Nestled between the tranquil waters of the Salish Sea and the mighty rainforests of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a unique city like no other.
Known for its outdoor activities, there’s an abundance of hikes, biking paths, swimming/paddle boarding spots, enchanted gardens and castles to explore in this floral city. There’s no better time to adventure off to a weekend getaway here than the summertime, so here’s what we got up to for our very quick two-day trip.
The Stay – Coast Hotels
Right on Victoria’s inner harbour, we checked in to Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA, located very conveniently to the city’s main attractions. The hotel offers great amenities such as indoor/outdoor pool, a fitness facility, whirlpool and sauna, and more.
It’s also just a five minute walk to the famous Fisherman’s Wharf, which is the go-to marine destination that offers food kiosks and unique shops. Getting downtown from this hotel is a short 10 minute walk, but if you prefer not to walk, the hotel offers courtesy shuttles to get there. For dinner or breakfast, the Blue Crab Seafood house next to the lobby offers fresh land and sea choices.
Date Idea – Craigdarroch Castle
A must visit national historic site, the Craigdarroch Castle is a mesmerizing and enchanted space to be in. Built in the 1980s, it has been meticulously restored, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in that era.
You can easily spend hours wandering around and exploring the rooms, as each of them served a specific purpose back then.
Date Idea – Sightseeing Victoria by GrayLine
You never really truly appreciate hop on/hop off tour busses until you’re in a time crunch to see as much as you can within a city without a car.
This one passes through all the must-see attractions and landmarks, doing a whole tour of greater Victoria in an hour and a half, so it’s a fun one to consider especially if you wanna learn fun facts about the city.
High Tea Date Idea – Pendray Inn & Teahouse
After having our very first high tea experience here, it’s safe to say that we’ll be back. Set in a Victorian mansion from the 1890s, the Pendray Inn and Tea House is a gem waiting to be discovered. There are 2 main afternoon tea sets with the most scrumptious scones and sandwiches, as well as an abundance of teas (seriously, we couldn’t count how many there were). It’s an experience that is sure to leave you feeling like a Victorian queen.
Date Idea – Sidney Street Market
Every Thursday evening until September 5th, thousands of people head to downtown Sidney Street on market nights to check out and support unique local vendors, enjoy live entertainment, and grab a quick bite to eat.
We wandered around quickly before heading back to Vancouver, since it’s conveniently right next to the airport.
Other really popular attractions are the Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre display garden with the most stunning flowers/plants, and the Malahat Skywalk, a 32-metre viewing deck for panoramas over sea inlets and mountains.
With just two days, we didn’t have time to discover those as they’re further from the downtown area but will definitely be back to check them out.
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