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Find Yourself in Victoria this Fall
Posted on October 1, 2021
Find Yourself in Victoria this Fall
Greater Victoria is a place where you can be who you want to be and eat what you want to eat. Just look around you, our vibrant locals welcome all with glowing hearts. With such a warm welcoming embrace to the West Coast, you are encouraged you to reconnect with yourself and loved ones this fall.
Embrace the changing season and experience all that Victoria has to offer this fall. What type of traveller are you?
The Adventurer
Explore by sea or sky in Greater Victoria for an unmatched west coast adventure.
Hit the high seas with Springtide Whale Watching & Eco Tours and book a sport fishing charter and feel the thrill of the fight as you hook ‘the big one.’ Find out if you have what it takes to land a 60lb Chinook!
Up for a little more adventure? Soar with the eagles as you zipline from the treetops at AdrenaLINE and experience a new understanding of ‘birds’ eye view.’ After all of that adventure and excitement, it is time to quench your thirst at the award-winning Sheringham Distillery. The distillery has strong ties with local producers in order to obtain the best quality ingredients to produce high quality spirits.
Tip: Take home a bottle of the award-winning Seaside Gin with locally harvested kelp.
Wrap up your eventful day at the luxurious SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort. The resort sits atop the jagged sea bluffs where you can watch and listen to the surge crash amongst the rocks.
The Professor
An eclectic mix of cultures and traditions each tell their own chapter of Greater Victoria’s storied history. A mosaic of colour, history, and flavour tell the tale of the oldest city in the Pacific Northwest.
Discover thousands of years of local history at the Royal British Columbia Museum. The museum showcases the preeminent collection of First Nations artwork and unravels the continuing history of our great province. Don’t miss the feature exhibit, Orcas: Our Shared Future, a beautiful homage to beautiful mamals that live in our waters.
Looking to get away from the city? Take a ride out to Maple Bay and the awe-inspiring Hand of Man Museum. Experience the culture and beliefs of ancient civilizations, witness traditions and historic tools used for centuries, and learn about the global effort towards conservation through education and awareness.
It’s time to return to the city, to visit more historic Greater Victoria landmarks. Just a short walk from the harbourfront, along Government Street lies the gateway to Chinatown, the second oldest in North America. Navigate your way through the narrowest alley in Canada, Fan Tan Alley. Comprised of more than a dozen locally owned shops, it offers a diverse and exciting shopping experience. Here you can find organic treats, homemade ice cream, matcha teas and gifts. Enjoy dinner at Don Mee Seafood Restaurant, they have attracted guests from all over the world over for more than 80 years, a must-visit culinary experience.
Learn more about Victoria’s history from an expert—opt for a walking tour that showcases our beautiful city with Discovery Walks History Tours. The experienced local guides offer a unique insight into our city’s rich culture and storied past. Settle in for the evening at one of our charming and historic bed and breakfasts. The Dashwood Manor. Once settled in, grab a bite to eat at one of downtown Victoria’s iconic watering holes, with great pub fare and local craft beers, The Bard and Banker.
Tip: Opening in 1885 The Bard and Banker was originally the Bank of British Columbia.
The Zen Master
Like a stone skipping across still waters, Victoria is surrounded by the tranquility of the Salish Sea. Bordered by protected waters and quiet forests, find zen in Greater Victoria.
Uncover one of Canada’s greatest artists. The Bateman Gallery graces the inner harbour and showcases the beauty of nature as envisioned by world-renowned Canadian artist Robert Bateman. Bateman’s lifelike paintings encompass the deep connection all have with Vancouver Island. Find peace in this forest of art.
Too much hustle? Too much bustle? Escape from the grind and cleanse your soul in one of our many forests. A doctor prescribed stress cure, forest bathing purifies the spirit. Don’t get lost, a guided tour with Mystical Rainforest Tours & Self Discovery Quests will safely escort you on your journey. Take in our painted fall landscapes at Goldstream Provincial Park, Beacon Hill Park, or for those really looking to escape the city, Botanical Beach Provincial Park.
Melt away to the sound of rolling waves. What better place to absorb the coastal views than the Oak Bay Beach Hotel? Breathe the fresh sea air as you sit oceanside at the Hotel’s mineral pool facilities then allow yourself to be pampered at their world class spa facility. Poolside food and beverage service only add to this indulgence of the soul.
The Foodie
What can we say? With the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada, Victorians like to eat! A world class mix of culinary experiences, means Greater Victoria provides a dining culture like no other.
You may have bean around the world, but you’ve never had coffee like this. With several locations around the city, the home base and roastery of Caffe Fantastico is in the heart of the iconic Quadra Village and is a must stop for any coffee aficionado. Locally focused dishes, craft beer, and BC wines, only add to the experience at this local haunt. For an afternoon pick me up, Murchie’s Fine Tea & Coffee has been serving Victorians for over 100 years and has truly perfected the craft. Combining a dine-in Tea Room and retail shop, Murchie’s serves up the finest beans and blends of tea, as well, as scrumptious baked treats in their historic Government Street location.
Let’s do lunch! An off the beaten track favourite for Victorian’s, Moon Under Water Brewery and Pub serves up great food, award winning beer and spirits, and good times. Be sure to check out their great beer selection, including the delicious Creepy Uncle Dunkel Dark Munich Lager. Just steps away from many of Victoria’s other breweries, Moon Under Water Brewery is a great launching pad for any brewery crawl.
Insider Tip: Bring the flavour of Victoria home, Moon Shaft Liqueur allows you to bring Victoria’s house cocktail, “The Shaft”, to your home bar.
You can’t leave the island without tasting the island, and there’s no better place to taste Victoria than Boom + Batten. Because local tastes better. Complemented by a perfect view of the inner harbour, it’s easy to see where Boom + Batten get’s its inspiration for its Pacific Northwest cuisine.
The Eccentric
Calling all oddballs! Yeah, you! Do you like things a little different? Look no further. With a huge array of off the beaten track experiences, we’ve got something weird and wonderful for all our friends.
Not for the squeamish, the Victoria Bug Zoo opened its doors in 1997 and has been creeping and crawling its way into the hearts of visitors ever since. Home to giant walking sticks, praying mantis’, glow-in-the dark scorpions, Canada’s largest ant colony, and more, the Victoria Bug Zoo is a must-see mini zoo jam packed with hands-on adventure!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to explore the Gorge Waterway in a hot tub? Of course, you have, who hasn’t? Explore the Inner Harbour and Gorge Waterway aboard Canada’s first fleet of hot tub boats with Hot Tub Boat Victoria and see the coast in comfort and style. Each boat comes equipped with water, Bluetooth speaker, and dry bags. Now, you’re set for a good time.
Then grab your tokens and step back into the not-so-distant past at Quazar’s Arcade. This all-ages pinball and videogame arcade located in Trounce Alley just off the heart of Government Street is sure to bring out the kid in you. Quazar’s features a rotating collection of classic and current video games, as well as the largest selection of pinball machines in BC.
Insider Tip: You’ll never beat my high score on Attack from Mars
