Destination Greater Victoria

11/01/2024

🌲✨ Hungry for adventure? Victoria’s trails and tastes are calling! Whether you're looking for a breezy waterfront stroll, a forested lake loop, or a challenging coastal climb, this blog has paired each unique journey with a nearby eatery that’s just right for refueling. From fish & chips on the harbour to farm-to-table indulgences in the forest, these trail-and-taste combos promise a taste of Greater Victoria like no other.

Find your pace, your flavour, and your moment in a city where nature and nourishment blend effortlessly. 🍃🧭

We've paired nature and nourishment in by complimenting some of our favourite hikes with a restaurant recommendation. Explore trails and tastes in Victoria, BC.

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from our team, to you and yours! Which Greater Victoria neighbourhood are you trick-or-treating in? 🎃🍬

For your share of thrills and chills, look back at some of our latest posts on our social media channels. We've also been amassing the most bewitching Halloween wishes from our local Victoria businesses - check our Stories if you dare! 👻
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📍 Sidney's Treat Street - Beacon Ave
📷 Explore Sidney

10/29/2024

Hatley Castle, a 565-acre Edwardian estate, is a charming site with sprawling gardens and a stately facade. However, the property is said to be haunted 👻

It's believed that the ghosts of the Dunsmuir family who once owned the Castle still roam its halls. When the Castle was a military college, cadets would see the spirit of Laura Dunsmuir searching the dorms for her son.

One recent visitor said a ghost had followed her home, mimicking a crying baby and pestering her at work! 🎃
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📍 Royal Roads University
📸 like_cup_holder (IG)

10/28/2024

We’ve floated far and wide, but nothing quite compares to Beacon Hill Park this time of year. 🍂✨ The crisp air, the golden leaves, and the perfect stone bridge for a couple of ghosts to haunt in peace. 👻 There’s just something about Victoria that makes a ghost want to stick around. Maybe it’s the spooky charm, maybe it’s the great photo ops—either way, we’ll be floating here for a while. 🎃

📍 Beacon Hill Park
📸 (Instagram)

10/27/2024

Did you know the well-groomed Beacon Hill Park has a dark side to it? 👻

The Screaming Doppelganger, one of Victoria’s most famous murders, haunts the park's grounds.

Sightings of her go back to the 1970’s, where witnesses saw a woman standing on a rock near the park entrance with her arms above her head, mouth open in a silent scream. She would appear at sunrise for several months, before going missing.

In 1983, police uncovered a shallow grave of a woman directly where she used to stand. Shortly after the discovery, visitors to the park would see a woman posed at the same spot with her mouth wide open. Many would ask if she needed assistance, but the Doppelganger would stare blankly ahead, unshifting. 😱🎃
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📍 Beacon Hill Park
📸 abrulfer (IG)

10/26/2024

Victoria’s fall landscapes are anything but ordinary. 🍂✨ Tucked between golden trees and moss-covered trails, chasing waterfalls here feels like discovering a world you didn’t know existed—quiet, vibrant, and unmistakably its own.

📍 Goldstream Provincial Park
📸 (Instagram)

10/25/2024

Today, we want to share an eerie tale about Victoria’s Parliament Buildings... 👻

An architect named Francis Rattenbury designed the Parliament Buildings when he was just 25 years old, back in the 1890s. Fast-forward about 40 years, and Rattenbury's life had taken a dark spiral with themes of divorce, affair, bankruptcy… and even murder. 😱

His body now rests in England, where he was brutally bludgeoned to death by his second-wife’s lover. His apparition - a slender man with a mustache and cane - has been spotted doing rounds of the Parliament Buildings, reminiscing about his glory days in Victoria. 🎃
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📍 BC Parliament Buildings
📷 sergei.turner (IG)

10/24/2024

Golden hues and calm waters—Victoria’s fall beauty invites you to pause and breathe deeply. Whether you’re setting sail or exploring the shoreline, the city inspires moments of mindfulness and discovery.

📍 Oak Bay
📸 (Instagram)

10/23/2024

Today we're sharing a haunted tale about Victoria's Bastion Square. 👻

In the heart of Victoria's Old Town, Bastion Square is considered the most haunted part of Victoria. Almost every building around the historic square is said to be a host to paranormal activity! 🔮

Come here on a quiet evening and listen carefully. You may hear phantom music coming through from the right side of the alley, playing a familiar tune. 🎶

A former organist who was once employed at a restaurant in the building is still said to be taking requests... from "the other side". 🎃
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📍 Bastion Square
📸 devoncaldwellyoga (IG)

10/22/2024

The iconic Empress hotel, which opened its doors in 1908, has collected ghostly stories of ghoulish glamour over the years. 👻

Guests have reported an elderly woman in pajamas knocking on their door. When guests try to help her find her room, she leads them to the elevator before vanishing.

She's believed to be a ghost that once haunted a room after dying of natural causes, but that room was demolished to space for elevators - hence, her journey there.

This Halloween, stay at the Fairmont Empress… if you dare! 🎃
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📍 Fairmont Empress
📸 j27__photography (IG)

10/21/2024

Tucked away in the heart of Victoria, Burnes House is a hidden gem wrapped in history and ivy! 🌿✨ With every turn, this city reveals something new—an adventure waiting just around the corner. Explore cobblestone alleyways, discover ivy-clad courtyards, and let the energy of Victoria’s old-meets-new vibe pull you in. Whether you're wandering for a coffee stop or simply getting lost on purpose, there's always a fresh story waiting to unfold. Ready to dive into the unexpected?

📍 Victoria
📸 (Instagram)

10/20/2024

Fall is an extraordinary time to re-visit Victoria's landmarks, now transformed under a glowing hue. 🍁

Pictured here is the parade of red, russet, and golden maples blanketing the Japanese Garden at The Butchart Gardens, gradually sprinkling the ground with nature's confetti. 🍂
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📍 The Butchart Gardens
📸 yee_photo (IG)

10/19/2024

Our Rockland neighbourhood's spectacular fall showcase, best seen from above overlooking the majestic 🏰🍂

📍 Rockland
📸 mr.sumitgupta1

10/18/2024

More than just an ocean view, but an experience that pulls you right into its rhythm. There's nowhere quite like it, a front-row seat to nature at its most epic. Victoria, BC, is a place where the wild meets the whimsical and the coast comes to life.

📍Salish Sea
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📸: (Instagram)

10/17/2024

🍂✨ November in Victoria, BC is full of surprises—where cozy moments meet creative adventures. Picture yourself strolling through twinkling lights, finding hidden gems at local markets, and discovering the kind of experiences that stay with you long after you’ve left. 🌿🎶

Curiosity is your guide this season. Whether it’s a festive dance, live music filling the streets, or hands-on crafts that connect you with the city's rich history, Victoria invites you to explore something unforgettable.

Ready to see what’s waiting for you?

Get a jump on holiday shopping, enjoy local craft shows, dine and a dance beneath festive lights, and more. Find 10 things to do in Victoria this November.

10/17/2024

Spectacular sunsets sweep across the sky, taken from a vantage point in Colwood.

Where is your favourite place to catch a Victoria sunset?
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📍 Colwood
📸 Murray Sharratt Photography

10/16/2024

The staircase to the sea, and an embrace to the ocean. 🌊

You can find this striking piece along Victoria’s Dallas Road, near the Ogden Point Breakwater.
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📍 Dallas Road
📸 sassadam (IG)

10/14/2024

The red carpet is rolling out in Greater Victoria! 🍁🍂

This Japanese Maple tree near Hatley Castle steals the show every autumn. Find it ready for a photo op, tucked away in the Royal Roads University gardens.
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📍 Hatley Castle
📸 Dylan Benson (betterwithadventure on Instagram)

10/13/2024

Our lush ancient forests are filled with surprising gems. Will you venture out and find them? 🌿💧
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📍 Brentwood Bay
📸 .l.mackenziephotography

10/11/2024

Did you just see a California Sea Lion or a Stellar Sea Lion during your Victoria whale watching tour? 🌊 We’ll give some hints:

California sea lions are usually a dark brown/blackish colour compared to the Stellars, which are often a light tan or reddish brown. California sea lions also tend to be smaller, while Stellar males are able to weigh in at thousands of pounds.

That all being said, what type of sea lion do you think this is? Have your guess in the comments 🤔
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📍 Race Rocks Marine Protected Area
📸 jillianabrownphotography (IG)

10/09/2024

Will you be attending this spectacular event? Only about 40 tickets remain! Art Of The Cocktail 🥂

10/06/2024

Spectacular wildlife sighting, or The Natural History Gallery at the ?

That last photo might be a giveaway... 😉
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📍 675 Belleville St
📸 westcoast.landscapes (IG)

10/04/2024

This fall, explore it all! 🍂As the #1 small city in the world, we turn autumn into a feast for the senses—rich colours, cozy moments, and flavours that linger long after. From pumpkin patches to local harvest feasts, every step through Victoria’s vibrant streets feels like a celebration of something truly original. Check out our guide to creating your perfect fall bucket list in Victoria.

Create your perfect fall bucket list, and explore Victoria this autumn. Experience vibrant fall colours, farm-fresh food, and cozy up those you love.

10/04/2024

Did you know that Vancouver Island has its very own Niagara Falls?

Located in Goldstream Provincial Park, find this 47.5 metre high waterfall, along with rare and protected flora & fauna 🍂🍁
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📍 Goldstream Provincial Park
📸 Tyler M. Cave

10/01/2024

We are very honoured to announce that, for the 2nd year in a row, Victoria has been named the Best Small City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler readers! 🏆

From wellness experiences to fascinating wildlife encounters, Greater Victoria charms travellers with a natural combo of adventure and luxury. The rugged island landscape shapes even our most metropolitan areas, carving a unique little city that marches at its own beat.

Thank you to all who voted for us. From hidden corners filled with stories to vistas that will leave you speechless, this city invites you to experience something real & unforgettable. Come experience the charm that put us at the top! 💙

Condé Nast Article: https://hubs.li/Q02RDVP40
📍 Victoria Inner Harbour