naramata Bench which is dotted with over 40 wineries. We sell, rent and offer lessons in paddle boarding as well as rent a few kayaks and have a small fleet of comfort bikes to ride the Kettle Valley Rail Trail or tour the wineries. Are you looking for a new Sup inflatable or wanting to take a lesson or just rent for the afternoon our shop has everything you need including a wonderful selection of summer clothing and sandals. Ladies looking for a fun night out, check out our Chica SUP Nights on Wednesday evenings.

The Spa Magnolia is Victoria’s chic urban spa located in the heart of downtown Victoria. Merging luxury with certified organic products we offer the very best in massage, facials, body treatments and pedicures!

Sooke Harbour House Resort Hotel is located on Southern Vancouver Island overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Olympic Mountains, and has direct beach access to Whiffin Spit on the Juan de Fuca Strait. Our unique 28 rooms feature a selection of fine amenities including spa tubs and steam showers. All of the guest rooms have wood-burning fireplaces and ocean views, with the exception of the very spacious family room which overlooks our garden area. The internationally award-winning fine -dining restaurant serves organic, seasonal, Canadian cuisine, specializing in wild seafood, mushrooms, herbs, and flowers from its organic gardens. We offer meeting facilities, spa services, recreational activities and eco-tourism in pristine wilderness. Whale watching can be enjoyed within walking distance, and on occasion the Orcas swim in front of the hotel! The Sooke Harbour House is a perfect destination for weddings, romantic holidays and an ‘any season getaway’. In 2016 all 28 guest rooms were sympathetically renovated with new carpets, beds, luxury linens and 40 inch flat screens with cable tv. In September 2016 we opened our wonderful new Copper Room, featuring a large selection of Island produced craft beers, wines and spirits as well as international favourites. The Copper Room is open from 11:00am to 9:00pm year-round daily, serving a more casual menu of wholesome and hearty foods as an alternative to our fine dining. *** Please note: From 18th October until May 31st our fine-dining restaurant is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday. It is open for dinner Thursday to Monday from 5.30pm to 9.00pm. Throughout the high season the fine dining restaurant is open 7 days a week for dinner. The Copper Room is open daily serving food and beverages making Sooke Harbour House a full service resort.

With over 50,000 amazing aquatic creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium, what will you see today? Stop by and say hi to the adorable sea otters, or come see the mesmerizing jellyfish. Enjoy daily dolphin, sea lion, walrus and penguin experiences, as well as the free-roaming animals found in the popular Amazon gallery. And make sure to visit the Treasures of the BC Coast gallery to discover the unique and breath-taking animals that live in BC’s local waters, including ‘Ceph Rogen’, the Pacific Octopus. You can also immerse yourself in the 4D Experience Theatre, which combines the high-definition excitement of a 3D film with thrilling sensory effects! The Vancouver Aquarium is an Ocean Wise initiative, a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life. Your visit to the Aquarium directly contributes to its conservation, education and research programs. Find out for yourself why the Vancouver Aquarium is one of the world’s favourite aquariums!

Paddle’n’Go is a local Victoria SUP company, offering stand up paddle boarding (SUP) lessons, tours, and fitness classes for all levels. We love getting people into the water, connecting with nature and gaining new perspectives on the beauty of Southern Vancouver Island. Safety is a priority in every aspect of our programs. We begin by providing participants with the best gear and high-performance SUP boards. Our professional team consists of experienced SUP Instructors with a profound knowledge base. Team members are Paddle Canada certified.

We have selected some of the best known and very special kayaking, hiking, rafting, and canoe adventures in British Columbia and Yukon. These wilderness adventures offer an opportunity to get away from routine, be awed by incredible scenery, learn about the natural and cultural history of an area, meet new people from around the world, and perhaps, find something new and important about yourself.

I-Hos Gallery presents a collection of traditional and contemporary northwest coast artwork and crafts. Masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry and wood carvings, textiles and clothing produced by First Nations artists are displayed in a distinctive building on the K’omoks First Nation Band lands (located between Courtenay and Comox) on Vancouver Island. There is truly something for everyone and every price range in the gallery.

Kootenay Cycling Adventures offers fully supported and self supported cycling tours in BC’s spectacular West Kootenays. With quiet roads, stunning mountain and lake views, charming small towns, and delicious fresh food, the area is a cyclist’s paradise. We offer shuttle service, bike rentals, guiding support and take care of the logistics so that you can focus on the riding.

The Ocean House is a 12-room fly-in lodge located on the west coast of Haida Gwaii in a protected area called Stads K’uns GawGa [Peel Inlet]. Guests will experience culturally-focused excursions as well as kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, rejuvenation at the lodge’s spa and relaxing area, delicious food and so much more. We invite you to experience the warm hospitality, rich history and culture, and the unique natural beauty for which Haida Gwaii is known. Please note that the Ocean House is not street accessible and stays are package-based departing from Vancouver BC.

Orca Spirit Adventures is Victoria’s premier whale watching company, offering carbon neutral tours led by captains and naturalists whose knowledge and passion for Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry. April through October are the peak whale watching months and during this time we boast a greater than 95% success rate of spotting whales, including humpback whales, transient & resident orcas, minke, & gray whales! Other wildlife you may encounter include Dall’s and harbour porpoises, harbour and elephant seals, otters & marine birds such as cormorants and bald eagles. Unlucky tour? Join us again using our WHALE GUARANTEE for a complimentary tour to bring your dreams of seeing these magnificent animals to life. Choose between a covered vessel with indoor and outdoor viewing areas and the 12-passenger zodiac vessel, for the more wild at heart. For all guests we offer complimentary shuttle pick up from all hotels in downtown Victoria. Tour length is 3-hours.