Lost on Vancouver Island: My top 10 things to do in Victoria, British Columbia

Once upon a time, I had the privilege of calling Victoria home. It was my first taste of Canada's West Coast and to say I fell in love would be an understatement. Fast forward ten years and Victoria still remains one of my favourite places to visit. So much so, that I have been back twice. As the capital of British Columbia, Victoria has a small town vibe, filled with culture and is easily accessible on foot. It sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, surrounded by ocean and spectacular mountains. Just beyond the city boarders, lies an island packed with nature that is waiting to be explored.

Here are my top ten things to do in Victoria, BC.

Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is a short walk from the downtown area. You'll be surrounded by the faint cries of seagulls, small propeller planes landing on the harbour and beautiful colourful floating homes that are straight out of a post card. There are lots of great food kiosks serving delicious food.

Whale Watching
Located right at Fisherman's Wharf, Eagle Wing Tours offers daily whale watching tours on their high-performance luxury boats. I did a sunset tour, where we spent an afternoon watching a family of orcas hunt for food. It was incredible. I've been on several whale watching tours in the past and I have to say, these were some of the friendliest, most knowledgeable staff that I have encountered to date.

The Ogden Point Breakwater
This is the perfect afternoon stroll on a pier-like cement structure that juts out into the Juan de Fuca Strait. At the very end of the path, there's a lighthouse overlooking the harbour. It's not unusual to see all sorts of marine life from harbour seals to sea lions. It’s the perfect spot for a sunset stroll.

China Town
Chinatown in Victoria has a real old time charm. That probably has something to do with the fact that it's Canada's oldest Chinatown, and the second oldest in North America. There are many small shops and restaurants. Be sure to visit Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in the country filled with lots of hidden gems to explore.

Red Fish Blue Fish
This popular food spot is located right next to the water and operates out of a shipping container. I passed it several times on my recent trip and there was always a line. It's THAT good and well worth it! If you want local, fresh seafood, this is the spot. I tried a little bit of everything. For me, it was a tossup between the BC Halibut fish & chips, the chowder or the Jerk Fish Poutine. This place is incredible and hands down one of the best meals I had in Victoria.

Rent a bike
Victoria is very bike friendly and is surrounded by amazing bike paths and beautiful parks and outdoor areas to explore. I rented a bike from Cycle BC Bike Rentals. I highly recommend renting a bike, jumping on the Galloping Goose Trail and heading out to Fort Rodd Historic Lighthouse as well as Hatley Castle which are also next on my list of places to go to.

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse
This lighthouse will always be one of my favourite places on earth. It's magic. When I lived in Victoria, I often came here to relax and watch the marine life. The lighthouse is located on a 19th century artillery fort and the grounds are beautiful. On any given day, you're likely to see deer roaming the grounds, sea otters, and harbour seals.

Hatley Castle
If you're an X-Men fan like me, then you can't miss Hatley Castle. It's the filming location for Professor Xavier's School of the Gifted. X-Men aside, it's a beautiful building that's part of Royal Roads University and has a stunning garden with peacocks roaming the grounds. Hatley Castle is very close to Fort Rodd so they are both worth checking out on the same trip.

Jam Cafe
If you're a foodie, you can't visit Victoria without brunching at Jam Cafe. I've been here twice, several years apart and it still does not disappoint. The Charlie Bowl is a hearty breakfast that includes crumbled buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, sausage gravy and topped with eggs. It's unreal.

Victoria is truly special and if you haven’t been, I encourage you to add it to the list. It is hands down one of my favourite cities in Canada. Safe travels!