Victoria: 36 Hours in British Columbia’s Capital

Victoria: 36 Hours in British Columbia’s Capital

Both the capital of British Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island, Victoria is a popular weekend destination for Vancouverites and visitors to Vancouver alike. Last month, my younger brother Andreas and I hopped on that bandwagon and spent two full days exploring the oldest city in the Pacific Northwest. During our 36-hour city break, we explored Downtown Victoria as well as the neighborhoods of Oak Bay and James Bay, we enjoyed nutritious meals and indulged in sweet treats, and we darted between beaches, parks, and markets. Although we didn’t have time to discover all of Victoria’s nooks and crannies, we certainly made the most of our sibling trip to the City of Gardens.



Getting from Vancouver to Victoria:
While there are multiple transportation carriers serving Victoria, Andreas and I opted for the most affordable route which is serviced by BC Ferries. With a crossing time of 95 minutes from Tsawwassen on the Lower Mainland to Swartz Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, this scenic cruise provided a relaxing start to our island adventures. Ferries depart nearly every hour and an adult one-way fare costs $17.20 CAD. Upon arriving in Swartz Bay, we climbed aboard the bus to downtown Victoria and each purchased a $5 DayPASS from the bus driver, giving us all-day access to the Greater Victoria Region.



 
Day 1: Downtown & Oak Bay

We got off the bus at Victoria Public Market, a bustling hub for farm-fresh food, locally-made art, and live entertainment. Located in the historic Hudson building, dozens of vendors gather here to sell meats and cheeses, oils and vinegars, tacos and groceries, and more. I was excited to find a plant-based butchery called The Very Good Butchers and Andreas enjoyed a sub from the meat and sandwich shop called Roast. Open seven days a week, this market even features a drop-in play center and Victoria’s first and only pie shop.



Next, we headed further into the core of downtown, an extremely walkable area that is best explored by foot. We weaved between the lively streets and browsed the diverse shops, my favorite of which was Russell Books on historic Fort Street. I could have easily spent hours flipping through the used and new books, not to mention the shelves of antiquarian and out-of-print books. Andreas, on the other hand, was more interested in the men’s clothing stores, so we agreed to split up for a couple of hours before regrouping at Habit Coffee.


After a much-needed caffeine fix, a double espresso for Andreas and a soy latte for me, we stumbled upon the Market Square. This square consists of an inner courtyard surrounded by restored buildings that are filled with unique boutiques, art studios, and cozy cafés and restaurants. Known as The Heart of Old Town, a handful of festivals and events are held here throughout the year. We peeked our heads into several stores, each selling one-of-a-kind merchandise, until it was time for dinner.


A quick Google search led us to 10 Acres Bistro, a farm-to-table restaurant with a locally inspired menu that features ingredients fresh from their farm in North Saanich. We were quickly seated on the gorgeous outdoor patio and our waitress was happy to list off all the vegan options as well as the items on the menu that the chef could make vegan. Andreas ordered the grain bowl and I went with two appetizers, the quinoa fritters and the summer squash and tomatoes salad.


After a very long day, we hopped on the bus to our Airbnb located in the Oak Bay neighborhood. Oak Bay is a quiet coastal community with a quaint village and a full-service marina, only about a one-hour walk from Downtown Victoria. After checking into our Airbnb, we headed over to Willows Beach to watch the sunset. It was a cloudy evening, but the colors in the sky and the views of Discovery Island and Mount Baker in the distance were stunning nonetheless.


 
Day 2: James Bay

The next morning, I went for a 10-kilometer run down Beach Drive and Dallas Road Waterfront Trail, part of the Victoria Marathon course which I will be running in October. My run took me along the shoreline of Juan de Fuca Strait, through Clover Point Park, and into Beacon Hill Park, where I ended up at the Mile Zero Monument and the Terry Fox Memorial Statue. Mile Zero marks the start of the 8,000-kilometer Trans Canada Highway spanning the entire length of Canada while the statue of Terry Fox commemorates the Canadian athlete who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research before he lost his own battle with cancer in 1981.



Following my run, I met Andreas back at the Airbnb for coffee and breakfast, after which we took our sightseeing adventures to the James Bay neighborhood. James Bay is home to many of Victoria’s key attractions as well as several parks, gardens, and markets, and it just so happened to be Saturday – also known as Market Day at the James Bay Community Market! There were food trucks, craft stands, live music, and even a tarot tent where I got my very first tarot card reading.


A short walk from the market, Fisherman’s Wharf Park provides a one-of-a-kind waterfront experience. With fishing vessels, pleasure vessels, float homes, and a commercial plaza, the wharf is a popular marine destination for residents and visitors alike. Andreas and I took a particular interest in the float home village, debating whether or not we would want to live in a floating residence that belongs to such a heavily trafficked tourist attraction.



Weekend afternoons always call for brunch and luckily, Nourish Kitchen & Café was just a few blocks away. Situated in an 1888 heritage home, this restaurant preaches their philosophy eat with people you love, so that’s exactly what we did. The menu contains several gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options, all made with natural, organic, and seasonal ingredients. Andreas ordered the sandwich-of-the-day and I tried the vegan benny’s gone nuts, a plant-based take on the traditional eggs benedict.


After brunch, we walked to the Ogden Point Breakwater featuring the Ogden Point Sundial, the Breakwater Lighthouse, and the First Nations Breakwater Murals. Built in 1916, this 762-meter concrete breakwater is a piece of public art and its serene surroundings made for a very pleasant stroll. I found the Unity Wall Mural to be especially lovely, a project that strives to bridge cultures and honor the history and traditions of the Salish Nations.



Our last sightseeing stop was at the beautiful Parliament Buildings overlooking the Inner Harbour, perhaps the most recognizable architectural landmark in Victoria. Home to British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly, the Parliament Buildings are open to the public for free guided and self-guided tours. The lawn also appeared to be a popular place for basking in the sun. The Inner Harbour down below was first used by First Nations and is one of the most spectacular of its kind in the world.


Finally, after two jam-packed days of exploring, we made our way to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and sailed back across the Strait of Georgia to mainland British Columbia. Under blue skies, wispy clouds, and a waxing gibbous moon, our thirty-six hours in Victoria officially came to an end. Thanks for sharing this adventure with me, little bro!


With ♡, Julia Elizabeth

Share This Post:

4 Comments

  1. Jessica
    August 29, 2018 / 01:04

    Beautiful pictures!!

  2. August 20, 2018 / 01:31

    That market looks worthy of a visit. Love your pictures too!

    • August 20, 2018 / 06:40

      Aren’t markets just lovely?! Thank you Rachael 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.