In my last post, I advised my precious hedonists with little travel time to spare to take to the skies with Kenmore Air. However, in addition to this aviation option, there’s also a foot-friendly, seafaring way: the Victoria Clipper ferry through Clipper Vacations (I sailed on the return leg as media courtesy of the Clipper).

The Victoria Clipper is a great alternative to flying if you have a few hours to spare – it’s a three-hour tour (yes, that’s a three-hour tour), but you need to arrive at least one hour prior to departure in order to clear U.S. or Canadian customs and immigration (depending on which direction you’re heading on a given day). The cost? Depends on when you book your ticket: currently, last-minute, non-refundable, one-way fares are as low as $50.00, with standard fares around $134.00 (to calculate a return trip, merely double these figures).

Red plastic baskets: it's what's for dinner. (Feel free to suggest they kick their noshies up a notch. Or ten. I have, but thus far my humble requests have fallen on deaf ears....)

The perks: Fast ferry service waterfront-to-waterfront, with one-way prices in the two-figures.

The drawback: Takes a few hours – each way. Rough seas can lead to nausea brought on by motion sickness (take heed, dear hedonists – the two 25 mg Meclizine Hydrochloride tablets they sell for a mere 25 cents – in either U.S. dollars or Canabucks – is worth its weight in gold should you be prone to motion sickness). And the ferry food menu needs a serious re-vamp – the breakfast menu ($4.00-$6.50) is worse than a continental breakfast buffet at a low-brow motel (not to mention strictly cold fare), and the light dinners  ($6.00-$7.50) – also cold – are barely (if actually) humble cafeteria-grade fare. (Note: foodies – pack your own!)

In short, if you don’t mind taking a few hours to get there or back for about half the cost of flying, then clip along lil’ doggies.

Just be sure to BYOF (that’s bring your own food), my foodie hedonists.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

The flight - whether heading north or south - offers breathtaking views of the San Juan and Gulf Islands.

We’re talking a mere 35 minutes here – give or take. All for the cost of about $100 US each way – again, give or take (your Hedonista recently flew courtesy of Kenmore). (One-way rates are about $139; round-trips range from $198-$239; and a student standby rate – be sure to arrive at least one hour prior to departure – of only $69 each way!)

Interested? Then consider Kenmore Air the next time you take a trip to Victoria – which, by the way, with its increasingly edgy cultural evolution, is now any self-respecting-hipster-hedonist’s winter destination. In fact, Victoria’s former moniker,the “City of Roses” – still Portland, OR’s moniker, in fact – has now been changed to “Full of Life” to represent its growth as a small yet cosmopolitan city; a place where old world charm meets new world experiences. (But more on that in future articles, my dear readers).

Circling Victoria's Inner Harbor - that's "Inner Harbour" in Canadian - prior to the water landing.

This travel deal also goes for folks in Victoria wanting to get to Seattle’s Emerald City – where one will also find, among many other things, a veritable hedonistic haven. You can get there in about the same time it takes to get to the Cowichan Valley. (Less, even!)

The perks: Fast waterfront service either way, price in the very low three-figures.

The drawback: Flying is, of course, weather-permitting. Be prepared for flight cancellations if stormy skies are on the horizon (been there, done that).

In short, if you want lots more time in your destination city for just a little more money, go fly with Kenmore.

For, as the old adage goes, time is money.

So go fly on a float plane.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.