One of the best things about living in Vancouver is how many places there are to explore that can be done within a day or weekend trip. One of my favourite places is Victoria. Recently, my parents came up for a visit and we met in Victoria. I flew via seaplane from the South YVR seaplane terminal on Harbour Air, and they came across on the M/V Coho from Port Angeles in Washington state.
Our first stop was the world-famous Butchart Gardens. They have nearly a million visitors per year and it’s easy to see why, the gardens are impeccable and absolutely stunning. We spent a few hours here and enjoyed a picnic on the grounds.
On our way back to Victoria, we stopped at Sea Cider for cider tasting on their outside deck.
We stopped to drop off our things at the hotel: the Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina. We were given a great room with a balcony overlooking the marina. After a quick break and a swim in the pool, we decided to head down towards Fisherman’s Wharf to check out the dinner options, as well as visit the houseboat community. There is a resident harbour seal community and you can purchase fresh fish to feed them. We had fish & chips (gluten free for my sis!), wandered around a bit, and headed back to the hotel for an early night.
The next day we had already decided to try The Blue Fox Cafe for breakfast. There was a bit of a wait, but was well worth it. We had booked afternoon tea at the Fairmont later in the day, so we spent the midday going around downtown Victoria, visiting various shops etc.
And soon it was time for afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress! It was so yummy!!
Here is a photo of the view from our hotel balcony of the marina as the sun was setting – what a great Saturday!
On Sunday morning, we went off to explore Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, and the Fisgard Lighthouse. This was the first lighthouse built on the west coast of Canada, back in 1860. You can explore the fort which includes gun batteries, guardhouses, barracks etc. This area is also a great birdwatching spot.
After lunch at the Four Mile House, we went around Beacon Hill Park before the trip back home. As always, the weekend was too short, but we did a lot and had a wonderful time.
*All photos are the property of Charlotte Moore, unless stated otherwise, and may not be used without written consent
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