What to Do in Victoria

So you’re relocating to Victoria? Fabulous choice! Victoria is a beautiful city, just big enough to have everything you could need, but small enough to still have a small community feel. It has very moderate temperatures and a surprisingly low cost of living compared to other options close by. There are a lot of things to do and see, and places to eat. Below I’ve listed what to do in Victoria after you’ve settled in.

1. Start off your day at the Fountain Diner. (full disclaimer; this is in Langford, but totally worth the drive.) You can go one of two routes. Have a delicious breakfast, or, if you’re daring, try out their five pound Alpine burger. The brave men and women who have attempted it go on the wall of fame (or shame) and successful completions win you the burger for free and a souvenir t-shirt! Can you think of a better way to start your day than consuming a five-pound burger? I didn’t think so.
2. Check out the fisherman’s wharf. Checking out the wharf is a classic must do in Victoria. There are tons of things to do while you’re there, like sampling Barb’s famous fish and chips, taking a water taxi across the harbour, and my personal favourite, getting an up-close look at the seals that hang out around the area.
3. Take a tour around the Butchart Gardens. These gardens are absolutely beautiful with a total of 55 acres of well-manicured gardens to see. My favourite part was getting to see the Japanese rock garden, as well as the colourful peacocks, wandering around on the lawn.
4. This next one is great if you are bringing your kids (or if you’re a kid at heart). Check out Miniature World. They have a variety of different displays, which includes a fully operational sawmill. Kids love it and it’s fun for the adults too.
5.  Take a whale-watching trip to see a pod of orcas. This one is best from May to October, although there is no guarantee you will see orcas, the chances are pretty good. If you don’t see orcas you will still likely get a spotting of humpback whales or a pod of dolphins.
6. Another seasonal activity to take in every year at Goldstream provincial park is viewing the salmon. If you have never seen it before, I highly recommend checking it out! The river mostly has chum, but you will also see some chinook and coho as well. You will have the opportunity to see a large number of salmon, with an average of 30,000 each year!
7. If you want to eat where the locals eat, check out Red Fish, Blue Fish. This is a fabulous little seafood shack in a cargo container. Their fish and chips are to die for, but I always order their tacones. It’s a nice place where you can order your meal and then sit out and look over the ocean while you eat it.
8. If you have access to a vehicle there are so many other places close to Victoria, so if you have a day or two off there is a variety of options for a road trip. Check out the potholes in Sooke, go surfing in Tofino, or drive up to Horne Lake and take a tour of the caves. Living on such a beautiful island, your options are pretty much endless!

Of course, this is just a small list of some of my favourites here in Victoria, and it barely even scratches the surface. There are tons of great places to see and so many great restaurants to choose from. No matter how long you live here, you will still be uncovering new things to see and do every day. Welcome to the city, and enjoy your time uncovering all of your own personal favourites, just don’t forget to tell us what they are in the comments below!