Fun things to do in Victoria, BC

In this article, our guest author Robert Tellier shares his favourite things to do in Victoria BC, from a seafood snack by the harbour at Fisherman’s Wharf to a stroll in the rose gardens and the best ice cream in town!

Are your travel plans bringing you to Victoria, British Columbia this season? If so, there are plenty of fun things to do in Victoria BC, located on the south shores of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. Having been raised in Victoria, here are my suggestions for those wanting to take in some of the popular sites and attractions that are conveniently located within minutes of downtown.

Arriving in Victoria BC

For those lucky visitors to Victoria as a stopover on one of the many cruises that come and go from Alaska, you are just minutes from some of the most popular attractions in the city.

If you arrive by passenger ferry or air, public transportation is readily available to the downtown core. Choose to arrive using Victoria’s affordable transit system, taking a ride in their unique double decker buses, or by taxi.

You may also enjoy: 10 fun things to do in Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island

Ogden Point Walkway

One of my favorite things to do when visiting the city is taking a walk along the waterfront and the breakwater causeway. This is one of the most scenic and beautiful spots in the city where you can watch ships coming in and out of the inner harbour. You’ll see the scuba divers making their way along the huge breakwater blocks and can gaze across the water to Washington State and the beautiful Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Visit Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour

For those who enjoy walking, there are two other options worth considering and each direction will not take you more than half an hour to walk, even at a gentle pace. From the port, you have the option of taking a leisurely walk to Victoria’s scenic inner harbour, passing by a popular attraction known as Fisherman’s Wharf.

This is a favourite spot for those wanting to grab a snack or meal at one of the fresh seafood sit down or take out outlets on the wharf. We always enjoy a picnic at the park just down the street from the wharf. From fish & chips to oyster and fish burgers, Fisherman’s Wharf is always a favourite among locals and tourists.

Things to see in Victoria’s Inner Harbour

A few minutes further down the road you will come to Victoria’s major tourist hub the Inner Harbour. There’s so much activity taking place down here, you could spend the entire day just wandering. Here you will find;

• Beautiful Government Parliament Buildings and Lawn
• Historic Empress Hotel (take a walk inside & visit the gardens and shops)
• Amazing Provincial Museum complete with dinosaur artefacts
• Inner Harbour Causeway with live entertainment, food carts, local crafts and souvenirs
• Government Street Plaza ( a variety of local speciality stores including native art, as well as an abundance of dining options)
• Trounce Alley ( more unique gift shops and dining in an historic setting )
• Historic Bastion Square ( Victoria’s oldest area and filled with history, now a great place to relax, also with a variety of shops and restaurants)

All of these great attractions listed above are in the immediate area of the inner harbour downtown. A great place to spend the day!

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria

For those just wanting to relax, and enjoy an afternoon at the park, then Beacon Hill Park is just down road from the cruise ship terminal. It’s a beautiful walk along the ocean, taking you past Mile ‘0’ of the Trans – Canada Highway (a popular photo spot) where across the street is the entrance to the park.

If you have children, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon, complete with playground and a unique petting zoo, fun for the whole family. You can sit and relax among the beautiful rose gardens and then head across the street to a local drive-in for ice cream.

Beacon Drive-In – Victoria’s Best Ice Cream

Should you happen to feel like a snack or meal, either to eat on the patio or for take-out to enjoy in the park, then the Beacon Drive-In is your place. Located directly across the street from the park, it is one of Victoria’s true landmark eateries!

I have been enjoying this drive-in since I was a little boy growing up here. There’s a variety of dining options from burgers, seafood, sandwiches and much more. They have the best ice cream and shakes in the city!

I really could go on for hours about the many things to do in Victoria, but this article is for those just wanting to take in the beautiful popular sites in the downtown area. Of course there are so many other attractions in the area that can be arranged either at the cruise ship port or directly downtown in the inner harbour, for example:
• Whale watching tours
• Horse drawn carriage tours
• Pirate Ship Tour
• World renowned Butchart Gardens

Whatever you decide, spending a day in Victoria will certainly leave lasting memories and having you want to return again and again!

Visit the #explorecanada official Canada Tourism Website for more information on things to do in British Columbia and Victoria.

Author Bio: Many thanks for this article to Robert Tellier, who shares his special moments on his blog  at Gr8 Travel Tips, offering tips on travel, health & fitness, camping and much more. You can also connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.

 

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