I lived in the Victoria, British Colombia for a year and a half. I feel like this amount of time created a great balance of tourist and local that brings a unique view of a southern Vancouver island to do list when visiting.
I have created a cheat sheet of headings in which you can find whatever you might want to not miss when visiting Victoria British Colombia.
Coffee shops
Super important am I right? As a Canadian, my first 6 months on the island I was like where the heck are the Tim Hortons that I am so used to having on every corner? Don’t get me wrong, there are Tim Hortons in Victoria. They are just much more hidden and uncommon than the ever so popular Starbucks. Something about the west coast that makes people want more expensive coffees I guess. Something I find extremely charming is that instead of finding a chain in every corner you will find many different independents. So much good coffee and cute environments to try. My favourites are probably biased on my experiences but that’s just what makes these unique places so special:
My first year living in Victoria I lived in Fernwood. This community of neighbourhoods are just outside downtown. Fernwood has a small community area including a wishing tree (where people put small notes of their wishes and tied them to the tree), a small local shop, bar, pizza joint and of course a café. During this year I was still studying my degree online and was writing my thesis at the time. My writing would flow endlessly and passionately as I sat with a chai latte once a week at little June. The sun streaming in from their glass walls giving me a boost from the dark basement I was living in. They also have delicious energy bites and yummy health foods!
Every time I got something new at Union Pacific I was once again amazed. Everything tastes like heaven here. I discovered this place later in my Victoria living however became fairly regular as it is walkable from my workplace downtown. Union Pacific has a very comfy vibe with lots of natural light, outdoor seating and even a social section where no phones or laptops are allowed.
Sightseeing
This one might be my favourite. Dallas road follows the ocean view from downtown. It has a paved trail where most of my runs would end up following at some point. A great stretch of view for the ocean and the mountains if it is a clear day. There is also a quaint graveyard on the north end of the road where a family of deer seem to reside.
There are a few stunning lookout spots if you explore further north on this route (if you have a bike or car only a few minutes out).
Beacon hill park is also a popular spot I run through. It is also directly across from Dallas road and actually somewhat leads into it at some points. Beacon hill park includes many paved and unpaved trails. Filled with beautiful rocks, ponds, strange trees, cute bridges, ducklings, and also; you are almost guaranteed to see a peacock while in the park.
Photo by : Simon Trudeau
This might be an obvious recommendation however Victoria’s parliament has a specific charm to it as it lights up at night year round. Reflecting on the water where the ferry’s land and horses almost always out front.
A charming little marina filled with colourfully decorated houseboats. There is a few restaurants and boutiques but even going down to look at these tiny float-homes is a joy in its own. If you're lucky you might even see a seal!
The China town is a small few streets in Victoria but holds a greater significance and as always personality than at first glance. As the sign reads as you enter, this is Canada's oldest china town because of the influx of minors migrating in the mid to late 1800s. Filled with cute shops and alleyways, this street feels like behind each building is a new discovered treasure.
Shopping
Vintage
I love second hand shopping so wanted to include my personal favourites whilst living in Victoria (other than Value Village which I think always has great finds). There is a lot of vintage and thrift shops in the city and many have definitely taken advantage of the "trend" / AKA jacking up their prices. Here are the first I would recommend:
WIN - Standing for Women In Need; WIN not only has better prices that other thrift shops in Victoria, but also donates their proceeds.
Vintage after death - This one is a pricier one however I have found some rare and meaningful pieces in there that I would recommend checking in. I would say this vintage shop is where you might find a high quality, high end piece that you could treasure for years. They also usually have little gems at their desk made by local artists.
Local
Migration - Thinking of buying a souvenir for yourself or a loved one back home? There is so many tacky gift shops near parliament, however if you walk a little but more into the city you can find quaint little migration with the best selection of gifts. All of their products are made by local artists and they are always very sweet when you are a first time visitor.
Out of city Honourable Mention
Less than an hour out of the city is a stunning provincial park. Goldstream is a place of huge trees and small mountains; climbing to the highest peak in only about 2 hours. Goldstream is great for anyone as you can walk the floor to the information facility with fun educational games or children. The trees and ferns go up around you like a jungle, and in the winter you can watch the annual salmon run.
There is also a mediocre walk through flat but uneven surfaces to a gorgeous waterfall. Depending on the season, you may be able to walk right up to it, or it will be flowing so fast you cannot even get near it.
A medium hike from here you can go up to the trestle: an old train bridge with a steep lookout.
Any chance any one has visited me out here I have tried my very best to get them out of city and into Canada's jungles.
I highly recommend taking the trip to the island. As basic as it may seem, taking the ferry is almost a part of the experience. The city almost has an isolating feeling to it being separated from the world on the island... or maybe thats just me.
Have you added Victoria to your bucket list?
Did I miss anything?
Let me know by leaving a comment, or messaging me on instagram.
Ciao!
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