The Best of the West: Victoria

The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Downtown Victoria

Next on my Best of the West tour: Victoria, British Columbia. This idyllic spot on Vancouver Island is the perfect place for a weekend getaway, with a temperate climate all year round and less rain than BC's capital city, Vancouver. With roughly 300, 000 residents, Victoria is a small city, but don't let its petite magnitude fool you. Victoria has incredible beaches, a charming downtown harbour, sumptuous dining destinations and truly luxurious spas. Below are my top ten picks for Victoria - hope you enjoy!

The view from BC Ferry, on route to Victoria

1. BC Ferry - One of the best parts of my little getaway to Victoria was the route I took to get there. I boarded the BC Ferry in Vancouver, and sailed for about two hours to Victoria's ferry port on Vancouver Island. Not only was the view from the boat breathtaking, BC Ferry has great amenities, including restaurants, shopping and a children's program on board. I was happy I chose to take the long way and enjoy the ferry ride, rather than zooming from airport to airport.

JAM's Specials

2. Brunch at JAM - Anyone who knows me knows that brunch is the quickest way to my heart. As soon as I arrived in Victoria, my friend briefed me on her plan to take me to JAM, the city's best brunch spot. I loved the fun, laid back vibe of this tiny gem. We had French toast and heuvos rancheros, and split an order of JAM's famous fried oatmeal, the perfect combination of breakfast and dessert.

Fried Oatmeal at JAM

A Paddle-Boarder at Willows Beach

3. Willows Beach - One of the things I loved about Victoria was that it didn't matter where I was on the island. The view always had me captivated, snapping postcard pictures. I couldn't believe how fresh the air was and how beautiful the ocean remained from every vantage point. Strolling along Willows Beach was a definite highlight for me, but there are dozens of other beautiful beaches in and around Victoria as well.

4. Boat House Spa at the Oak Bay Hotel - Every time I think back to my Victoria vacation, I think of the Boat House Spa. Situated right on the pacific shores, this hotel spa offers therapeutic waters and a plethora of treatments, from facials to massages. Laying in the sun both poolside AND ocean-side is as refreshing and relaxing as it gets.

Both photos above: Relaxing poolside, and ocean-side, at the Oak Bay Hotel's Boat House Spa; the spa's waters are luke warm ... and absolutely heavenly.

5. Rogers’ Chocolates – This is a stop you’ll want to make while in downtown Victoria. Rogers’ Chocolates is famous for its Victoria Creams, which come in a wide range of flavours from almond brittle and hazelnut, to pistachio, raspberry and coconut. These are a great take-home gift for family and friends; just be careful not to pack them in your carry-on; you’ll be way too tempted to eat them all as you journey home.

6. Pagliacci's- This restaurant is a favourite amongst locals, and when you taste their pasta, you'll know why. You'll want to make a reservation for dinner at Pagliacci's, and you'll also want to give their anti pasti a try...you won't be disappointed.

British Columbia's Legislative Assembly

7. British Columbia Legislature - If my politics degree is any indicator, I'm an enthusiast (nerd) when it comes to government landmarks. Victoria is the capital city of the province of British Columbia, so the small city boasts this stunning landmark, right next to the Inner Harbour. Tours of the BC legislature are available, but anyone can enjoy a stroll around the property's beautiful grounds.

8. Inner Harbour - Life in Victoria seems to radiate from the city's Inner Harbour, located downtown. I enjoyed an evening stroll along the Inner Harbour, watching street performances and buying small prints from local artists, on my way to dinner.

Victoria's quaint, but beautiful Inner Harbour

Boats in the Inner Harbour just before dusk

The demure entrance to Il Terrazzo - home of Victoria's best Italisn cuisine

9. Il Terrazzo - I'm not usually one to pick out a single favourite, but Il Terrazzo was my favourite dining experience in Victoria. The restaurant's Italian cuisine is sublime. I had the venison with a glass of pinot noir from a local winery and ... wow. In fact I was so enthralled by my dinner, and the chocolate flourless cake that followed it, that I don't have a single picture of the meal. That's when you know it's good.

Boarding one of Harbour Air's Sealplanes in Victoria's Inner Harbour

10. Seaplane - While it was sad to say goodbye to Victoria, I was really excited to take my very first Seaplane ride, and take off from the Inner Harbour. Harbour Air flies between Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler and a few other BC destinations, and it's a quick, affordable way to get around while taking in top-notch views. So yes, this is definitely one of those times to opt for the window seat. The company also offers Seaplane tours of Vancouver Island and other BC destinations – another great option if you'd prefer to take the ferry to and from Vic.

Stay tuned for the next installment of my Best of the West series: San Francisco!

#travel #bestofthewest #Victoria #BritishColumbia #TakeMeThere