Just a short drive from your own Best Bed and Breakfast home you can explore a wide range of rural experiences. From rugged backcountry hikes to sophisticated wine tasting, the countryside around Greater Victoria provides a myriad of opportunities.

Only minutes away from your Bed and Breakfast are some of the finest wineries in Canada. Although just recently coming into its own, southern
Vancouver Island is now known as one the best wine growing areas in North America.

As a visitor to Greater Victoria you may be surprised at the number and quality of wineries that are only a few minutes by car from your Best Bed and Breakfast Inn. There are a number on the Saanich Peninsula, the same area where you'll find Butchart Gardens.  Within an hour of your Best B&B location you'll discover many more vineyards in the Cowichan Valley, just north of Greater Victoria on Highway 1. To add to the excitement of wine tasting, there are now wineries on little Saturna Island, and larger Salt Spring Island, just a short day trip by ferry from the Victoria region.  Tours of the region's wineries are very popular, especially in the summer and fall, and most are happy to provide tastings of some of their best wines. There's even a cidery.

While you're out on your drive, stop at one of the local farmers' roadside stands for a taste of just-picked bounty. Also take some time to visit a few of the many artists' studios where you can admire and purchase pottery, painting and other arts and crafts made by the artist on site.

The Greater Victoria area makes a wonderful place to visit when you can move from wine tasting on one day, to artist studio tours the next, and to hikes through primeval forests or rugged ocean coastline on another.  Great parks that range from groomed walking trails to unspoiled wilderness are only a few minutes drive from your Best B&B home.

Marley Farm Winery web site 1831 Mount Newton X Road Saanichton (250) 818-6191	Victoria Estate Winery web site 1445 Benvenuto Avenue Brentwood Bay (250) 652-2671
Chalet Estate Winery 11195 Chalet Road North Saanich (250) 656-2552	Merridale Ciderworks web site 1230 Merridale Road Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0 Phone: 250-743-4293 Fax: 250-743-9310
Venturi-Schulze Vineyards web site 4235 Trans Canada Hwy Cobble Hill (250) 743-5630	Glenterra Vineyards 3897 Cobble Hill Road Cobble Hill (250) 743-2330
Alderlea Vineyards 1751 Stamps Road Duncan (250) 746-7122	Blue Grouse Vineyards & Winery web site 4365 Blue Grouse Road, RR#7 Duncan (250) 743-3834
Chateau Wolff 2534 Maxey Road, Nanaimo (250) 753-9669	Godfrey Brownell web site 4911 Marshall Road Duncan (250) 748-4889
Vigneti Zanatta web site 5039 Marshall Road Duncan (250) 748-2338	Salt Spring Vineyards Winery web site 151 Lee Road Salt Spring Island (250) 653-9463
Saturna Island Vineyards web site 8 Quarry Trail Saturna Island (250) 539-5139	Garry Oaks Vineyard and Winery web site 1880 Fulford-Ganges Road Salt Spring Island (250) 653-4687