cross country
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 10/10/2002
View Profile
|
The price of gas in Victoria today is 1.21 per liter. Up Island is usually 3 cents cheaper (the Duncan area)
A word of caution; many private RV parks are well rented year round. I would strongly advise calling ahead. I would also mention that some of these parks are a long way from the Gardens, up the Malahat or a long twisty drive out Sooke way. There are 2 Walmarts of which I have seen MH's parked at. Goldstream Provincial Park may be a good bet as the stay is regulated, but again call ahead.
I don't think one can park a motor home at the Gardens, however I have seen B's in there and there is a ton of bus parking. Once again, worth a call.
July 1st weekend (Sat. night) the fire works display starts and ends labor day (all summer every Sat. night) It is considered one of the best anywhere. seating is on the grass, bring blanket and arrive early for spot of your choice.
The Black Ball ferry from Port Angles is price competitive with the B.C. Ferries, however it unloads downtown. Traffic is not that bad and the city is small by comparison to major U.S. cities. The B.C. Ferry unloads at Swartz Bay from "Twassen located at the end of a highway, shortly on route one may find the tourist info spot and a place to pull over and park. The Anacortes Ferry takes a long time as it stops at many of the American Islands before arriving in Sidney. The Black Ball is the least scenic (all of them are though) When travelling South and back the Black Ball is ferry of choice as Customs is quick and easy and the milage is less for us. Reservations are strongly recomended as only 2 sailings a day and it is busy.
Look at all the ferry routes from the island to plan a circle route if you wish. Hope this was of some help. Didn't mean to go on and on.
|
driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 01/07/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
www.bcferries.com is the BC Ferry website for Victoria to Vancouver - if you travel in summer I strongly reccomend reservations. Same for campgrounds. In Vancouver there is Cariboo RV Park and Capilano are the two I'd reccomend. Downtown Victoria and Vancouver are not RV friendly but then what downtown really is? Bring a TOAD there's lots to see. 
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
|
wallynm
Los Alamos NM
Senior Member
Joined: 09/27/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
RV Parks:
http://www.capilanorvpark.com/
http://www.hazelmere.ca/
http://www.pacificborderrvpark.com/
http://www.whistlercamping.com/
Stanley park/ Vancouver Aquarium: Downtown Vancouver
http://www.vanaqua.org/home/
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/stanley/index.htm
Granville Island: Downtown Vancouver
http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/public_market
Capilano Suspension Bridge: North Vancouver
http://www.capbridge.com/
Robson Street: Downtown Vancouver
http://www.robsonstreet.ca/shops/
Grouse Mountain: North Vancouver
http://www.grousemountain.com/welcome.cfm
Steveston Villiage: 20 Minutes south of Vancouver
http://www.steveston.bc.ca/activities.html
White Rock: right on the boarder
http://www.whiterockonline.com/attractions.htm
Whistler: 2 hours north – 2010 winter Olympic City
http://www.tourismwhistler.com/www/about_whistler/
We stayed in Twassan, BC about 2 miles from the BC Ferry and then took the Ferry to Victoria Island and then used public transportation on the Island. Staying in a Island RV Park will be significantly more than on the main Land.
Suggest you convert as many US $$ to CN $$ that you think you will need before getting there. Check with your credit Card Companies and find out what they will charge you for converting CN charges to US $$. It can be a high as 5%.
Victoria Photo file
BC,CN RV Parks
Enjoy the Ride
davecw wrote:My cousin and her husband are thinking about going to Canada but was wondering if we can drive are motorhomes on the ferry in Seattle or what's the best way to go and see the Bushart Gardens in Vancouver.
Does anybody know how much Diesel and Gas prices are now?
We were hoping that we could find an RV park either in Victoria or Vancouver but we can't find anything listed. We would appreciate any advice you can give us. Thank you
Have a Cat Engine Yahoo Group or Cat RV Club Web Page
Have a Freightliner Yahoo Group or FCOC Web Page
wallynm@yahoo.com
2002 DSDP 3567 PUSHED BY KITTY KAT
THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT
|
MaverickBBD
Bellingham, Wahington, U.S.A.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2004
View Profile
 Online
|
Cam Am Duo has it right. Drive the motor home up I-5 to Anacortes. Fildalgo Bay RV Park or Norther Lights Casino and then take the ferry from there. Otherwise with the price of fuel and the strong Canadian dollar it will cost an arm and a leg and that's metric.
Tom, Cheryl & Maverick (Black Lab.-Great Dane Rescue)
2005 Winnebago Journey 36G w/Cat. C-7 350 hp on Freightliner XC
1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport Toad w/ SMI brakes
Roadmaster tow bar
FMCA 397030
WIT 129107
Pesident San Juanderers
|
Switchman
Mercerville, New Jersey
Full Member
Joined: 03/21/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Being an ex-Tacoman I was back there in 1988 & '93 for a class reunion and spent four days on the island. The one thing I would say is get to the ferry dock very early the night before you want to leave. Dry camp in line with the rest of the folks to catch the first ferry in the morning. The lines for the ferry line up very fast, one year we were the cut-off car and had to wait for the next fery. Live stock rigs are put in the front of the line, so if you are in line and in front of the cutoff vehicle and a live stock rig shows up you'll be the first one on the next ferry.
Try and spend at least one and half days at Buchard Gardens, there is a lot to see and enjoy.
Owen
Owen & Barb
2004 Bounder 36S Workhorse W22
2001 Saturn SL2 - Toad
Co-pilot Live Laptop 10 - GPS
MSGT, USAF (Ret)
FurKids:
Want to be a lap dog, Rod-Black Lab mix named: Hollie: 
A deaf lap dog, Chihuahua named: Chicky
FMCA F386249 - Good Sam Club
|
|
|
ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/28/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Do NOT take any guns with you.
Canada will not let you in with them.
2004 Monaco
La Palma 36DBD
Two Slides
2 Potties
Workhorse 22 chassis
8.1 gas engine & Allison transmission
6.9 MPG based on a 6,000 mile trip around the U.S.
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
US Gear Toad Brakes
|
deandec
El Dorado Hills, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/26/2001
View Profile
|
We ferried twice, from Port Angeles to Victoria and then to Vancouver, with two 40' DP's and toads. The cost was about $200 each rig plus two people each ferry trip.
This would be cost effective only if staying several nights in Victoria area.
Dean
95 CC Magna Jeep GC
(Vietnam Vets may be eligible for medical care and disability compensation. Contact the VA if you have prostate cancer or type 2 diabetes.)
|
Tyro2u
Lethbridge, Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 04/27/2003
View Profile
|
i recommend Fort Victoria RV Park which is right in Victoria and n ot far from downtown (250-479-8112). It will be full in the summer so make a reservation. We took the Coho ferry (www.cohoferry.com) from Port Angeles to Victoria and it cost us about 160.00 for a 40ft MH and toad, about the rpice of a hotel for a night. Loved the Gardens but was there in the spring so not quite in bloom. May is probably a good time.
40ft Class A DP
400hp Cummins
3 slides
full timer
|
Peter L
Oregon
New Member
Joined: 03/15/2006
View Profile
|
Drive up I-5 to 101 at Olympia west to Gilgal Oasis RV Park in Sequim for the night. Gilgal 360-452-1324
Take the M.V Coho ferry out of Port Angeles to Victoria. Make reservations both over and back.
Stay at Westbay Marine Village in Victoria. 250-385-1831
Drive motor home to Butchart Gardens and park in their lot for RVs. Tour the gardens, go back to the motor home for lunch or dinner, rest up and then walk back to the gardens after 5:00 PM when all the tours leave you will have the place to yourself until closing. Check times.
All above places, ferry are on the web.
The ferry gets a bit interesting to drive on and off, but the people who direct you are great and very experienced.
It is a great trip.
Do not let gas/diesel prices get in the way.
|
Gamoore
West Sacramento
Full Member
Joined: 10/08/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I would highly recommend Weir's Beach RV Resort just west of Victoria. Stayed there for 4 days 2 years ago, really nice, had a spot right next to the beach with a view of the ocean from our front window.
Diesel Driver
2001 37' Harney Renegade Classic
330 HP CAT
2007 Saturn Aura XR
|
|
|
