Stamps in My Passport

Victoria BC is a beautiful city filled with history, charm and tons of character. The city is nestled along the historic waterfront at the southern end of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The best way to reach Victoria is by Ferry. It will provide you with scenic views as you travel between Washington State and cross into Canada. You might even spot Humpback Whales or Killer Whales (Orcas) known to frequent these waters. If you’re driving from the US we highly recommend heading to Port Angeles in Washington State and taking the Black Ball Ferry across Juna de Fuca Strait, it will take around 90 minutes and is a very efficient mode of transportation. Other options are flights into Victoria International Airport, and then driving 30-40 minutes to the city. You can also drive or take a train to reach Victoria.

Once you arrive there are numerous options of activities, including walking along the waterfront, browsing the shops & restauants on Government Street, taking a free tour of the Parliament building, and so much more. I recommend heading to your accomodations first to drop off your luggage and give you a chance to freshen up before heading out to sightsee. While I was in Victoria in April of 2024 Airbnb was still an option for accommodations, however things have changed as of May 1st, 2024. Laws have changed and now require many Airbnb/VRBO and other vacation rentals to require longer lengths of stay, making them only available to those who plan to rent for at least 30 days. That said, for those who prefer to live like a local there are many Airbnb/VRBO rentals available. When I travel my preference is to blend with the locals and try to acclimate myself with the location as much as possible and the best way to do that (IMO) is to stay in a vacation rental. Our condo in Victoria provided us with a secure location to park our car, placed us within easy walking distance of everything in the heart of the city and just a short drive to famous sites like Butchart Gardens and gave us magnificent views from every room & out on the balcony. Each evening we marveled at the incredible sunset views or the city lights while we enjoyed a nice cuppa tea and relaxed. It was so helpful to be right in the heart of the city, within a short 10-15 minute walk we could be right along the waterfront, surrounded by great shops & a handful of restaurants to pick from and quickly reach most attractions. Some of the best locations are well known but you’ll also find a few hidden gems & not to miss locations in the list below.

1. The first sight is an Icon of Victoria and has long been regarded as a visual representation of the city of Victoria. It is none other than the fabulous Empress Hotel. The Empress has graced the edge of the bay and historic waterfront since the early 1900’s. On my first visit to Victoria in 2002 I fell in love with the romantic, ivy covered, chateauesque architecture and allure of the Empress Hotel. I longed for the chance to sample the exquisite tea service of their famed afternoon High Tea which is served in their Lobby Lounge. So, on my recent visit that was a huge priority and I’m so happy we were able to make that dream a reality and I finally got to check it off my Bucket List! For those who plan to attend The Empress’ High Tea I recommend calling ahead to reserve your spots, alert the staff of allergy/food restrictions and plan to attend while they have live music if possible. Which adds to the ambiance and splendor of the afternoon. When we arrived we arrived a little early to browse through the shops and checked in for our tea time. We were greeted, asked if we wanted to check our jackets and escorted to our table that was set with beautiful traditional china settings and individual tea pots. Our server greeted us, explained the menu & guided us as we mand our tea selection from 21 available options. I chose the Joie de Provence, it was very flavorful and delicious. Highly recommend! Especially if you are fond of roibus tea, french lavender, lite notes of berry & rose. It was the favorite of our group. We also tried the Waterfront Mint & Lady Londonderry. *Please note that the ivy has been removed from the exterior of the building in order to help preserve and protect the architecture. Cost for High Tea service is $95 per person and includes multiple tea sandwiches, quiche, scones with fresh devonshire cream and jam & a selection of decadent desserts.

2. A visit to Victoria wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Royal Parliament buildings, especially if it is your first visit to the city. It’s arguably the most noticable building in Victoria with it’s beautiful architecture and striking copper topped roof that has patinaed into a lovely minty green. The impressive structure is impossible to miss as you’re near the bayfront. Taking a tour here provides visitors with an inside look of the Parliament buildings, a chance to observe Parliament in action (when they are in session), and learn some of Victoria’s history with signs that are posted around offering insight and info about the building, the history of Victoria and Parliament sessions. They also have a nice little gift shop by the exit. The best part of visiting the Parliament building is that you’re able to tour the interiors for FREE!

3. Craigdarrach Castle, known as Canada’s Castle, is a lovely example of a Victorian-era Scottish Baronial Mansion. Built in the late 1800’s by the wealthiest and most prominent/fluential man in Western Canada, coal & shipping barron, Robert Dunsmuir. It is a perfect example of the extravagant lifestyle of a very prominent family in Victoria during that time period. Craigdarrach has been placed on the National Historic registry in Canada and was extensively renovated by the federal Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment (DSCR) prior to opening as a military hospital in September, 1919. It also served as a college and music conservatory. Walking through the doors you will be greeted by a stunning staircase with intricate carvings and masterful design details. The Dunsmuir’s spared no expense when designing this gorgeous mansion. Each room has been imprecably decorated with to welcome each visitor and evoke the feeling of being a guest of the Dunsmuir family while touring the home. Our favorite spaces were the grand ballroom, the library and the tower with it’s incredible views, intricate stained glass windows and beautiful tilework. *Before you leave make sure to check out the gift shop and take time to wander the paths around the estate. Location: 1050 Joan Cres, Victoria BC V8S 3L5

4. A walk along Government Street will lead you to some of the best shops and restaurants in Victoria. A few of the most well known being Murchie’s tea shop & Munro’s bookstore. Hidden in the interiors of Murchie’s one can find delicious blends of tea sure to delight your taste buds. Your favorite adventure book,may very well be tucked into a shelf at Munro’s bookshop, where they have books in every genre and style, as well as some fun and quirky gifts and souveniers. A visit to Roger’s Chocolate shop is a must for every chocolate lover. Their decadant treats are sure to make your taste buds dance and provide you with the perfect gift for your loved one back home. I highly recommend checking out the restaurants along Government street, especially if you’re hoping to find some live music and a lively atmosphere. Our favorites were Bard & Banker and Earl’s, we also popped into Irish Times Pub in the Bastion Square to listen to the live music. I recommend the roasted salmon & the peach mango sangria at Bard and Banker, so scrumptious!

5. Fan Tan Alley was once the main route and central piece to Victoria’s Chinatown—the oldest Chinatown in Canada and second-oldest in North America. It is believed to be the narrowest street in North America! Fan Tan Alley, originally was home to the Chinese emmigrants who came to Victoria looking for gold. Due to the mass amounts of men who migrated without their families, it became a narrow strip of shops, gambling den’s and brothels. Gambling was illegal in Victoria, which prompted the inhabitants to utilize the narrow path of Fan Tan Alley to their benefit. At barely one-and-a-half metres wide at both ends, it was guarded by watchmen behind solid wood doors with entrances to buildings in the centre section of the alley leading to a deliberately confusing maze of connecting rooms, staircases, and rooftop escape routes. By the time some hapless police officer managed to make his entrance, the gamblers were nowhere in sight. After the end of World War II, when immigration rules regarding Chinese were relaxed, many Chinese families came to Canada. Gambling ceased to be a leisure-time focus. One hundred years after the first Chinese arrived, only one Fan Tan club remained. Now there are none. Today a stroll down Fan Tan Alley today reveals nothing more decadent than restaurants, offices and stores. Yet that narrow, brick-lined lane, the unique area surrounding it, and our thriving Chinese community form fascinating links with Victoria’s colourful past. While visiting the area I suggest heading to the Chinese Canadian Museum to brush up on some history of the area and learn more about Chinese immigrants in Victoria. Hours: 11am-5pm Thurs-Sun.

6. Hatley Castle, was completed in 1908. The castle was commissioned by coal barron and son of Robert Dunsmuir, James Dunsmuir. It’s impressive exterior is matched only by the lavishness of the interior appointments; oak and rosewood panelled rooms, baronial fireplace, teak floors, and specially made lighting fixtures. James is quoted as saying: “Money doesn’t matter, just build what I want.” Which resulted in a lavishly designed castle with a stately grand approach as well as multiple gardens. The lovely estate is home to beautiful Italian & rose gardens and incredible Japanese gardens. Both of which are completely **Free to visit, daily from 10am to dusk. We absolutely loved the hidden gem, Japanese gardens that were tucked back behind the castle, down a path that leads to a large pond. There are several paths that lead to hidden nooks, benches tucked into lovely floral spaces, unique Japanese style gazebos surrounded by perfectly manicured trees and plants and many areas to take in the scenic area. If you’re looking for a peaceful and tranquil place this is it! Absolutely a gem, located only 10 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city. The castle can be seen in numerous films & shows such as Deadpool, X-Men , Arrow, The Mole & Smallville to name a few.

7. Saved one of the best for last, truly one of the most impressive sights near Victoria which is Butchart Gardens. The city of Victoria is home to several lovely gardens, but if you want to experience thousands upon thousands of flowers, a sunken Garden, one of the best Japanese Gardens in the world, a Rose Garden, an Italian Garden, and a Meditteranean Garden all in one expansive selection of breathtakingly beautiful gardens Butchart Gardens is the clear winner! Butchart Gardens was the vision of Jennie Butchart who turned their 55 acre privately owned rock quarry into stunning gardens that has been open to the public for 120 years! Onsite there is a coffee shop and cafe’, the Blue Poppy restaurant which serves delicious options served cafeteria style and everything is scrumptious! The gift shop also has lots of seeds for many of the flowers seen in the gardens as well as lovely souvenier options to choose from. One of the best parts about the gardens is that you can use your ticket to reenter multiple times during the day, if you want to pack a picnic lunch and come back to the gardens after just hang onto your ticket. Summer months they offer fireworks displays, concerts and other fun events. Another bonus is that you can use your ticket for readmittance the following day (2 days for the price of 1!!). On our recent trip to Victoria I was so excited to revisit the stunning gardens and was surprised at how little it’s changed in the 20+ years since I last visited. Every detail is well thought of and the color combinations and lush green spaces, it really is a peaceful place to meander and wander to your hearts content. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the natural wonders and exquisite flowers. It really is a sight to see and I highly recommend planning to spend at least half a day here if not more!

A few other amazing sights worth mentioning and recommendations are the Royal British Columbia Museum, it is a top destination for many visitors to Victoria. They offer a unique view into Victoria’s past, present and provide insights into the history of Victoria with their unique exhibits. We really enjoyed walking through the mock city and seeing all the replicas of Victoria of the past. It’s a really fascinating display that gives a wonderful visual as well as opportunity to peer into the past as you wander through the buildings of the mock-town. Another recommendation is to visit St. Anne’s Academy and take a free tour of the historic sight. I also suggest joining or creating a small walking tour of the lovely churches. So many have interesting interiors with intricate stained glass and incredible architecture. There are dozens of incredible churches scattered across the city, each have unique designs and details & they’re all free to tour. Nature lovers will want to head out of the city to explore the Malahat Skywalk or perhaps enjoy the splendid views from one of many hikes in the area. If we’d had more time we would have explored a few of the hikes nearby to take in the captivating surroundings. There are also several city parks as well as the Fisgard Lighthouse to intrigue exploring other parts of Victoria and sights outside of the city.

Have you been to Victoria? Are there any sights, hidden gems or tips for visiting Victoria that are on your list that I’m forgetting? Drop them below in the comments and let us in on the tips and best kept secret spots!

Until next time, happy travels!

~Krista

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