Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island and was a perfect side trip while visiting Olympic National Park in Washington. The hour and a half ferry ride takes you across the Straits of Juan De Fuca and into Canada.

We don’t often do city trips but this was different… and this city is different. There’s a lot of energy in this bustling town but not from people rushing to get somewhere. It’s more of a casual pace in a city with amazing historical buildings. Harbours line the shoreline and water taxis gently cruise through the waters taking tourists and locals from place to place. There are chartered boats available to go whale watching and sea planes continually take off and land in the channels leading in and out of the harbours. The Inner-Harbour Pathway, is the main boardwalks along the shore to stroll along and gain access to all of these activities. And it’s all so immaculately clean.

Facing the harbour are magnificent historical buildings such as the Fairmont Empress hotel built in 1908 and the late 19th century Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and its beautiful grounds, one of many parliament buildings in the area. Other notable historical buildings include the Craigdarroch Castle, another late 19th century structure built as the residence for an esteemed coal tycoon, and the victorian gothic style St. Andrew’s Cathedral, the Roman Catholic cathedral for the diocese of Victoria. You can tour all of these buildings or simply walk the grounds.

Victoria is a popular cruise port so the crowds do increase when there is a ship in port but it never felt overwhelming. As you move away from the harbour most areas are still walkable. Victoria’s Chinatown, is the oldest neighborhood in Canada. It feels so authentic as you walk down the streets and alleys, which again are clean and well kept.

As you move from street to street you enter different sections of town, such as Johnson Street and Market Square with its local boutiques and eateries occupying historic brick buildings and relaxed courtyards. There are a couple of narrow alleys connecting the different sections such as Trounce Alley and Fan Tan Alley, the latter being a former gambling district that now houses boutiques and art galleries. It’s all very unique and makes for a great experience.

Another really cool area, and less visited, is Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s just a very short drive, or water taxi from the central district. The colorful “dock houses” reminded us of Curacao, so beautiful. If you have time, the best way to visit would be to take a water taxi over and hang out for a while and enjoy some drinks or lunch on the dock. Then take the water taxi back.

There are plenty of parks around town, many of which are dog friendly, including Clover Point Park and our favorite, Beacon Hill Park. The southern section of Beacon Hill has several trails that traverse down to the water, but the northern section is really something special. I have never seen a city park so beautiful and exquisite as this. Every tree is unique and absolutely stunning. The grounds are immaculate. There are ponds, old-time rock bridges and even several garden sculptures such as The Moss Lady. The park is free to enter, and dogs are allowed in most areas.

There is no shortage of amazing and friendly local restaurants and pubs throughout town with lots of character. Fishhook is an indian-french influenced local seafood spot in a small cozy setting. I’m not typically one for indian food but this has me converted. The Halibut dish had a flavor combination that was incredibly delicious and unique.

Block Kitchen is another local cozy spot specializing in asian inspired global fusion dishes. We went tapas style here, sharing several delectable dishes such as asian lettuce wraps, steamed bao buns, tokyo fries and some of the best scallops we have ever had.

And for more of a traditional fair, Red Fish Blue Fish is a local staple, serving fish and chips and fish tacos on a dockside walk up restaurant. You have the choice of fresh cod, salmon or halibut and it’s all delicious. You’ll know the spot by the long line of people around lunch time so plan accordingly.

One of the most popular places to visit when going to Victoria is Butchart Gardens, a 120 year old, 55 acre privately owned botanical garden. Simply calling this place a “garden” seems to vastly minimize what it is. The immenseness and absolute beauty of the grounds are like nowhere else, it’s no doubt it is now a National Historical Site. Much of this started out as an old quarry which through a lot of vision has added to the beauty with different levels and overlooks. It’s so well done and takes a continual effort by a full-time staff to maintain the grounds year round. Its a 30 minute drive north from Victoria so you’ll need transportation to get there… but make sure you do.

Our short side trip to Victoria was a nice break from RV living, as we left the coach behind and rented a house on the island for a couple of days. We added this stop based on recommendations from so many and we can now honestly pass that recommendation on. It’s a wonderful place to visit with so much to see and do. This Canadian city is really something special.

Be sure to check out all of our pictures from Victoria.