Victoria Real Estate Blog - November, 2013

Finding all the Best Christmas Crafts in Victoria

It's that time of year again and if you love Christmas Crafts, you're in luck. Victoria is home to many Christmas Craft Fairs and events you can enjoy throughout the holiday season. Here are some of the best choices coming up in the next few weeks.

Out of Hand Christmas Craft Fair

Another great choice is found at Crystal Gardens at the end of November. This fair has been held for 25 years now and will provide all types of crafts. They also feature cocktails and a DJ on Friday night, a fashion show and so much more. Some of the newest and oldest artisans will be on hand with all types of food, fashion, accessories, pottery, glass and more.

This fair will be held on November 29th from 10am to 9pm, November 30th from 10am to 6pm and December 1st from…

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The City of Gardens

Victoria has been called the "City of Gardens" for many years because of the mild climate and the many great parks and gardens throughout the area. This is a beautiful part of the country and provides some of the best gardens throughout the entire world.

Starting at the beginning of March, the city becomes home to over two billion blooms and they even count the flowers every year to prove it. The hanging basket tradition has been going for over 75 years, which provides a spruce of beauty throughout the downtown area. Baskets of flowers are hung on the lampposts in June as a sign of summer starting.

The main urban green space is Beacon Hill Park with 75 hectares for residents to enjoy. It's found on the southern shore of Victoria and includes beautiful…

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Neighbourhood Spotlight: James Bay

Found just south of downtown Victoria, James Bay is a vibrant neighbourhood with plenty to offer. New residents love this area of the city because it's close to the Victoria Harbour, Beacon Hill Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These borders provide some of the best of the city and some of the top attractions including:

• Royal BC Museum
• Fisherman's Wharf
• Parliament Buildings
• Beacon Hill Park
• Fairmont Empress Hotel
• And More!

These attractions provide some of the best in dining and shopping throughout the area. Whether you're looking for the best horse-drawn carriages or you want to walk along the beautiful waterways, you can find it all here.

This is a very active community with plenty of housing options including multi-family homes,…

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A Top Downtown for Relocation

Victoria Downtown was named to the list of the top twenty downtowns in all of North America. This area of the city provides plenty of great shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and so much more. The historic buildings make the downtown desirable for those relocating to the area. With beautiful streetscapes and an excellent Inner Harbour, everything you need is found here.

Many downtown attractions provide fun for everybody year-round. The buildings make Victoria unique from other downtowns and provide a touch of romance to the city. Spend time visiting the historic buildings, such as the BC provincial Legislative Buildings, art galleries or the many museums.

According to Travel Magazine, Victoria is one of the top ten cities to visit in the entire world.…

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The Best Places to Get Your Hair Done in Victoria

Whether you're a guy or a gal, your hair is important. You have to get it cut, curled or colored. Finding a new place to trust with your hair isn't always easy when you're new to the city. Here are some of the best choices in Victoria for your hair care needs.

The Top Barbershops

For the guys, if you prefer an old-style place with barbers ready to give you a trim and a shave, you probably want to find a barbershop. This will allow you to get the most out of your experience and most of these places cater to the men.

Barbershops are found all throughout the Victoria area, but three are known for providing a better experience than all of the other choices. Victory Barbershop is one of the best choices for your trim and shave. Victory is found at 1315…

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Enjoying a Rainy Day in Victoria

When it rains in Victoria, you don't have to end your day or stay in all day long. There are a number of great activities to enjoy throughout the city when the rain starts coming down. Here are some of the top choices.

IMAX Theatre

The 406-seat IMAX theatre provides a huge screen and a great activity during a rainy day. It's found within the Royal BC Museum, which stands six storeys tall. They feature many Hollywood blockbusters and many documentary films, as well.

Craigdarroch Castle

If you love Victorian architecture, beautiful craftsmanship and a tour of a huge mansion, this is the right place for you. It was built between 1887 and 1890 by Robert Dunsmuir. The castle has 39 rooms and upstairs tower and plenty of beauty found throughout.

Art…

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Announcing the 25th Annual Out of Hand Artisan Fair

As the most prestigious artisan fair throughout the city and the year, the 25th Annual Out of Hand Artisan Fair will provide plenty of crafts, food and more. The backdrop will be provided by the Crystal Garden, which used to be a salt water pool. This will be the site of the show and many special events will be provided throughout the weekend.

The event will start on November 29th and will run until December 1st. Exhibitors will include:

• Wesley Clark
• Amu Designs
• Barry Tate Gallery
• Rolando Lamitoe
• Soulful Sister Aromatherapy
• Flying Colors - Natural Perfumes
• Jordan River Soapworks
• Studio 10 Arts
• Sophie's Choice Creative Organics
• Ynomi Studio + Gallery
• Dirty Dragon Studio
• Living Earth Pottery
• My Cloud Creations
• Cherry Blossom
…

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Neighbourhood Spotlight: Uplands

An upper-class neighbourhood found in the northeastern part of Oak Bay, the Uplands are the perfect place for new residents. This is a suburb of Victoria and many consider it a garden suburb. A movie from 2007 was filmed in the area called, In the Land of Women, which starred Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart and Adam Brody.

This seaside village is very popular because of the blend of historic charm and elegant sophistication. A PGA class golf course, yachting facility, beautiful estates, amazing shops and plenty of excellent restaurants are found throughout the area. The Uplands are most known for the landscaped gardens and beautiful historic homes.

As one of the first planned communities in British Columbia, many of the homes provide a look into a different…

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Introducing a Great View from Lone Tree Hill Park

Lone Tree Hill Park is found off Millstream Road and provides plenty of great activities for adults and children. The park is just over 31 hectares large and found closest to the Highlands area of Victoria. It was established in 1982 and stays open from sunrise to sunset every day.

Don't let the smaller size of this park fool you, it provides a great experience with an intimate feel. The trails throughout the park are rated as moderate to challenging and you can climb above the highlands to the summit of Lone Tree Hill. This summit is 364 metres high and provides an amazing view of the area. You can see the Malahat, the Highlands and the Olympic Mountains from the summit.

Climbing the hill provides a great place for birdwatchers to potentially spot a…

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