Victoria, British Columbia is one of my favorite cities. There are so many things to love about it. One of the things I enjoy most, though, is how much it resembles Europe. Parts of Victoria make me feel like I stepped back into France and I just love it! If you have not been to Victoria yet, here are 7 things you want to be sure and do in and around the city:

Look At Boats and Feed Seals At Oak Bay Marina

Since Vancouver Island is, well, an island, there are a lot of Marinas to visit. One that I would highly recommend putting on your list, though, is Oak Bay Marina. It is just 15 minutes from downtown Victoria and is my absolute favorite. With a beautiful view of the mountain and a location adjoined to a dreamy little park that turns into an Autumn dream in October, it is a wonderful place to enjoy looking at boats and feeding the harbor seals. Just watch out for the seagulls! They like to try and steal the fish from your hands. So don’t dangle it above the seals for too long!

Another great reason to visit Oak Bay is because of its Marina Dockside Eatery. I stopped there for brunch and was definitely not anticipating my meal there to end up being one of the best from my entire trip! It really was, though. This little cafe had my egg and ham sandwich brought out in just a few minutes and let me tell ya, those eggs were perfect. Not rubbery at all! And their caramel latte is the best latte I have ever had. No joke. I cannot wait to go back and get another one!

Take A Tour of Craigdarroch Castle

If you love history and would like a glimpse of what privileged life was like in the 1890s, a tour of Craigdarroch Castle is definitely for you. This Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion has been beautifully restored and a walk throughout it will give you a fascinating tale of the intriguing Dunsmuir family. Their story is a rags to riches one and you certainly don’t want to miss it!

Craigdarroch is only eight minutes from downtown Victoria and admissions are just $13.95 for adults.

Enjoy High Tea

If you enjoy a good tea, High Tea at The Fairmont Empress is something you won’t want to miss. For $75, you get to enjoy one of their delicious loose-leaf teas and a nice array of fancy pastries and sandwiches in a beautiful building built in 1908.

If $75 sounds like a bit too much for you, though, there is also The Gatsby Mansion. I had tea there as well and everything was delicious.

Visit Hatley Castle

Craigdarroch Castle was so much fun to explore; however, if you only have time for one castle, this is the one I would recommend! Constructed in 1908, Hatley Castle is one of the most famous mansions in British Columbia. It is happily situated just 25 minutes from downtown Victoria and is a major tourist attraction due to its beautiful design and well kept grounds. Its look is certainly not the sole reason for its popularity, though. This Scottish Baronial styled estate has also been used in quite a few movies and TV shows. Some popular appearances include: X2, X-Men The Last Stand, Masterminds and episodes of Smallville, The Killing, Deadpool, McGyver, and Arrow.

Enjoy A Stroll Through Butchart Gardens

Sometimes when I visit a new place I stray away from the touristy attractions. They are always so packed and at times I just prefer to explore without a list of things to see, you know? Well, that being said, this is one tourist attraction I would not recommend you skipping. When visiting Victoria, you simply must stop at Butchart Gardens! They are just too beautiful to pass up.

Since I visited in the Autumn, there were not as many flowers (though there were some!). However, I am so happy that I visited this time of the year because their Japanese garden was beyond gorgeous. I could not get over all of those bright Autumn colors. So if you are coming at a time that you think is “out of season” for gardens, still go! They even have a ton of decorations in the winter for Christmas. This is a place well worth a visit all year round.

Explore Fishermans Wharf

With its unique shops, creative boat houses, and tasty food kiosks, Fishermans Wharf is a marine destination that you simply don’t want to miss. Its also another fun place to feed seals and watch fisherman. Not to mention, you can take a water taxi ride from here, join a whale watching tour, or hop into a kayak as well!

Walk Around The Parliament Building At Night

A trip to Victoria is not complete unless you walk around the city – especially at night! I love looking at all of the shops and docked boats during the day, but everything becomes just that much more magical at night. With white lights adorning the entire Parliament building and old fashioned street lamps lit up, Victoria becomes a wonderland in the late hours and it’s a photographers dream. ????

A good place to eat at when you are walking around this waterfront is the Flying Otter Grill. This restaurant serves delicious broccoli soup and gives you the best view of sea planes landing on the water.

Have you ever been to Victoria? Or any part of Canada? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

xo, mikéla