5 Must-dos in Victoria, B.C.

"I Believe The World Needs More Canada" - Bono

When planning a trip to Seattle to visit my sister-in-law and her family, we decided to add on a few extra days and check out Victoria, B.C. together. Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. There is a high speed ferry that runs from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle directly to Victoria and it's a very manageable three hour ride. Here are the top 5 most memorable things our group did while exploring this beautiful city:

Stay at the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel (and make a reservation for Afternoon Tea!): Previously called The Empress Hotel, the Fairmont Empress is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria and is situated downtown facing the city's inner harbor. It is a beautiful hotel that has an opulent quality, rich in history with luxurious accommodations. We made reservations for Afternoon Tea on our second day and it was such a special experience. It's a little splurgy but do not skip this!
Go Whale-watching on the Salish Sea: The top highlight of our trip. We reserved a half day whale-watching trip with Eagle Wing Tours. This company was one of the few we found that offered semi-covered boats so we weren't totally exposed to the elements if we didn't want to be. We picked this tour up right from downtown and witnessed wild whales, eagles, and sea lions. Magical. We did not have an issue with rough seas but dress in layers as it gets cold on the water!
Explore downtown Victoria: Very walkable and lots of restaurants and shops to explore. And don't miss the fish tacos at Red Fish Blue Fish (wait in the line, it's worth it).
Take a water taxi to Fisherman's Wharf: Hopping on a water taxi is a must-do and offers a unique perspective of Victoria. Take a water taxi from the downtown harbor to Fisherman's Wharf for a casual lunch and then explore the floating houses and unique shops.
Visit Butchart Gardens: We booked a tour that included bus transportation to/from the hotel and spent half a day exploring the world-famous display gardens. We visited during July and the blooms were really showing off.