Write. Read. Repeat.

NOVEMBER 2023

BLACK BALL FERRY

PORT ANGELES, WA

(Photo By: Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

With the husband back home for the month, we wanted to take a trip and have a night to ourselves. My mother was gracious enough to stay with the kids at our house for our weekend trip.

We had each been to Canada on our own, but never together and not to Victoria. This was also our first tip abroad together as well and with his crazy escapades, nervousness doesn’t quite fit as the right term for the level of anxiety I had at the boarder crossing. Perhaps it will be getting back into the US will pose an issue with his infatuation with various souvenirs….

We awoke on the morning of November 18^th bright and early to set sail across the Straights of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles to Victoria aboard the Black Ball Ferry. It was a windy drive there and an even rockier 22 miles across the water. Not one for sea sickness, but this trip came close. At around $90 round trip for two though, we were not going to pass this up.

Abigail’s Hotel

Though I am, the husband is not a fan of ghosts and the supernatural, so I only got to poke my head into the gates of St. Ann’s Academy during the day. No nuns were spotted, but there was an eerie feeling like we were being watched, though no one was around.

After our things had been deposited, we set off in search of breakfast. Despite him being in the Navy, neither of us woke early enough for more than rolling out of bed, feeding our kids, and jumping in the car. We had had a late night before as he had played on an adult scrimmage team at the Seattle Kraken Community Ice Complex in Northgate. They did not keep score or anything, but we got home pretty late despite there miraculously being no traffic for the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. Needless to say, we were craving something delicious.

With a bit of searching, we found the Fern Café and Bakery on the list of top vegan restaurants with a rating of 4.8 stars, and it was just a short walk from Abigail’s. He had the Western Tofu Scrambled (2.5/5) and I had the poutine (3/5). He is quite picky when it comes to vegan food and the poutine was good, but just not the right choice for breakfast with a less than sensitive stomach. We later had a cookie and brownie from there and the Double Chocolate Chip cookie was a 5/5 with the fudge-like brownie a 1/5. It would be just to say, we were quite disappointed. 

Downtown

This feeling let-down continued as we headed on to the the Victoria Public Market and Market Square. Most things were either not open or the spaces simple not occupied. We had hoped for a bit more hustle and bustle on a Sunday morning, but perhaps that is one difference between the US and Canada. There was a peaceful feel to strolling around, we had only hoped for more to gaze at. The coffee and service at Shatterbox Coffee Company was also subpar. 

With our expectations dropped to near zero, we meandered to China Town, where our whole trip picked up. Through the little alleys and hidden shops we found ourselves content and at awe. The Triple Spiral Metaphysical Gifts, The Turntable, and Best of Both Worlds Import were a few of our favorite shops. Making our way out of the turn-around side streets and maze of alley-ways, we wound up at the Bay Centre Shopping Centre. Eyeing up La Senza lingerie shops for later 😉

We stayed in one of the Opal rooms and it was absolutely gorgeous. The king bed was a cloud and the deep-green marble bathroom with jet-tub was to die for. 

Atop the fireplace in the room was a notebook in which those who have stayed in room 1B wrote little blurbs about their stay and what brought them to Abigail’s in the first place. 

I have loved reading through these stories; like looking through port holes into other people lives. A feel of love coming from them is homogenous with the feeling of reading a romance novel. 

Getting back on our feet, we had to check out the alluring Munro’s Books on Government Street. The building itself is a wonder to behold and the wide range of books could have kept us there for hours, though the rumble of our stomachs began to turn heads. There were a few titles that caught my eye, but knowing that I can find them in the states for much cheaper kept them to just my TBR list for now. To find lunch it was.

Food. Food. Food.

Gorgeous and delicious vegan Spicy Peanut rice-noodle bowl. The Noodle Box looks like a hole in the wall from the street, but is lively with it’s cozy and warm atmosphere. The husband got the Cambodian Mac and Cheese, and while it was not vegan, it is nice to find a place where we can both find something amazing to eat.

Post Noodle Box, we headed to a classic souvenir shop for the husband to find his relic magnet and shirt. A brisk strut back up the hill to our hotel, we lounged around in the complementary robes, reading by the fire. Being a chronic hypoglycemic, sthe sugar cravings started to hit. My sweet husband obliged and got a few goodies from three of the surrounding bakeries that offered vegan options. A nauseatingly-rich brownie and polar opposite double chocolate chip and sea salt cookie were from the Fern Café, but him being him, the other two bakery names were as memorable as what they had to offer. The cookie was gone in minutes, but I cannot say the same for the other goods, despite the sentiment of their delivery.

We hung around the hotel till dinner time, then headed cross downtown to Virtuous Pie, an all vegan pizza and pasta restaurant. The staff were delightfully friendly and the food was amazing in both taste and appearance. He got the Superfunghi pizza loaded with his favorite, mushrooms, and I ordered the Garlic Foccia. A few cocktails later, we ordered dessert, something we rarely do as there is either no vegan options or at least none that sound appealing, though the Cinnamon Knots with Carmel sauce were in my top 5 favorite desserts ever! I have never had such a good, vegan dessert experience. 10/10, would highly recommend Virtuous Pie.

One thing I struggle with is photo taking. Yes, yes, yes, that is one extremely important part of having a blog, but I promise, I am learning. I rarely, if ever use stock photos or those I have not taken. The ferry photo at the beginning of this post is from the internet, but seeing as we only saw the front of the ferry in the dark, this seemed appropriate. The only other exception has been photos the husband has taken. He is much better at it than me. Either way, there are some photos lacking of our meals as I get too excited to try the food and forget to snap a shot prior to diving in. 

BC Natural History Museum

Once ready for the day and coffee in hand, we headed just around the corner to the BC Natural History Museum. One thing that we consistently strive to see in a new city is their natural history museum. While small, it was a nicely curated collection of zoology, anthropology, paleontology, and a tiny mock town of Victoria. Overall, we put the museum at a 6/10. They made good use of their limited space. 

In another post, I will go into everything that has been happening with Maverick, but one of his conditions is feline asthma. He was diagnosed about a year ago, but has been having more frequent and severe episodes. The treatment for which is inhalant fluticasone. Now, if you take this medication, you know how fucking expensive it is without insurance. Around $700 in the US. There is the online Canada Pharmacy that has several animal-human medications in stock for far less, but I figured, why not try and pick it up while we were there. The pharmacist quickly denied us to no surprise, but was worth a try. Apparently, you can buy codeine over the counter no problem, but not a life-saving asthma medication. *insert eye roll*

5 o’clock Somewhere

We stuck around here to kill sometime before our 4pm ferry back to Port Angeles. Worked on this post and photo editing, surrounded by the large and ornate interior with multiple rooms that kept you guessing around every corner. Where you know there is a history around the name and the building, but it is not shoved in your face. These are the spots I crave. Especially when you can down mimosas the whole time.

Home

Returning to where we started, we again boarded the Black Ball Ferry and made a much smoother ride back to the states. Customs was as quick and easy as when we arrived and off home to the kids we were. All in all, Victoria was more about the sights than the sustenance. With that said, Victoria is a beautiful destination with so many hidden gems, but not all that outwardly vegan friendly. 

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If you have been to Victoria BC, please let me know your favorite places and bonus points for vegan spots in the comments. We hope to go back one day, but plan to visit Vancouver together first. Extra bonus points for Vancouver recommendations!

Thanks for reading!