Between mild temperatures, year-round blooms and abundant natural landscape, this unique coastal city begs to be explored. Read on to discover seven reasons why Victoria should be at the top of your travel bucket list this spring.

Mild Temperature

Victoria, B.C. is ideally nestled in a micro-climate that sees far less precipitation than its West Coast neighbours and has the mildest median temperature in Canada. This means when you visit Victoria, don’t expect a Canadian tundra. You’ll be able to explore Victoria’s lush landscape, secret waterfalls, year-round blooms, mountains and unique natural treasures, 365 days of the year.

Natural Landscape

In a day, visitors can discover complex micro-ecosystems within tide pools at Botanical Beach, stand amongst giants in Avatar Grove, sip wine in the Cowichan Valley, surf at Sombrio Beach, soak up the sun at Willow’s beach, wander through 55-acres of famous gardens and climb to incredible views in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. Greater Victoria and the surrounding area has no shortage of landscapes to discover.

Image by @fieldandforest

History

Victoria’s rugged and pristine wilderness was first home to First Nations people and today retains deep ties to indigenous culture. Learn more by visiting the Royal BC Museum where you can discover the Our Living Languages exhibit, explore the First Peoples Galleries and discover the indigenous collections.

During the summer you can visit indigenous artists during the Indigenous Summer Arts Studio Program and take part in the Indigenous Cultural Festival in June.

Named after Queen Victoria, is it any wonder Victoria is rich in history? Between coal barons building West Coast castles, the oldest Chinatown in Canada, gardens built by royalty, afternoon tea and more, Victoria has stories best recounted in person.

Image by @wisteria_voyage

Cuisine

Greater Victoria’s enviable climate allows Islanders to grow, harvest, forage and prepare local dishes far beyond the typical growing season experienced by the rest of Canada. Many restaurants around Victoria have embraced the farm-to-table movement and are offering up some incredible dishes.

With British roots, it’s safe to say we’ve carried on some traditions, like afternoon tea. Around the city, visitors can find delicious and unique variations on this tradition.

As the brunch capital of Canada, you’ll soon realize why the locals are highly committed to their weekend brunch plans. From egg bennies on a potato latke at The Village to the sleeping beauty pancakes at Nourish, Victoria offers an incredible brunch selection for every appetite.

Image by @leilalikes of @qattheempress

City of Gardens

Victoria’s mild climate allows horticulture to flourish here, something that shows in the locals’ gardens, great and small. From January through May, streets in Victoria are transformed into tunnels of pink and white as cherry blossoms burst forth. In summer, flower baskets hang from lamp posts and visitors enjoy Beacon Hill Park, a 200-acre park in the centre of the city. Victoria is also home to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre award-winning garden that is a must-see when visiting.

Wildlife

The waters off Vancouver Island are rich in biodiversity. Perhaps most well known is the population of southern resident killer whales that call the Salish Sea home. However, transient orcas, humpback whales, seals, otters, coastal wolves and more can also be spotted in these waters. Although venturing out on coastal trails always comes with a chance of seeing these magnificent locals, witnessing Vancouver Island’s wildlife first-hand is best done with local whale and wildlife watching companies. If you’re a seasoned scuba diver, delve beneath the surface and explore some of the most vibrant diving in the world.

Image by @brendonbissonnette via @eaglewingtours

Charm

From age-old traditions such as afternoon tea and horse-drawn carriages to classic architecture illuminated at dusk by thousands of lights, Victoria has an undeniable charm. Perhaps just as charming as the city itself, are the locals – named among the friendliest in the world (Conde Nast Traveler, 2018).

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