Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Why Visit Victoria, British Columbia?
I chose to visit Victoria, British Columbia on a whim following a successful trip to Vancouver in September of 2015. A few weeks after my Vancouver trip, I was browsing airfares and found a flight on Alaska Airlines from Las Vegas (my home at the time) to Victoria for $231 with a connection in Seattle.
My trip to Victoria was long before I purchased my current camera, so all of my photos are taken with my iPhone 5. These descriptions were written years later, as I had not planned on starting a travel blog when I went on this trip.
I was extremely pleased with my time in Victoria as there was plenty to see, and the people had the same inclusive Canadian charm that I experienced in Vancouver.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - Table of Contents
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How to Get to Victoria, British Columbia
To get to Victoria, I flew Alaska Airlines from Las Vegas with a stopover in Seattle-Tacoma. Both my Seattle to Vegas and Vegas to Seattle legs were on a 737-700. The Victoria legs were on a Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400, which is quite bumpy. Thankfully, the flight from Seattle to Victoria is under 30 minutes from takeoff to landing.
Clearing passport control and customs in Victoria was straightforward despite having only one kiosk open. I would guess that when a larger plane arrives, there would either be a long wait, or they would have to open additional kiosks. Victoria Airport does not have Pre-Clearance, which meant that I had to go through customs and immigration in Seattle instead of being cleared before leaving Canada.
A unique way to travel to Victoria, BC is by Sea Plane. Sea Planes run daily routes between Vancouver and Victoria and provide stunning views of upon approach. The ride takes around 35 minutes.
Walking Around Victoria, British Columbia's Inner Harbour and Coast
Victoria, BC - The Inner Harbour
I began my sightseeing in Victoria by walking from my hotel, the Quality Inn Downtown to the beginning of the Inner Harbor. The Inner Harbor is a great place to start as there is a visitor’s center at the corner of Government Street and Humboldt Street.
For touring the Inner Harbor, the best bet is to begin on Government Street and follow it to Belleville Street. This route will take you around the Inner Harbor passing the Fairmont Empress, Royal BC Museum, and the Parliament of British Columbia building.
Parliament of British Columbia - Victoria, BC, Canada
My first stop was the Parliament Building of British Columbia. Victoria is the provincial capital of British Columbia, and the parliament building serves as the province’s legislative assembly. Although I only observed the building from the outside, visitors can tour the inside of the building Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The tours are free and last around 35 minutes. Be sure to observe the parliament building at night as it covered year-round in spectacular white lights.
For detailed information on touring the Parliament of BC, check out Allison’s article from tipsforfamilytrips.com by clicking HERE.
Walking Around Victoria - Visiting Fisherman's Wharf
I continued onward to Fisherman’s Wharf. The Wharf offers food kiosks, shopping, and tours of Victoria Coastline via boat. If you time your visit right, you might see fishermen offloading their daily catch. I was unlucky in my timing, as there was no fisherman in the harbour. Despite the lack of boats in the harbour, I did see quite a few seals. Fisherman’s Wharf marks the end of the Inner Harbor, and many tourists choose to retrace your steps to return. I decided to keep walking down Dallas Street towards the Breakwater Pier.
I highly recommend taking a look at travelingislanders.com’s experience at Fisherman’s Wharf. You can access it by clicking HERE.
Walking Around Victoria, BC - Breakwater Pier, the Waterfront Trail, and Beacon Hill Park
After a brief stop at the Wharf, I decided to venture out of the Inner Harbor and followed Dallas Road to the Breakwater Pier. This route eventually took me to Holland Point Park. It was a very windy day, and it was fun to watch the waves crash up against the shoreline and the Breakwater Pier.
Be sure to walk out onto the Breakwater Pier to get a great view of the Pacific Ocean. The day I visited, there were 20-30 mph winds, which made the water even more beautiful. The roundtrip walk from one end of the pier to the other took around 30 minutes to complete.
After my walk up and down the Breakwater Pier, I continued towards Holland Pointe Park. At Holland Pointe Park, I left the road and followed the Waterfront Trail towards Beacon Hill Park.
Once arriving at Beacon Hill Park, I walked some of the trails, sat on a bench, and watched the sun set. To return to the Inner Harbour, I walked north through the park until I ran into Douglas Street. I arrived back at the visitor’s centre completing my loop around Victoria.
Although this was well over 5 miles of walking I really enjoyed following the Pacific Coast of Victoria. There was so many picturesque views that I saw along my walk. In addition to the beautiful scenery, Victoria is full of interesting art. I saw everything from totem poles, to a giant watering can during my walk.
Visiting the Royal BC Museum
My final day in Victoria, I visited the Royal BC Museum. Featured throughout the museum were exhibits on the First Nations. It was fascinating learning about the indigenous people who once lived in this area. Other exhibits I enjoyed featured fishing and hunting gear, the 2010 Winter Olympics, which was hosted by Vancouver, and an informational exhibit on the difference between weather and climate. The hours of the Royal BC Museum are typically 10 am to 5 pm.
Fellow blogger Josie from josiewanders.com has the best guide to the Royal BC Museum. You can access here Royal BC Museum page by clicking HERE.
The cost to enter the museum is as follows:
My Meals in Victoria
I enjoyed a few different meals during my time in Victoria. In addition to my normal Canadian breakfast at Tim Horton’s, I had some poutine and a wonderful dinner at Pig BBQ. Unfortunately, a reader told me that Pig BBQ is no longer open.
Victoria Area Tours and Packages
A tour is not necessary to enjoy Victoria. On this page, all of the sights listed are free except for the Royal BC Museum. That being said, there are some tours that could enhance your time visiting Victoria. I have listed a few tours below that caught my eye. I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.