I am a member of the Clipper online marketing team. I particularly love to explore cities of the Pacific Northwest and I am always on the hunt for something new and fun to do. I also enjoy art, music, tide pools and bargains.
With a fleet of three boats and multiple daily departures, a lot of people walk through the Seattle and Victoria terminal doors a year so it is always nice to hear when someone enjoyed their trip. We <3 feedback and it comes to us from a lot of different channels including onboard surveys, the Victoria Clipper Facebook page, and review sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp.
Here are some the great things people are saying about their recent Clipper Vacations trips:
The ship was clean and comfortable. The crew was quite nice and helpful. I paticularly want to mention Christie. She was quite patient with me and explained all the different options we had in Victoria – even circling things on the map. The bathrooms were quite clean on the ship. The coffee was good and the food was reasonably priced (given the captive nature of the audience). Read the rest of this entry »
I am a self-identified nerd. Specifically, I am a museum nerd. Everywhere I travel, whether it is a major cosmopolitan center like Vancouver or small seaside town that lines Washington’s waters, I want to know what museums are in the area and start mapping out my visit. In no particular order, I love art museums, science museums, history museums, museums of unique collections, large national museums, and tiny museums tucked into single rooms of old homes. You get the picture, I enjoy museums!
Ross Cemetery in Victoria,BC. Photo: Brandon Godfrey/Wikicommons.
Are you like me and easily spooked in the dark? Do you mistake shadows and bumps in the night for goblins, ghouls and ghosts? If so, the Haunted Victoria Tour may not be for you. Victoria, BC is known as Canada’s most haunted city and based on the eerie tales I have heard, it just may be the spookiest in all of North America. Read the rest of this entry »
Victoria, BC can be at its most charming during the cooler months and there are so many reasons to go! Just as the air gets crisp in early fall, the timing is right to check out the area’s many cideries. A little later in October, celebrate the spookier side of the season with a Haunted Victoria Tour. You also have until October 31, to try a ziplining adventure including the very adventurous night zip. If your vacation style is more low-key, Victoria hosts two amazing Afternoon Teas; at the Empress Hotel and at Butchart Gardens. Either will keep you toasty. Read the rest of this entry »
It has been another fantastic summer of Orca whale watching at Clipper Vacations and we are always a little sad to see the season come to an end. September 25 marks the last day of this year to get a glimpse of these Northwest residents (and some visitors), so if you have not made the trip yet now is the time to do it. So far this year, our boat has reported whale sightings on 97% of the sailings and there have been some spectacular shows. Read the rest of this entry »
2011 has been a year of celebration for Clipper Vacations as July 1 marked the 25th anniversary of the first Victoria Clipper sailing. It has been an honor to serve the approximately 300,000 passenger we carry every year we look forward to serving many more.
As one can imagine, arriving at 25 years has been a journey including some challenges but many highlights. Featured in this month’s Pacific Maritime Magazine is the story of Victoria Clipper and Clipper Vacations. The article not only touches on Clipper’s history, but you’ll also learn some interesting things about our boats!
Winner, Phoebe & her daughter on a previous Clipper trip!
To celebrate 25 years of operation in the Pacific Northwest, we decided to give away a multi city vacation to one lucky person. Finally, we are pleased to announce Phoebe Pogson as the winner of our 25th Anniversary Sweepstakes and a prize pack for two that includes: Read the rest of this entry »
Clipper’s first Orca Whale Watching trip of the season on the Victoria Clipper III is next weekend and we are really anxious to see what are favorite residents are up to from pods J, K and L and maybe spot some new visitors. To celebrate the start of the season, Clipper is offering day trips from Seattle to the San Juans including a 2.5 hour whale and sealife search for only $49 per adult pluskids FREEMonday-Thursday, May 23-June 30.
In previous years, there has been a 96% rate of whale sightings and as always, a naturalist is on board to guide you on your excursion and answer any questions you may have about the Puget Sound’s sealife. You will also receive a full color informational guidebook and you’ll want to keep that handy for your stopover in Friday Harbor when you are searching for things to do.
The recent TV show “Portlandia” became an instant hit taking loving and quotable jabs at one of our favorite Northwest neighbors, Portland, OR. The city is teased in a series of skits for its local hipster inhabitants—bicyclists, foodies, and DIYers—just to name a few, but while “Portlandia” is making fun, this exuberant and young city remains a top destination to visit for just those reasons.
My absolute favorite way to get to Portland is by train. Besides the very relaxing and scenic ride, for a small fee Amtrak allows you to bring your bike! Portland is widely perceived as having one of the best urban bike infrastructures in the U.S., and seeing the city on two wheels is a great way to get to explore the city from a local perspective. But just a little forewarning, some Portlandians really take their bicycle rights seriously:
Dining in Portland is a foodie’s dream come true. There is much emphasis within the restaurant culture put on fresh, local, artisanal and organic and done so with many different spins. Get served up fine dining quality fare at one of the city’s food truck vendors that will change your opinion on this most casual experience or head to one of the many creative sit down restaurants that are proud to serve gourmet versions of old favorites. Knowing where your food comes from is very important to many Portlandians, but there is such thing as knowing too much:
Shopping in Portland is also a unique experience. The city is brimming with a fantastic DIY culture that is supported by talented artists, craftsmen and designers. Many boutiques carry one-of-kind handmade goods all created locally such as jewelry, clothing, home goods and even bicycles. You’ll want to be sure to seek out some of these spots and maybe bring home something handcrafted for yourself. While you are in Portlandia, however, you may spot an emerging trend or two hatching:
Portland wears its personality on its sleeve and enjoying its quarks if part of the charm. On your next visit, tap into Portlandia by pedaling around the city, checking out the local food scene and scouring one of its many boutiques featuring local crafts. By the time you get home, you’ll want to tell your friends “The Dream is Alive in Portland”:
The Seattle Art Museum’s record-breaking Picasso exhibit has come and gone but the 14,000 square foot gallery space has since been renewed with a jaw-dropping explosion of Technicolor created by visual artist Nick Cave. Last Friday night I stopped in at the SAM to catch the exhibit, Meet Me at the Center of the Earth, a dazzling showcase of Cave’s amazingly precious and wild hand-crafted wearable sculptures he calls Soundsuits.
Nick Cave’s background is in both fine art and fashion, makes his Soundsuit creations out of just about any found material from thousands of tiny buttons individually attached to thrift store stuffed animals, pot holders, sticks and vintage garments re-crafted with the most delicate sense of detail into imaginative assemblages that seem to straddle a line somewhere between psychedelic circus and high-fashion couture. I was drawn in first by the exciting pops of color and gorgeous texture but then found myself examining each piece up close trying to take in the immense detail of each sewn together object and masterful stitch. I noticed other galleries attendees doing the same including children who would go from excitedly skipping towards the most brightly colored Soundsuits only to stop to investigate them, looking for familiar objects and otherwise unnoticed elements. The joy and energy of Cave’s Soundsuits has appeal for visitors of every age.
Also part of Nick Cave’s SAM exhibit, are scheduled and unscheduled Soundsuit performances done by local dancers taking place at both the museum and public spaces throughout the city. To really appreciate the Soundsuits, you’ll want to catch them in action. Dancers bounce spin wildly, fully animating the suites into lively creatures with their own imaginative personalities. To better your chances of catching a Soundsuit performance, the SAM has been giving location hints on its Facebook page periodically.
Meet Me at the Center of the Earth is a an art exhibit with definite attitude that will put you in the mood for spring with its vibrancy. It is near impossible to leave the show without feeling energized and inspired by Nick Cave’s kaleidoscope of fashionable art so don’t miss it while it is here. The exhibit will be at the SAM from March 10-June 5 with many events and performances happening throughout. Full details and tickets are available on the SAM website.
Exhibit Details:
Nick Cave: Meet me at the Center of the Earth runs March-June 5, 2011
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