We visited British Columbia’s capital, the beautiful oceanside city of Victoria! From touring the BC Parliament Building to a spooky ghost walk, we did it all!!!

Oak Bay Beach Hotel

We stayed at the iconic Oak Bay Beach Hotel. My Dad had a work retreat there, so my Mom and I took the opportunity to tag along for the trip!

Built in 1927, this hotel has been a landmark in Victoria for decades, now boasting a reputation as a true luxury, oceanfront resort. Tip: make sure you allow some time to relax poolside!

We had dinner one night at the Faro and we highly recommend having one of their Neapolitan pizza – so delish!

The only thing I didn’t like is that the pool was for ages 16 and up. 🙁

Willows Beach

As Victoria is surrounded by water, there are quite a few beaches, but most are rocky, until we discovered Willows Beach – a wonderfully sandy beach with lot’s of jellyfish! It was a pretty short walk from our hotel and we even had a picnic there!

Gelato at Oak Bay Marina

Oak Bay Marina, a quick five minute walk from Oak Bay Beach Hotel, has a variety of exquisite gelato that tastes just like Mike’s place in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.

Uptown Shopping Mall

We went to Uptown Shopping Mall for some essentials when we came across some wonderful, unique artwork on the ground! This outdoor mall also offers stores such as Whole Foods, Walmart, Michaels and other clothing shops.

The BC Parliament Building

My biggest wish for this trip was to tour the BC Parliament House. Tickets are free, but they are handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis for that day. They are available beginning at 9:00 AM each day and are often all given out by 10:00 AM. So we rushed one morning to get downtown to get our tickets!

The tour was so much fun! We got to learn all about the building, see the Legislative Assembly and there was even a visit from the architect Francis Rattenbury who built the Parliament Building when he was only 25 years old! This meticulous structure took 4 years to build! Now THAT’S dedication!  He was also the architect for the Empress Hotel and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

  • Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee stain glass window
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee stain glass window
  • Talking with the architect – Francis Rattenbury

Nourish Kitchen & Cafe

Nourish Kitchen is a hidden gem in a beautiful neighborhood downtown with a very unique menu! We went there for breakfast and the artistic effort that went into the food was meticulous! I had some yummy beet pancakes and my parents had the eggs benedict which was on a bed of kale. It’s definitely a place to visit for a nice breakfast

Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria

One evening from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM we when on a ghost walk. The tour guide took us to various places around the downtown Victoria and told us about hangings, murders, and more…

The walking tour also had a historical element and I would recommend this tour for ages 6 and up, if not older as it could frighten some kids.

Victoria, BC’s capital, is a place to definitely visit.