While much of the tourism industry counts on sunshine to bring people through the door, one Victoria business is hoping for the opposite. Off The Eaten Track Tours is launching a new food experience this month that makes rainy weather a requirement. The idea is to give people a reason to get out and explore downtown Victoria during a time of year when fewer visitors are typically out and about. The company’s Rainy Day Food Tour will take participants on a 2.5-hour walking adventure through the city’s Chinatown and Old Town neighbourhoods, with five stops along the way. Owner Bonnie Todd says the concept grew out of a desire to create something specifically for the local community during the quieter months. “November can be a bummer month so we wanted a fun activity that would embrace our wettest month of the year,” Todd said in statement. The experience starts at The Umbrellatorium, where attendees can pick up an umbrella while learning about the history of the rain accessory. From there, the group heads into Chinatown and Old Town for five food stops. The menu is built around the kind of comfort food that makes a wet, chilly day a little more appealing. The company checks the weekend forecast every Thursday. If rain is expected on Saturday, reservations open that day. If sunshine is in the forecast, the tour stays off the schedule. The first possible outing is Nov. 7, with additional dates planned for Nov. 14, 21 and 28. Tours run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $89 per person, including food at all five stops. Bookings are available through offtheeatentracktours.ca when the weather forecast allows. Founded in 2012, Off the Eaten Track Tours specializes in small-group culinary walking experiences featuring independently owned businesses in Victoria. For a city where November weather can sometimes keep people indoors, the company is making a different bet: that a rainy forecast might be just the invitation people need to get out, explore and discover somewhere new.
