The Hotel

Not to be dramatic, but I literally felt as though the hotel staff would die for me. Every tiny request I had was fulfilled – from the smallest to the most annoying. Walking in through the entrance, a member of staff would prise the door open for me whilst another greeted me from reception, getting up to swipe their card for the elevator so that I wouldn’t have to wait a single second for it to arrive. When I would leave the hotel, I would be offered an umbrella for the rain, and could grab an extra pillow chocolate or two from the cleaners (who were so nice). Reception had daily weather forecasts on the front desk, and would give me flawless advice about how to spend the day, and I felt so incredibly taken care of.

The hotel is located in the very heart of Vancouver, a perfect distance away from downtown attractions, restaurants, and malls. Whilst the city life is bustling, the rooms are completely blocked off from outside noise which is a relief. Local transport is accessible from almost directly outside the hotel, conveniently connecting you to other areas of the city. 

The Suite

The suite itself is gorgeous, with patched jade faux-leather walls, two flat screen televisions, and the plumpest pillows I have ever come across. Every evening, I would return to the hotel to find little chocolates on the bed cushions – which tasted exactly like a bar I ate once as a child, making me want to abandon my lactose-free diet to indulge in mounds upon mounds of the stuff.

The bathroom was, in essence, a wet room, with a large marble seat to lounge upon in the shower, a plethora of L’occitane gels and lotions (my favourite skincare brand), and extremely thick towels and dressing gowns. The mirror was massive and very Hollywood-esque, which made applying make-up feel like I was prepping for the Oscars. Oh, and the walls were textured with little folds and ribbons. 

The small living room was incredibly comfy and cosy – and made it exceedingly difficult to leave to explore the city. Styled like a 50’s living room, it brought me a large amount of joy to merely lounge across the sofa, watch daytime TV, and brew copious amounts of coffee and tea (I’m British, after all). The complimentary Fiji water made me feel exceedingly suave, and the luxe throw rendered my binge sofa-eating into something more glamorous. 

Have you guys ever stayed at a hotel like this, or even the St. Regis itself? Or have I inspired you to venture out to Vancouver to check out this little haven? Let me know in the comments below!

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JOHN’S PLACE

Maybe I shouldn’t be starting this post on my favourite place in the whole city, but I really can’t help myself – and I could go on about how much I love John’s Place forever. Not only was the food gorgeous (I completely stuffed myself silly on pancakes, waffles, and chorizo) and the atmosphere buzzing, but the staff members were all so lovely. Debra was our server, and told us all about how she’d been here for a grand total of 34 years and loved it just as much today as she did then. She was super chatty and happy and instantly put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Elvis and James Blunt played in the background, and every single wall was thoroughly adorned with old photos and posters. After being recommended this place over and over again, and yet never finding the time to visit, I finally spent an afternoon here on my third month in the city. I fell in love instantly. After months of travel and not quite feeling at home, this was finally it. Never have I adored a place as much. Also, as a bonus – the food literally kept me fed until 9pm.

723 Pandora Ave, V8W 1N9

If you also like John’s place very much and are also attracted by the food, posters, and photos here, then you can save this wonderful memory with Custom Keychains.

You can choose various photos you took, poster pictures, favorite food cartoon pictures, and even the name of your favorite place as the material, add your favorite color and material, and design a special keychain.

Whenever you see these personalized and exquisite keychains, they will remind you of the good times of tasting food at John’s place.

FISHHOOK

The sort of place you’ll find yourself venturing to when the weather outside is cold and wet and you want something comforting and delicious to pick you back up. Especially good for seafood lovers (I guess the clue’s in the name), Fishhook specialises in food full of protein, personality, and love. I came here once on a date with an English guy and we split a chowder – and whilst the date went up in flames, the gorgeous food really did take the edge off.

 805 Fort St, V8W 1H6

BE LOVE

Rated one of the best places in Victoria for vegan cake, it has a lot to live up to – and it sure does! The cake is so rich and sweet and gorgeous, we probably spent around half an hour just taking our time with two slices of cake. It’s the sort of place where you savour each bite, rather than just throwing it all down you. I visited here with a guy whose mother is a wonderful chef, owning little bits of cafes here and there, and even he agreed that it was the best cake he’d ever had.

1019 Blanshard St, V8W 2H4

TACOFINO

When you walk into Tacofino, you’ll instantly be greeted by a plethora of people milling about, catching up over some gorgeous food, sharing burritos and tacos and salads. It’s styled like an old-school indoor eatery, and is ideal for taking someone on a first date. What could be better than getting super messy, sitting so close to them that your elbows touch, and having to get near to their face to speak to them over the hustle and bustle? Perfect, I say.

787 Fort St, V8W 1G9

COLD COMFORT

Oh my goodness. Honestly, I feel as though even words could not do this place justice. I came here with someone who would later become a close friend, and we bought a ridiculous amount of their vegan ice-creams and huddled over them together sharing them. Some of their flavours are super ambitious – but they definitely work! Considering the fact that I have Crohn’s Disease, I really struggle to find foods that don’t make me ill, and yet with all the dairy-free options here I was pretty spoiled for choice. It’s a really neat place.

1115 N Park St #2, V8T 1C7

JONES BAR-B-QUE

A classic North American food place, it’s styled like every single roadside restaurant that’s ever been featured in a US movie. The ribs here are gorgeous (even for someone who is trying her best to be vegetarian…) and perfect for sharing with someone who has as much sauce around their mouth as you do. The atmosphere here is super live, and makes me feel as though someone with stirrups on their boots is going to jump upon a table at any time and do a two-step.

1725 Cook St, V8T 3P4

FERN CAFE AND BAKERY

Everything is vegan! They bake their cakes there, and I could have happily eaten every single bit of cooked goods they offered. Their coffees are strong, and the people are the loveliest – which are the two key things you need in a place, in my opinion. Not to be dramatic, but I think that this is the best off-the-beaten-track bakery in Victoria.

1-1115 N Park St, V8T 1C7

BARD AND BANKER

Apparently the Bard and Banker is styled like an “old Scottish bar” which is the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard – not once have I visited a bar in Scotland that comes equipped with large glass chandeliers and waitresses in outfits I wouldn’t even wear for a night on the town. The food is gorgeous though, and they do live entertainment – although I don’t think I could ever say this place reminds me of a bar in the UK.

1022 Government St, V8W 1X7

WEST COAST WAFFLES

The best place to go after a lovely meal out for a massive dessert. You can have everything lactose- and gluten-free, which is perfect as it means that people with broken stomachs like yours truly don’t need to cut out and miss out on anything. Never have I had such an elaborate waffle in my life – let me tell you, that sugar rush lasted for hours. 

1235 Broad St, V8W 2A4

THE MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY

Absolutely my favourite ice-cream parlour. You can add any toppings you want and it’ll still be gorgeous (I tried fruit loops and sprinkles, which should not taste good together, and yet really, really did). This is just one of those places that you need to visit at least once during your time in the city. 

1150 Douglas St, V8W 3M9

BENTO SUSHI

I honestly ate nothing but Bento Sushi for the first week that I moved in, and it definitely worked to substitute a nightly cooked meal! I often find that the main problem when moving to a new place is that you spend weeks trying to figure out the best places to catch a snack – which is why I’m so thankful that I found Bento Sushi immediately after my move. Also, moving to the land of cheese and gravy (namely in the form of poutine), I found myself unable to eat a lot of the food that I stumbled across in Victoria – but luckily, the sushi served here is entirely devoid of my Crohn’s triggers. Pretty ideal.

670 Fort St, V8W 3V2

BEAVERTAILS

A staple of Canada – you can’t really say that you’ve visited the country if you don’t try one of these! Whilst pretty simple in concept, these inherent pitta breads with sugar are beautiful and super sweet and nice. Is an afternoon shopping in Victoria really complete without purchasing matching BeaverTails?

602 Broughton St, V8W 1C7

FRANKIE’S MODERN DINER

The best place for double dates! If you’ve ever wanted to re-create your Riverdale fantasies, then this is the place. Not only is it super cheap, but the food is beautiful – thick milkshakes and old-American style decor. The whole place is super pretty, and it’s just a pretty neat diner to spend a couple of hours.

910 Government St #38, V8W 1X3

BUTCHART GARDENS

Being British, I subconsciously found myself scouring out deeply British snacks such as scones – the best of which, I tasted at Butchart Gardens. I wrote about the gardens themselves in my first ever post about Victoria, and let me tell you, it quickly became one of my favourite places. I can’t wait until I go back to the city and visit it during the changes of summer (perhaps next year, when the Coronavirus is less of a threat?)

800 Benvenuto Avenue, V8M 1J8

ABKHAZI GARDENS

I cannot get over how wonderful my trip to Abkazi Gardens was. Not too many people know about this place, which is surprising as the food is delicious, the staff are the loveliest people ever, and the gardens are beautiful. I took a friend with me to sample their Chocolate Lovers’ Tea for Valentine’s Day, and let me tell you, it sure was an experience to remember. We walked in and were sat at a table with stunning mismatched china, and were told all about the glorious history of the place. Basically, these gorgeous gardens were built many years ago by a prince and princess, in order to turn their love for each other and the area into something physical. The princess, Peggy, died in 1994 – seven years after Nicholas – and a little sign over their scattered ashes instructs onlookers to celebrate her reunion with her beloved husband with a glass of champagne. It is a really beautiful backstory, and by the time we were told all about it, our afternoon tea had arrived.

Three tiers were filled with the most mouth-watering food – my favourites include the blini with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and caviar, Dungeness crab profiterole, beef and stilton petit croissant, arugula and goat cheese quiche, chocolate cherry scones, dark chocolate pavé, and the velvet Madelaine. The quality of the food really rivals the standards at the Fairmont, especially as it is available for a more affordable price, and much better surroundings. When we visited it was snowing, and the large glass windows offered the most beautiful Christmas-card-esque views of the snow-covered gardens. I wanted to get a few photographs in the place and as the rest of the guests had just filtered out, my travel partner and I had it all to ourselves. The staff was super helpful in setting out a table to photograph at, and stood with beaming great smiles, offering comments about how good it looked. Never have I met such wonderful and accommodating staff. Before we left, we had some more tea – with my travel partner choosing the “Philosopher’s Brew” – lemongrass, citrus peel, rosehips, and lavender blossoms – and myself going for “Chocolate Panda” – peppermint, rooibos, chamomile, anise, cocoa powder, chocolate & vanilla essence, steeped in steamed milk. It truly was one of the best experiences of the year. 

1964 Fairfield Rd, V8S 1H4

FIRESIDE GRILL

Easily the best place to go for both business meetings and long-awaited reunions with family members. The Fireside Grill is a large and welcoming place full of the nicest staff members ever, the most filling dinner food you can get, and gorgeous wooden-beamed ceilings. Massive chandeliers keep the place lit, and the price is real good for the sheer amount of flavour and substance that you get. 

4509 W Saanich Rd, V8Z 3G1

MURCHIE’S

I have no idea as to where to even begin talking about this place, I loved it so much. For those of you who aren’t aware, I’m a massive fan of tea – I drink about 12 cups a day, give or take. I spend weekends at tea festivals, holidays visiting temples to celebrate tea ceremonies, and business days spending my breaks attending talks on tea. So yeah, I guess you could say that I’m pretty into tea. Murchie’s is the nicest place to go for a hot beverage and cake in the city, as their selection of teas are gorgeous, and their cakes complement them perfectly. The shop itself is super pretty, and has a little gift store where you can buy some of your own tins to take home. Everything about this place is perfect for fanatics like yours truly.

1110 Government Street, V8W 1Y2

CRUST BAKERY

You know when you have a really good bit of bread, that crunches when you press it and flakes off into your month when you bite into it? Every single baked good from Crust Bakery lives up to these quality-assured standards, and everything is warm and tasty and divine. It’s located on Fort Street, which is pretty convenient for exploring the rest of the city, slice of bread in hand.

730 Fort St, V8W 1H2

THE DUTCH BAKERY

The bakery is run by the nicest people ever, offering a gorgeous little taste of the Netherlands. My favourite product here is by far the stroopwafels, which I was told are best eaten after being placed over a steaming cup of tea until the caramel middle is gooey. As a heads up – don’t leave it on there for a full hour whilst you forget that you have said hot beverage, as you will return to find that it has turned into a pool of sugar and goo that has bled all over your table. There’s no need to thank me.

718 Fort St, V8W 1H2

ROGER’S CHOCOLATES

Established in 1885, my second favourite thing about this place is that it’s haunted. We took a ghost tour around the city one evening and were informed that not only is it the oldest shop in the city, but it’s also home to the ghosts of Charles and Leah Rogers, who are rumoured to still wander the shop floor. My favourite thing about this place, however, has to be their mouth-wateringly good chocolates – which the Royal Family also likes to indulge in.

913 Government Street, V8W 1X5

LA TAQUERIA

Literally the best place to go on a first date, the food at La Taqueria is gorgeous and messy, and a flawless way to break the ice. Sit opposite each other as customers stream around you, being forced to move so close that you’re touching elbows. It’s pretty ideal.

766 Fort St, V8W 1H2

MILANO COFFEE

My favourite place to stop at before or after a whale watching tour, it’s warm and welcoming and smells of freshly-brewed coffee. They sell the most divine baked goods to go with the drinks, and it’s generally just a great place to hang out in the city. Dare I say the best coffee on the island?

817 Government Street, V8W 1W8

BLUE FOX CAFE

One of the highest-rated brunch places in the city – and for good reason. They sell everything you could ever want for a late lunch, making it perfect for dates, hangovers, and seeing your parents for the first time in months. The food is gorgeous, and will absolutely keep you fed for days. The staff are super lovely, too.

919 Fort St, V8V 3K3

THE CHURCHILL

If you like beer, then go no further than the Churchill. I’m not a large beer fan, and yet even I found myself trying all sorts of their drinks, eventually settling on some of the sweeter ones and falling for those entirely. The staff were great at advising us of what to order based on our preferences, and dare I say, they made beer taste good. 

1140 Government St, V8W 1Y2

ROAST MEAT + SANDWICH SHOP

It really says it all in the name. Regarded as Sandwich Heaven, you’re sure to find a lunch that you love. I tried one of their beef and salad bowls, and despite not knowing anything about the place prior to visiting, fell in love with everything about it. I highly recommend it for a very filling snack stop. 

1701 Douglas St, V8W 0C1

LA ROUX PATISSERIE

Quite literally the sweetest shop around. From their rich chocolate cakes to their meringue macarons, everything is super delicious and moorish. I first visited the place on a food tour, but found myself coming back every week to sample yet another one of their macaron flavours. They have every single flavour you could ever want, and more – and their shop is a super cute place to sit back and chill for an hour or two.

519 Fisgard St, V8W 1R3

LA TANA BAKERY

Home of the beautiful Italian bread that made me miss Italy. One of the coolest things about this place is that the owner started the whole business by riding his bike across the city, selling his breads directly from the bike basket. Each day he makes the baked goods fresh (apart from cookies because they have a much longer shelf life) and anything that’s left over he gives to the homeless. He’s a super cool guy.

3 Fan Tan Alley #101, V8W 1W3

JUST MATCHA TEA SHOP

Not to be dramatic, but this place literally changed my life. I visited the shop so, so many times, and each time I was reminded why I liked it so much. Their specialty is matcha lattes, which are made with the bright green matcha powder famous for making people feel good by removing toxins and reducing inflammation. The lattes are absolutely gorgeous and inspired me to make my own – which, frankly, tasted nowhere near as good as theirs, resulting in me coming back here all the time. They also sell these gorgeous matcha mini-chocolates, which are perfect for when you’re sitting here studying with friends and you want a little something sweet to snack on. They have dairy-free options for the hot beverages, and their products are suitable for the Keto Diet – meaning that it’s pretty much perfect to make everyone on earth feel better. The owners are also some of the nicest people ever, and are always more than happy to give you advice on making your own matcha, or show you in detail how they make theirs. A pretty incredible place, if I’m honest. 

2021 Oak Bay Ave, V8R 1E2;
544 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N6

SHANZEE’S BISCUIT CAFE

When I first heard the words ‘biscuit cafe’ I assumed that Shanzee’s would be a small shop where only a handful of biscuit lovers would gather. As it turned out, I was incredibly wrong. You walk into the store and it’s this wide open place, filled to the brim with people keen to try their dishes. I tried several of their sweet and savoury biscuits, and let me tell you, I’ve never had a biscuit like them – and I’m British, so I should know. The atmosphere is buzzing, and it’s just a nice place to chill back and really focus on giving your sweet tooth some love. They serve so many things, but the biscuits are definitely the best.

529 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N5

EARL’S KITCHEN AND BAR

The perfect place to spend happy hour (helloooo margaritas!), Earl’s is one of the most suave bars in town. Not only do they sell gorgeous alcohol for equally as gorgeous prices, but they also serve some pretty sweet cheesy nachos with meat and tomato bits. Honestly, it’s like an upside down lasagna, but with more potato chips and – dare I say it – flavour.

1199 Government St, V8W 3M9

MACCHIATO CAFFE + PANINOTECA

Such a laid-back, chill place – it’s ideal for kicking back with a book, or having a conversational business meeting. It’s located in one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Victoria, a couple blocks down from the ocean, and is overall just a nice place to spend a few hours.

1002 Broad Street, V8W 1Z9

OPA! OF GREECE

Because what could be better in Canada than Greek food? Located in the middle of the Bay Centre shopping mall, it’s a great place to hang out with friends and do some shopping. The servers are all super friendly, and the food is so flavoursome and cheap that it’s perfect for a filling student lunch. They have several locations, but this one is my favourite.

1150 Douglas St #435, V8W 3M9

BON MACARON PATISSERIE

Honestly, stepping into Bon Macaron makes you feel as though you’ve wandered right into Willy Wonka’s Factory. All around you are macarons made of flavours you never would have thought could be rendered into such a tiny snack – from bacon to lavender, curry to yuzu, white truffle and sea salt to pear and praline. The owner is the loveliest guy ever, and really took his time to explain all of his creations to us, along with the best way to consume them. One box lasted me about three days, where at the end of each evening I would take out a couple of macarons and really take my time to experience each flavour, letting the combination hit me slowly. It’s a new kind of luxury, and I loved every second.

1012 Broad Street, V8W 2A1

A TASTE OF VICTORIA FOOD TOURS

“All you need is a little courage and capital” is how our guide explained to us how he had started his business from scratch. He was a super cool dude, who had started the whole business himself and brought it up to the success that it is today. He seemed to know everything about the city, and had the sort of charisma that really made the tour fun. A Taste of Victoria quickly became my favourite food tour in the city, solely because it features everything I love – good food, a chatty and laid-back guide, and the opportunity to see the real side of the city. The people we met at the cafes and restaurants were all very friendly and loved talking about their businesses, and were more than happy to share their own stories about Victoria and its relationship with food. After the tour, our guide emailed me a copy of the places we had visited, so that I would recall their names and be able to visit them again later – which I did, several times. This food tour is one that you absolutely cannot afford to miss during your trip to the city – I can promise you that it will quickly become one of your highlights.

OFF THE EATEN TRACK

Never have I been on a food tour so thoroughly devoted to, well, food. All the history that we learnt about the area was directly correlated to a certain dish. I tried my first ever sip of kombucha at a place called 2% Jazz Coffee, and then the tour took us to Vij’s Sutra (gorgeous buttered chicken which is cooked raw in the sauce). It was a real fun experience, and the guide was super friendly and upbeat. After the tour, one of the ladies offered to drive me to the shopping centre – resulting in one of the most interesting encounters of my life (she was from Malaysia and boy, did she have some stories to tell!). Definitely a fun way to spend a day.

And so, after reading officially the longest food post on Victoria, I hope that you’ve learnt a thing or two. This is only a small number of the places that I visited in the city (I told you I’d been busy!), as I want to recommend only the best.

Have you guys ever checked out the food culture in Victoria, or feel inspired to after reading this post? Let me know in the comments below!

*Allie Mackin suggested that I turn this post into a PDF – and it was such a great idea that I just had to! To get your own downloadable PDF, click HERE!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO – WHY NOT SHARE THE LOVE AND PIN THIS POST?

For the culture-seekers

FERNWOOD

Fernwood is quite possibly the most beautiful area in Victoria, with each house looking like some quirky derivative of the home in Up. When I undoubtably come back to the city to move here forever, I 100% plan on emigrating into one of the houses here – they’re all full of so much character, you might even believe that they’ll stand up and introduce themselves as being called Storm or April at any moment. My absolute favourite part about Fernwood, however, is that book bins seem to be placed at every corner of the neighbourhood – places for you to drop off your old beloved books and trade them for someone else’s. The fact that they’re all neatly painted and are never raided or set on fire really shows what a lovely little vandal-free area Fernwood is (something like this could never be set up in Swansea, let me tell you). 

Hatley Castle

Hatley Castle has the strongest European vibes in the whole of Western Canada, featuring the old stonework and manicured castle gardens (namely the gorgeous Italian, Croquet, and Rose gardens) that you often stumble upon in Coventry or Vienna. The castle is absolutely breathtaking, with an Edwardian design and an interesting history in film – it was used in several X-Men movies as Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Frankly, I’ve never seen the X-Men before in my life, but the fact that I’ve visited the filming location is something that I plan on bragging about for approximately the next 82 years of my life.

Craigdarroch Castle

Bring on the absolute best place in the whole of Victoria to learn about how life back on the island used to be like. Nicknamed “Canada’s Castle,” Craigdarroch is filled to the brim with history, with the building itself prior serving as a home-cum-military hospital-cum-school, featuring views looking out to the Olympic Mountain range in Washington. It’s a super interesting place, and a great way to spend a few hours. 

Fishermans’ Wharf

Ideal for cute walks with friends, you’ll be surrounded by pretty house boats, quirky little shops, and a plethora of vibrant rainbow-coloured kiosks. If you’re looking for lovingly handmade jewellery crafted by the locals, or unique little gifts to take home (namely, moose-shaped maple syrup bottles flavoured by unexpected things such as pink salt, brie, and old custard creams), then you’ve come to the right place. Also, when you realise that you absolutely must go on a boat trip to see some whales, this is the place to come to search for tour guides.

The Robert Bateman Centre

The Robert Bateman Centre is arguably the most accessible, interactive, and overall best gallery in Victoria – and yet, not too many people even know about it. Dedicated to the famous landscape and wildlife painter, a large collection of Bateman’s artwork from the past century is on display. He recently celebrated his 89th birthday, and still travels and captures the world around him in his paintings. This is the sort of place that you can spend hours exploring, laughing at the anecdotes of his childhood mishaps, and getting goosebumps around the more humbling exhibitions which depict the influence of humankind on nature. It’s a really cool place, and one that you can’t miss checking out.

The Maritime Museum of BC

Due to Victoria being an island surrounded by vast expanses of ocean, it comes as no surprise that it features a small maritime museum depicting the nautical history of the past few centuries. The Maritime Museum offers weekly events and talks on the unknown history of the island, and also sells some of the cheapest souvenirs in the whole city for you to take back home. I once accidentally sat in on their weekly speech event thing which was pretty interesting, and ended up sneaking out to impulse buy a hat with the words CABIN BOY plastered across the front. It was a fun time.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Filled with works from famous Canadian painters such as Emily Carr, this gallery is a nice place to wander around for an hour or two. They have a very cute garden where you can hang out by the shinto shrine in the sun, and various exhibits which are often updated – so be sure to research their current exhibitions to make sure that you get to see your favourite things. 

Legislative Assembly of BC

Definitely a place you’ll feel underdressed in, the Legislative Assembly of BC is the first parliament that I personally have ever visited. The architecture is gorgeous, and the fact that you might just bump into a multi-millionaire politician also has its appeal. They offer daily free tours of the building, which is a great way to learn more about the history of the place. 

Discover the Past Walking Tour 

I have never been on a ghost tour before, and yet when I found out that this company offers “Ghostly Walks,” I realised that I didn’t want to do anything more. It turned out to be one of the most fun experiences of my time in Vic, as my travel partner and I spent a couple hours walking after dark in this beautiful city, taking in the views and being told grizzly tales of times gone by. It’s pretty awesome and very fun, and also a little bit terrifying. A highlight was definitely supposedly bumping into Jack the Ripper in a hallway just before we left. 

Royal BC Museum

Hands down my favourite museum in the whole world, their exhibitions are always super enticing and interesting. This should definitely be one of your first stops in the city, as it will tell you so much about the heart of the place. Not to be dramatic, but it’s the sort of place that you could easily spend days in, learning about each aspect of local geology and anthropology and zoology and everything in between. They also have this incredible life-sized mammoth installation which is pretty cool to take selfies with. 

BC Aviation Museum

If you’ve ever wanted to scramble inside an old war vessel or purchase a hat which will mark you as a walking advertisement for the aviation industry, then you’ve really come to the right place. The staff here are all super friendly and offer personal tours around the place, adding an extra depth to the hunks of steel. For someone that has never been particularly interested in the industry or the mechanics, I was surprised to find myself hanging onto every word that our guide told us – and now know several facts about aviation off by heart. 

The Belfry Theatre

After spending night after night watching shows at the Belfry, I am now utterly convinced that it is one of the best ways to spend an evening in Vic. The staff members are all super lovely, with the shows themselves being mega entertaining, and the building being very pretty. Overall, it’s the sort of place where you’ll spend your night either laughing your head off or crying your eyes out, or having some other limb-related injury occur by watching a well-written theatre show play out. 

Shaw centre for the Salish sea

First thing’s first – this place houses the best gift shop on the whole island, selling all kinds of aqua-related adventure stuff (I personally purchased the most incredible pack of cards here). The aquarium itself is also super cool, and the ideal place to spend a couple hours. It is based in Sidney, which is located to the north of Victoria (technically, it’s a separate municipality), and is one of the most laid-back and pretty places on the island. The centre is real interactive, with a cool entrance door replicating the act of going below sea level in this old submarine, pulling back after several minutes to open up into the aquarium itself. V cool.

For the adrenaline junkies

AdrenaLINE Zipline Adventure

Absolutely incredible – one of my favourite things to do in Victoria. It is so much fun, albeit a little nerve-wracking at times. I had never really been ziplining before this, but it’d been on my bucket list for years – so to finally be able to tick it off my list at a place like this was pretty memorable. The surroundings are beautiful, and you get to whiz through gaps in trees and over some of the most beautiful views. I loved every second, and I genuinely feel as though my time in Victoria would have been lacking had I not visited here. I now have the most beautiful Instagram photos of me hanging upside down and staring up at the trees around me in wonder – and it got a grand total of 288 likes, which really makes the whole experience worth it.

South Island SUP

I had never been paddleboarding before now, but had been recommended it several times. As it turns out, it really is one of the most fun ways to explore less aggressive parts of the ocean. Our guide and instructor was the friendliest guy ever, taking photos of us out on the water because I was too anxious to bring my camera with me in case I dropped it (which I quickly realised was an unjustified fear, as he gave us waterproof storage bags to take out with us). As the sun began to set around us and otters swam up to our boards, it became one of the most beautiful moments ever. I loved every second of it, and cannot recommend it enough. It’s one of the most memorable experiences of my whole time in Victoria.

Wildplay

The adventure course at Wildplay is surprisingly difficult (for my travel partner at least, who has a slight fear of heights that he refuses to recognise), but definitely one of the most fun and rewarding things to do. I felt my heart flutter at the thought of going through some of the sections, but enjoyed every second doing so. I had never gone on an adventure course before, and found every part of it exciting and enjoyable. The guides are all super friendly and helpful, and the fact that you go out in small personal groups means that the whole experience is just that much better. 

FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

I’m a little biased when it comes to this nature sanctuary – mainly because of the fact that in my spare time, I volunteered here. It’s such a pretty place, but tourists never seem to know that it even exists. There is so much to learn here, and they have a classroom as well as endless learning facilities, a coffee shop (featuring the cheapest hot beverages in Victoria), trails and paths, and several small animals you can gawp at through a glass tank. It’s a gorgeous place to go for a walk, and they house several opportunities to get involved in the local community – such a birdwatching, or, say, volunteering. 

james bay to ogden point

Easily the most relaxing wander in Victoria, the walk to the breakwater is breathtaking. You start off in arguably the prettiest bay in Vic, and walk all the way down to a kitsch little lighthouse which overlooks the city. The angry wind that will whip at your hair at the end of the point is sure to make you feel alive, and when you step back from the jetty onto solid land, the severe contrast in air turbulency will make you feel as though you’ve left all of your stresses and anxieties at the end of the point. I love it.

brentwood bay

I was only made aware of the fact that Brentwood Bay existed when I went there to visit a friend – and let me tell you, I fell in love instantly. The place is a whole lot smaller than the actual city bit of Victoria, meaning that it has a more laid-back and welcoming vibe. The views are all stunning, and entirely unencumbered by hoards of tourists. My absolute favourite thing to do in Brentwood Bay, however, is visit Brentwood Bay Resort and go for lengths in the swimming pool. Why not go for a dip in the hot tub, taking in the beauty around you as you sip on an alcoholic iced tea?

Mount Douglas

In my humble opinion, Mount Doug (also referred to as PKOLS [pq̕áls]) is a million times better than Mount Tolmie (it’s docile neighbour), as not only are the views prettier, but the history is richer. I took a Saanich History class when in Victoria, where I was taught all about the dialect of SENĆOŦEN and what the First People who lived in this area had endured. The top of PKOLS houses so many stories and memories for the First Nations, and it really is a beautiful place.

Arbutus Cove

One of the places that only locals seem to know about, Arbutus Cove is super fun to climb up, leaving your legs to dangle over the edge of the Void. It’s extremely relaxing to visit here and listen to the waves beneath your feet, surrounded by nothing but pure and effortless natural beauty. My only recommendation, however, is that you don’t visit at night, as it has no lights brightening it up – meaning that it quickly transforms into a death trap with blind drops and sharp rocks jutting out at unholy angles towards your head. My skull is definitely still pierced with dents – but it was worth it.

Willows Beach

Another place that I wouldn’t have known about had it not been for essentially becoming a fake local, Willows Beach is one of the prettiest beaches on Vancouver Island (which is really saying something, because as you can imagine, there’s a lot of beaches on an island), with pristine white sand and gorgeous rolling waves. It’s the sort of place where people go to forget everything, just blending into the breathtaking background. It’s almost meditative to walk up and down the stretch of sand.

Goldstream 

Goldstream Provincial Park is hands down one of the most stunning places in Victoria, made up of an old-growth temperate rainforest. It’s all absolutely beautiful, and a great place to test out your walking boots. Somewhere about half an hour into hiking (depending on where you’ve started), you will come across the Trestle Bridge – the Number One place that tourists visit to take their photos for the #Gram. You walk out onto the middle of the bridge, concentrating on standing on the wooden slats and not slipping between, lest you lose a leg (or even worse – drop your phone), and can peer out at mountains wearing their fog toques. It’s really something.

Abkhazi Gardens

The Abkhazi Gardens are not only beautiful, but they also have the cutest backstory ever. These gorgeous gardens were built many years ago by a prince and princess, in order to turn their love for each other and the area into something physical. The princess, Peggy, died in 1994, seven years after Nicholas, and a little sign over their scattered ashes instructs onlookers to celebrate her reunion with her beloved husband with a glass of champagne. Not only are the surroundings beautiful and the history deep, but the afternoon tea that you can get at the gardens is divine; served on mismatched china, with standards to rival the Fairmont, and big glass windows to look out to the gardens. I promise to delve further into my love for this place in my upcoming food guide of the city.

Eagle Wing Whale and Wildlife watching

Easily one of the best things to do in Victoria, you’ll have so much fun looking out from the boat at an abundance of whales as they do all that Good Stuff, like bobbing their heads up out of the water and doing lil’ backflips and tearing seals apart. If you find yourself on one of the larger vessels, be sure to wander up to the top of the deck and take in the view from the captain’s quarters, where you will be able to see nothing but sky, sea, and porpoise.

Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens are an internationally renowned 55-acre display, created in 1904 by a lovely lass called Jennie Butchart (hence the name). Designated a National Historic Site of Canada, the gardens see over 300k bulbs of hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips, and over 250 varieties of roses a year. They host many facilities at the gardens, featuring boat tours, evening entertainment, firework shows, seasonal showstopper events, and Night Illumination. My personal favourite section is the Japanese Garden, which is pruned and cared for to perfection, with the Italian Garden coming a close second. If the weather is too cold to stay outside for too long, then you can make a stop to the Spring Prelude Indoor Garden, which houses many variations of flower breeds and a pretty little Koi pond, where you should throw coins into the water and rub the golden frog (which I was told was a Thing, but cannot bet on not being pranked). After exploring the grounds, why not stop at the cafe for a hot coco and scone?

Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures

The best way to see whales on this tour is on one of the small Zodiac boats, as it all feels so much closer and more personal. Dressing up in the bright orange safety suits adds another dimension of fun and excitement, and will be perfect for capturing that flawless Instagram-worthy photograph. The first time I went out with this company, it was unfortunate that we didn’t spot any actual whales (but plenty of sea lions, seals, eagles, otters, and porpoise) – but with Prince of Whales it is guaranteed that if you don’t spot any whales then you can go back with the company a second time, essentially scoring yourself a free boat trip. On my second trip, the weather was sunnier and the whales were out in their pods, and it was a lovely, perfect day.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

The butterfly gardens are one of the most multi-generational-suitable places to visit, being super pretty, super warm (a great mix), and super accessible. If you’ve ever wanted to be swathed in a plethora of butterfly breeds then this is the place for you. Unexpectedly, they also have a clan of bright pink flamingoes, a herd of tortoise, and a whole bunch of poison dart frogs, large iguanas, and tropical ducks. This is definitely the best place to transport you from a small Canadian city into the heart of Borneo, where you will also be surrounded by almost three basketball courts- sized lush gardens filled with tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and self-proclaimed “fruits of the world.”

ENTERTAINMENT for THE #GRAM

Blenkinsop Adventure Mini Golf

If you’ve never been to mini golf before, then this is the perfect place to start. If you’re a mini-golf pro and have been to hundreds of mini golf courses over the years, then this is the perfect place to point out how absolutely sub-par (see what I did there) everywhere else is. It’s a lot of fun, and a great place to hang out with a group of friends.

Quazar’s Arcade

After recently bingeing shows like Stranger Things and That 70’s Show, I have been craving nothing more than the opportunity to spend my time at an arcade with old-timey games from the late 20th Century – and Quazar’s Arcade is the perfect place to do just this. An ideal location to spend hours slotting tokens into machines under the guise of bonding with friends (when really you just want to beat them and grab that high score), I can promise that you will absolutely not be able to stop yourself from falling in love with how quirky this place is.

Interactivity board game cafe

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a date where you can snack on candy and beat the future love of your life at Monopoly, then look no further. With over 800 games in store to play, you can bet that you won’t run out of options. One of the most chill places in the city, I can promise that you will be surrounded by other fun-loving, laid-back people that love spending their Saturdays drinking gin and tonics at this (unexpectedly) licensed board game cafe.

IMAX victoria

Having never visited an IMAX before, I was dubious about the level of incredibleness that everyone else had assured me is evident in this cinema. However, after turning up to watch a nail-biting movie about a dude that goes rock-climbing to the top of the world’s highest peaks – without any safety gear – I was visibly sweating from how intense the large screen and apparently even larger audio set made everything. Watching movies at the IMAX seems to amplify any emotion that you could possibly have, and the fact that the seats recline so that you’re almost face-to-face with the action makes that all so much more extreme. I ended up spending approximately two hours every week at the IMAX, determined to see every single movie showing in impossibly dramatic situations. 

Quest reality games

I never knew that there was such a place that could replicate the feeling of being an explorer in 332BC, but Quest Reality Games seemed to do just that. They have several escape rooms that you can sign up for, but their best is by far the Secrets of the Great Pyramid. It’s definitely challenging, but it’s a lot of fun trying to use the clues to work out exactly how to escape with your brainiest friends (unless you are the brainy friend, in which case, good luck). I am ashamed to admit that we didn’t actually manage to escape in time, but regardless, had a blast pretending to be long deceased explorers. We now have a great photo of us holding up signs illustrating the fact that we didn’t manage to escape and that we are, inherently, failures – I will be sure to treasure it forever.

the victoria Bug zoo

A really interesting experience, even though looking at the little insects will be sure to make your skin itch. Who knew that a day out gawping at insects behind glass could be one of the best day activities to undertake in the city? It’s pretty amazing to see all these critters close up – with my personal highlight being that of the ants, who would meander up and down the chutes after cutting up petals and leaves to take back to share with the rest of the colony. Let me tell you, if my university group projects featured as much teamwork and dedication as the ants in this bug zoo, life would be so much easier. 

Food tours

Whilst you may be tempted to go on a simple bus tour to learn the history and see the sights of Victoria, there’s always the option for a much more in-depth way to learn about the city – with a food tour! Several foodie companies run throughout the summertime, and each of them offer alternative unique insights about Victoria – along with taking you to the local bakeries, breweries, and restaurants. Is there a better way to learn about a new place than through its stomach? Get excited for my upcoming post about gluttony in the city.

I have done every single thing that you could possibly do in Victoria – and I hope that I’ve made it more clear about exactly what’s worth your sweet time. Any Victorian that lives here knows the places that are worth – and not worth – going to. They know the secret places that are sheltered from the outside world, places that are hidden gems glimmering amongst the plethora of souvenir tat. It’s not hard to stay off the beaten track if you know where to look. These places are Victoria’s best kept secrets – and I think I’ve done a not-so-secret job of spilling them.

Victoria is easily accessible via the Clipper from Seattle, or the BC Ferry from mainland Canada.

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER VISITED VICTORIA, OR PLAN ON DOING SO USING MY VERY DETAILED AND TIME-CONSUMING GUIDE? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 

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If you have a very deep impression of these islands, or are amazed by the beautiful scenery you encounter during your travels, you can get Custom Luggage Tags Canada as travel souvenirs.

When customizing luggage tags, you can carefully select some of your favorite islands, restaurants or scenery pictures as the background of the luggage tags, add your travel date, feelings, etc., and combine your favorite shapes and colors to design your own travel memories.

You can hang these personalized luggage tags on suitcases and backpacks to identify personal items, and you can also give them to friends as travel gifts to share the joy of the journey with them.

Salt Spring Island

Famously known as the “hippie island” it is, unsurprisingly, extremely laid-back and full of vegan cafes and homemade clothing shops.

My favourite place to eat at is Penny’s Pantry on the Green at the Golf and Country Club, which does the BEST breakfast food and brunch. The cafe is super cute and the staff are the friendliest ever, and it’s simply just a nice way to start your morning. Another pretty sweet place to hang out is at Moby’s Pub, which is filled with locals and does events almost every single night. My favourite ones to attend are their open mic nights and their music bingo nights, with the latter recently offering a holiday to Jamaica as a prize (which was pretty disorientating due to the fact it’s such a tiny establishment).

Black Sheep Books is officially my favourite shop to hang out in, because I’m a massive book nerd and bibliophile and I just love surrounding myself in a shroud of vintage novels. Everything is also decently priced, which is great until you end up with a stack of 40 different books you want to haul across Canada in your two-foot suitcase merely because they’re from the 1950’s and look pretty.

One of the best places to stay is at Oceanside Cottages, due to the fact that you can stay in an adorable little cottage where every spare corner of wall is filled with canvases or murals painted by the owner. Upon arrival, the vase in my own cabin was filled with fresh flowers, the bowl was filled with a plethora of fruit, and there was a large water dispenser to use because drinking straight from the tap may have upset our stomachs. Every little detail makes this place perfect for a weekend getaway, with a fireplace and fresh firewood (and an axe outside to chop down some more if need be) rendering it a real cosy feel. There’s a radio, vinyls, cassettes, and CDs – meaning that you never have to spend a second in silence. My favourite part about the place though? The telescope. I’d never used one before, and I think it’s such a lovely idea.

Outside, amongst views of ocean and woodland, is a little bathtub – a really cool concept. Around the front, there’s a deck with cushioned seats where you can kick back with food cooked on your barbecue. I think that Oceanside Cottages is the ideal place to spend one-on-one time with a friend or lover, or even just one-on-one time with yourself – perhaps taking time out of daily life to write or create your own artwork. It’s all beautiful, and I’m very thankful for the experience. One day I’d love to come back and see what other little finishes have been added.

If this adorable, quaint little cabin doesn’t quite get your engine going, then another absolutely stunning place to stay is the Harbour House Hotel. Made to cater to an entirely different demographic, with entirely different features and feel, the hotel is quite possibly the most chic place on the island. I stayed at the Salish Suite, which, frankly, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever slept in. It was equipped with absolutely anything that I could possibly need, with a very comfortable three-piece suite, canvases of the most beautiful local areas, a complete chess set, a marble wet room with His and Her sinks, a coffee bar (with some gorgeous green tea), a 65″ HD Smart TV, and an exceedingly comfortable King-sized bed.

The view from the room was absolutely gorgeous, looking out over at the ocean and the tiny boats in the distance, and adjourned to the room are large glass doors opening out to a little patio – the place where we spent the majority of our time during our visit. Relaxing back on the plush sofa as the sun is setting, cracking open a bottle of wine as we share stories and look out to the horizon, each night ended perfectly at this haven right outside our door.

In the mornings, we would catch breakfast at Woodley’s, switching between waffles, eggs Benedict, and salad – all of which were gorgeous and a great way to start the day. The staff at the hotel are so friendly and helpful, I didn’t doubt that they would go to the ends of the earth for us.

Pender Island

This island felt a lot more cosmopolitan than the other islands, with a larger population (which, by the way, is 2,250 – over 1,000 more than the majority of the others) and more active construction. My favourite place on the whole island is Hope Bay, due to the fact that hidden down at the end of the beach is an old, slightly aesthetically pleasing, house. Looking out to the ocean and looking in to a slightly creepy interior (think, broken photo frames, ornaments, and cracked and missing floorboards), it’s a strange place to hang out – and yet, it’s perfect for reading in the shade, dangling your legs over the water.

Hope Bay is also home to Pender Chocolates, a gorgeous little Chocolateir featuring the creamiest, richest, and most delicious chocolates in BC. The place is gorgeous, and also offers an absolutely stunning view of the ocean.

Mayne Island

Mayne Island is perfect for a day trip by car, with my favourite place to visit being Dinner Bay Park, home to the Japanese Gardens. It’s an extremely beautiful garden, with small shinto shrines, cherry blossom trees, and a cute little river running through it, and doubles as a memorial to the Japanese Canadians who lived on the island until they were sent to internment camps during the second world war.

Mount Parke offers the best view out of all the islands, with the summit overlooking Victoria and the other gulf islands. It’s a perfect place to go on a long hike, stopping every now and then to spot hummingbirds and rogue tulips.

Galiano Island

Out of all of the islands, Galiano Island was the one which I spent the most time at. I found that there was so much more to do here in a much more condensed span of area than on the other islands.

For those of y’all that enjoy hiking and wandering the natural surroundings, Galiano Island is a haven. My favourite parks are Montague Harbour Provincial Park, Bodega Ridge Provincial Park, Bluffs Park, and Bellhouse Park – which all offer stunning views of the bay and forests, along with being relatively devoid of other people. Technically, everywhere on the island is accessible via walking, but if you don’t want to spend the majority of your day walking up and down cemented roads, then I highly recommend either taking a vehicle of your own or hitchhiking. I personally hitchhiked around seven or eight times (the island is very safe, and if someone doesn’t pick you up then they get shunned in the community) and met the coolest and loveliest people ever – and didn’t have to pay for gas. I was given life advice from a fella missing a good few teeth, met a farmer from Yorkshire on his gap year, and rode in the SUV of a woman whose daughter worked at the spa I would frequent. A pretty cool experience.

One of my favourite places on the island is Galiano Island Books, as it’s an absolute haven for bibliophiles. I spent a good few hours browsing the books in this small store and ended up leaving with a bag full of worthwhile purchases, and honestly it was such a cute little place filled with the loveliest staff members who treated me like family. Conveniently, located several stores down is also my favourite food establishment on the island, in the form of the Sturdies Bay Bakery – a place filled with cupcakes and pastries and other gorgeous, carb-filled deliciousnesses.

I stayed at several places on Galiano Island, with one of my favourites being Bodega Ridge. I stayed in a little cabin which was absolutely adorable, decorated with plants and tea lights and made almost entirely out of wood. The owners are the nicest people ever, driving us from the main house to our little cabin and giving us their number should we have any problems. In our living room, my travel companion and I spent our time here listening to the radio and telling each other childhood stories around the fireplace, and nipping out to watch the sunrises and sunsets. I also loved the interior design, with little wooden embellishments, a large white bathtub, sliding doors, colourful glass light shades, and heated flooring. I found this place absolutely perfect for giving myself a self-prescribed technology detox.

Another gorgeous place to stay is at the Galiano Oceanfront Inn + Spa, a luxe hotel which made me feel as though I was vacationing at a palazzo on the Mediterranean. I spent my time here drinking green tea and writing on my terrace in the sun, reading my Galiano Island Books in the bath-cum-jacuzzi on a balcony overlooking the ocean, and watching the stars as I listened to the crackling firewood from my fireplace. The shower has approximately a million little jets, which all vary in pressure and height. The food at the inn is all absolutely gorgeous – with portions appearing small but keeping you full for hours. I recommend the beef dip and the charcuterie board plate thing, as they showcase the best of the restaurant’s food. My travel partner and I spent a nice long lunch here and then headed down to the spa, where we went in the hot tub, and then for a eucalyptus steam which burnt our eyes, and then for a much needed cold shower. The whole place smells gorgeous, offers a patio which goes right down to the beach, and offers you free herbal tea on tap. Love it.

Out of the many things to do on Galiano Island, one of the highlights is going out with Gulf Island Kayaking. When I went, I was utterly unprepared and so had to borrow the staff’s hat and sunscreen, but I quickly got the hang of things. It was a lot of fun, and despite my worrying lack of balance, I didn’t actually capsize (although honestly I did get close a couple of times). We stopped at a beach to take in the views (where I had a clam spray water at me from the sand), and I dipped my hands in the water as we meandered on the water, leaning back and looking out for seals and bright purple starfish.

Port Alberni

Whilst most people overlook the charm of Port Alberni and only use it as a service stop, it is probably one of the cutest places on the whole of Vancouver Island. It is set out like every Sixties small town in every indie movie ever, and is super rustic and adorable. The whole place features these really laid back vibes, with everyone knowing everyone’s business and nothing having changed in the past five decades. The streets are full of old hunting shops and Riverdale-esque drive-ins and jade-painted wooden churches with shiny black spires – it’s a weird place, but it’s full of charisma and you can’t help but love it. One of my favourite places in the whole town is this sleepy little cafe called the Mountain View Bakery and Deli and Espresso Bar (it’s quite a mouthful!), because it is this warm, cosy little haven filled with locals reading the paper (which features ads for firearms and GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS), and they do the most gorgeous coffees and Cornish Pasties (with the latter not being served in the entire rest of Canada). Love. It.

Tofino

Tofino is part of Vancouver Island, and is one of the prettiest places in the world, full stop. I was fortunate enough to spend a significant amount of time there, surfing, boating, wildlife watching, hiking, and eating, and feel relatively qualified to call myself as least a third of a Local. I wrote a whole comprehensive guide on the area, and strongly recommend that y’all stalk it before you prepare for a fairytale week away.

The best way to travel between islands is with BC Ferries, which offers several routes to travel between islands each day. Taking a BC ferry is such a big part of any British Columbian’s life, that it almost feels like a right of passage (pun intended) to board one of their vessels. You can either go as a walk-on passenger or take a car (which is definitely recommended for  travelling around the more remote islands), and spend the whole trip kicking back with some ship food and looking out the window at the whales. I have taken well over 15 different ferries between Victoria, the islands, and the mainland, and my favourite bit is standing out on the deck at  sunset and having the wind whip my hair as I look out for seals and eagles.

And so, have you guys ever visited the BC islands or plan on travelling to this beautiful Canadian province? Let me know in the comments below!

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A WOK AROUND CHINATOWN

I’m going to start off this post with the absolute highlight of my trip – a Vancouver food tour. Over the past few months travelling North America, I have gone on a food tour in almost every city I’ve stumbled upon, and have come to the conclusion that this is the best way to see a new place. Despite the fact that I have been on a real plethora of food tours across the country, I have never been on one quite like this before. Instead of it being a usual two-hour, here’s-a-vague-bit-of-information-on-the-city-but-really-let’s-just-scoff-down-the-food sort of tour, it lasted around four hours and was a lot more in-depth than any other tour I’ve attended.

To begin with, we visited the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – my favourite place in the whole city. Our guide, Robert, gave us a tour of the site, and regardless of the fact that I have been to the gardens an innumerable amount of times, I still learnt a lot of things about the architecture and the process behind the landscaping.  For example, despite the fact that I’d probably spent over 20 hours wandering around the gardens during my time in Vancouver, I didn’t actually know that it was designed to be a classic Suzhou garden, featuring traits from Taoism (namely, the balance within one’s life), Confucianism (the structure within one’s life), and Buddhism (which is primarily focused on being one with nature). These ideas are showcased within each element of the garden, from the flexibility of the bamboo to the perpetual growth of the flowering bush, to the rock and plant Penjing. Due to my interest in other religions and cultures, this insight was exceedingly interesting, and was a great start to the rest of the tour.

From here, we wandered Carrall Street and Pender Street, where we were given a historical narration of the area, along with being introduced to the smallest building in the world – the Jack Chow Insurance Building, which was built almost entirely out of pure spite.

From there, we headed over to Ming Wo Cookware, where we were shown the utensils and instruments typically used in Chinese cooking, and explained the proper way to use the tools. Due to the fact that Robert has studied the culinary arts and knows the industry inside out, it was useful to get an insight into how to properly season the wok vessel, and how to use the Chinese “chopper” knives. Having grown up with a chef as a parent, I have seen these items in action, and yet in the grand scheme of things actually know very little about them. Frankly, I didn’t even know that you could season a wok. This, mixed in with the food which we tried later on in the tour, has meant that when I finally stop travelling in late August for several months, I will expand my cooking abilities and learn how to cook a proper Chinese meal.

Our next stop was at Chinatown’s New Town Bakery – a place which I would stop at for food four more times during the week because I loved their products so much (also, everything there is very affordable!). On the tour, we tried their stunning apple tarts and were shown and given information about their savoury steamed buns, egg custard tarts, tapioca cakes, and rice cakes. The bakery sells close to 1,000 tarts daily – and they’re all up to a flawless, sweet, and flaky standard. Even just writing this, I wish I had one in my hands.

Following the devouring of the tarts, we visited a couple of the herbal medicine stores in town, with the most in-depth being at the Guo Hua Herbal Medicine Store. Robert told us about the ways in which the ingredients can be used to remedy certain ailments, going into detail about items that I had never seen before in my life. We were shown tiny animals such as krill, to medium animals such as gecko lizards on sticks, to large animals such as sharks (in the form of their removed fins). Some of the creatures were alive and glared at us from their displays, whereas others had been well and truly dried out. It was oddly intriguing, and I found myself passionate to try some of the remedies. Our guide would recommend ingredients which would pair well together in a meal, and we tried some spicy ginger sweets. It was all pretty interesting, although I truly didn’t think that I would suffer from culture shock in the heart of Vancouver. 

Our next few stops were at several food and symbolic stores across Chinatown, and we tried BBQ pork at one of the places selling barbecued meat, roasted ducks, and soy sauce chicken. The pork was absolutely stunning (can you believe I used to be vegetarian?), and was a million times better than the versions I’d tried at imitation Chinese restaurants in Europe. 

After all of this, we stopped for lunch at the Jade Dynasty Restaurant, where our small group sat down to share dim sum. We tried small plates made up of things like Ha Gow (shrimp dumplings), Eye Gwa (minced shrimp in Asian aubergine), Ngoh My Faun (sticky rice parcels), and La Bakh Goh (steamed white radish cake). Each dish was absolutely delicious, and quite frankly, made me want to temporarily migrate to China merely to gorge myself on good food day in, day out. I learnt about how you should never pour your own tea, due to the fact that the other people around the table should be paying enough attention to you to notice when they need to offer you a refill. We spoke about how certain items of food hold a symbolic meaning for different attributes of life, and spent the time just eating delicious dishes and getting to know each other a little bit better. 

Our final stop consisted of watching a demonstration of a classic method of tea preparation at the Chinese Tea Shop, where we were introduced to a display of “Gung Fu” – the term for great mastery – as one of the owners poured us tea using the traditional methods. We were introduced to oolong, jasmine, pu-erh, and lapsang souchong teas, and tried several cups, tasting each strain in a similar method to wine tasting. Due to the fact that I am a massive tea fanatic, the whole process was really interesting – and I ended up purchasing a clay tea set and a pack of white teas to take on my travels. The people were the loveliest, and I learnt a lot about the art of tea-making – to the extent that I now want to dedicate some time to studying the craft.

The tour was hands-down the best food tour I have ever been on, partly due to the delicious food, partly due to the in-depth histories, and partly due to the good company. I have since decided that should I ever spend an elongated amount of time back in the city, I will be sure to sight-see again with A Wok Around.

CYCLE VANCOUVER

Eight years ago I was given a brand new bicycle for my birthday, and decided that the best way to wear it in would be by attempting a daredevil stunt in front of all my friends. It ended with me crashing right into a car and having to be rushed to hospital – and after years, the idea of cycling had developed into a fully-fledged fear. Having been too wary to ride anything with two wheels since I was a pre-teen, I thought that the best way to overcome such a minute fear was to go on a five-and-a-half hour bike tour in one of the best cities in Canada. That’s how I found myself exploring Vancouver with Cycle Vancouver.

After a fitting for a bike and helmet, our small tour group was ready to set off. It took me a while to get used to balancing on two wheels and steering straight, so for the first hour I was consistently swerving off-track and straight into pavements. “You never forget how to ride a bike,” my ass. At some point I got overly cocky, sped towards the curb at an angle, and almost completely backflipped the bike. Everything in the front of my cart goes flying and I’m left there feeling like I’ll never be able to ride a bike competently. But I persisted, directly facing dragging myself up and feeling glad that my bottle is the only thing caved in, and we left the main road to go onto smaller, less busy bike lanes.

I eventually learnt how to turn left and right without flipping the bike over, and despite the fact that my knees were shaking and the bike was swaying precariously as I gripped the handlebars, I gradually started to feel more comfortable. Every fifteen minutes or so, we would stop for a while so that our guide could tell us some history about the city, which always offered me a well-deserved break so that I could focus on getting my heart to stop pounding. 

I learned how to work the gears and once the views were engulfed by oceans, mountains, and skyscrapers, I felt so much better. Richard – our guide – is super nice and funny, and the group is very supportive about the fact that they’re basically cycling with an incompetent toddler, and I begin to love it all. Despite the fact that I’m using every shred of concentration I have to stay balanced, I find myself easing into the motions of cycling. At some point, I try to copy the others’ confidence by briefly letting go of the handlebar to push up my glasses, but the bike swerves violently to the side and I decide to keep my hands firmly on the bars.

The cycle isn’t necessarily easy, but that’s only because I’m utterly inept when it comes to cycling. At some point, I try to go up a hill in sixth gear and find myself slowly rolling backwards, and at another, we’re cycling on a path with a steep ledge and as I look down, my ankle gets caught in the peddles and I nearly fling myself off the bike in a moment of blind panic. Every now and then, however, I would look up to admire the views, and manage to hold my balance for a few seconds before I start flailing wildly and need to focus again.

We stopped for lunch at the Granville Island Public Market, where we all took a well-earned break. The rest of the ride carried on relatively smoothly, and despite that it was exhausting and terrifying, I ended up enjoying every second. I came out of it (relatively) unscathed, and now I’m pretty glad to say that I have more-or-less completely overcome my irrational fear of cycling. Maybe it is as easy as they say – maybe it is just like riding a bike.

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST SOCIETY

Due to the fact that I’ve been travelling for so long, I haven’t been able to visit my local Buddhist temple since December. When I came to Vancouver, I was ridiculously excited at the prospect at finally being able to visit somewhere that resembles my second home again – and the International Buddhist Society welcomed me the second I walked through the door. The temple itself is absolutely gorgeous, and filled with incense and chanting and golden statues. I was the only foreigner on the whole compound, and when the monks all lined up and chanted loudly together, walking one-by-one down to the basement, I assumed that I could probably just follow them to see where they were going. One of the monks turns to me and states (ominously), “you can’t leave once you go downstairs,” and with that, I followed. The next few hours I’m surrounded by Mandarin songs, and together we eat a meal and listen to the Abbot as he chants in several languages which I can’t understand. At some point, I look towards the nun next to me to figure out how we are meant to drink the tea from the bowls, and as I glance over, she pulls out her dentures, swills them in the tea, and puts them back in her mouth. By the end of the ceremony, I am feeling refreshed. I feel lighter than I have in a while, and feel deeply glad that I’ve finally returned to temple after all these months. It’s because of this that the International Buddhist Society is one of the best things in the whole of Vancouver – it makes you feel better than any other place in the city.

DR. SUN YAT-SEN CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN

This classical Chinese garden is easily my favourite place in the city. I have visited it almost every single day that I have spent in Vancouver, and have been on not one, not two, but three tours of the garden – solely because they’re mega interesting and I learn something new each time. Coming here feels like I’m returning home, to a place where there is endless jasmine tea, gorgeous quiet surroundings, and the loveliest people ever. It’s the ideal place to escape the city, where you’re surrounded by tranquil Suzhou architecture rather than tall grey skyscrapers, and people welcome you back like family.

They offer several tours of the gardens a day, where guides talk about the Taoist concept of Yin and Yang which is evident in the garden, and by extension, life. There’s the female (cool) energy and male (hot) energy, in the water and mountains, the light and dark, the smooth and the rough. Over time, soft elements like water can be strong enough to even reshape the strong elements like rock. Similarly, over time, worthless items such as broken China bowls can be made into priceless relics – as is the case with this broken material being used in the detail design of the outdoor flooring. 

On my first ever tour of the gardens, our guide spoke about how, at the very centre of it all, all humans want is peace – be it in 2000 BC or 2000 A.D. or 20,000 A.D., which had resulted in the esteemed Scholars’ Study being re-created. Here, you are surrounded by stone and rock Penjing (pronounced pen-jai), small decorations which resemble the “essence of nature in a container.” Also, structures such as this are built entirely without the use of electric tools or nails – instead, each building material is cut and indented to fit together perfectly.

I have been to one tea ceremony at the gardens (as they hold many events here), where I learnt about how the making of the tea can be considered as an act of meditation. So much time and precision is put into the making of each cup, that at the end, it only tastes better for the hard work and care. Due to the fact that I’m an absolute fiend for a good cup of tea, it quickly became one of the best things I had done during my whole time in the city.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is rated as the World’s #1 Urban Garden by National Geographic, and whilst I was dubious about this title before entering, the second I walked in I understood why. I have been travelling the other side of BC for the past week now, and quite frankly, I keep thinking back to this garden. I have booked one last night in Vancouver before I fly over to Alberta for the summer – and you can bet that my first stop will be this garden.

MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Due to the fact that I’m currently feeling as though I’ve chosen to do the entirely wrong degree scheme (I’m only two years in, and I’m steadily losing passion for completing a language qualification), I’ve developed a real interest in anthropology. Spurred on by this new-found interest, I decided to travel two hours out of the centre of Vancouver to this utterly out-of-the-way museum – and it was definitely worth the effort. There is so much to see, a person could easily spend days taking in every exhibition and learning about all aspects of life from all aspects of the globe, and it’s all deeply interesting. You are able to learn about things which are region-specific, such as certain First People Nations, along with getting a glimpse into cultures across the world. One of the best features that this museum offers is the bi-hourly guided tour, where you get a more personal, in-depth view of the plethora of artefacts surrounding you. Whilst typically only lasting half an hour, they offer a lot more detail than you are able to take in from the exhibitions alone – and if you end up spending a whole day here (I’m guilty as charged), then you get to tag along to several tours, immersing yourself in every single corner of the museum.

BLOEDEL CONSERVATORY

This conservatory is the sort of place that I would expect to have tons of visitors – and yet during my visit was practically devoid of all human life (honestly, this makes it better as you get the whole place to yourself). Not only is the place super pretty, but it is also filled with bird species from all over the world, who are so used to humans that they’ll saunter right up to you. This is the only place in the city that can transport you to the plains of Africa, or the forests of the Amazon, or to the warmest areas of Asia – and only partly to escape the concrete jungle that is Vancouver and the cold weather outside. They offer several guides and check-off sheets where you can look out for particular species of bird and plant, and it’s really a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

BEATY BIODIVERSITY MUSEUM

Due to the fact that I am currently seriously doubting my degree choice, I have also developed a real interest in zoology (to the extent that I’m honestly considering changing my major entirely, so that I can live the fantasy of studying South American animals in the wild)*. It is because of this reason that I trekked all the way to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum (which by all means is not local), so that I could spend the day studying their exhibitions. A trip which I had planned would only take several hours ended up taking up nearly a full day, as I kept getting drawn into the exhibitions and spending an insane amount of time staring at each taxidermy. It was all ridiculously interesting and only furthered the idea that I should drop everything and study to become a Zoologist – an idea which was only further concreted when I went on their tour.

The tour itself was only meant to take half an hour but ended up taking longer than 60 minutes, due to both our guide and our tour group being inherently passionate about the subjects. We were able to look at the subjects in the research lab, and were told detailed stories about several of the exhibitions – and honestly, it was a lot of fun. I left feeling even more amazed at this glorious planet we all live on, and more determined that whatever I do in my future, it should, at least to some degree, work on the conservation of the species’.

GROUSE MOUNTAIN

Despite the fact that I’d read a lot about the “busy peak of Vancouver,” I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were only about five other people that were visiting the mountain at the same time as me. Regardless of the fact that I was visiting a mountain in a dress (which I quickly realised was a dreadful mistake), I ended up spending a good half day meandering about the place – especially loitering outside the bear enclosure. Due to the fact that I’d planned my arrival right in-between ski season and tourist season, the majority of things were closed – except for the best feature of them all.

Ever since I touched down on Canadian soil, I have wanted to see a bear. I haven’t wanted to travel to a zoo to watch them mope around, as I wanted to get a more authentic glimpse at these magnificent creatures – and Grouse Mountain is ideal for that. They have two bears which they have raised from cubs, which saunter about in the kind-of wild, (almost) entirely free from human contact. I stood there for hours watching them play, find food, bathe, and nap in the sun, and honestly, it was a truly incredible experience to be that close and know that the animals are entirely content. Not only do they live longer than the bears you find in places which are completely devoid of human interference (due to the lack of threats and stress), but they are able to interact with each other in ways which male bears usually wouldn’t dare, solely because they’ve grown up together. It’s a really beautiful experience, and one which I will treasure forever.

After my visit, I found out that there are free shuttles from the city centre to Grouse Mountain. You can thank me later.

If you’re really determined to stay on the beaten track in Vancouver, then the best things I can recommend (and the only real things worth going to) are:

• The Capilano Suspension Bridge – a truly gorgeous view, plus their Lodger’s Grill does the best quinoa salad in the whole city
• The Vancouver Aquarium – they have otters! And sea lions! And turtles which challenge you to staring contests!
• The Vancouver Lookout – offers views of the skyline which you won’t get anywhere else in the city
• Science World – solely for the Mirror Maze, where you get to pretend that you’re six years old again
• Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours – both magical and informative – plus you’ll end up in approximately five other photos from random tourists that think you look cool from the street
• West Coast Sightseeing – ideal for if you only have a limited time to see the city (it’s also super interesting and saves you money on bus fares!)
• The Museum of Vancouver – despite being pretty central and jam-packed with interesting information, there’s never a real abundance of people here, so it’s perfect to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city

Key bit of advice for these places though? Before you visit any of the galleries or museums, check on their websites to see if they have any days where they offer discounts. For example, the Vancouver Art Gallery offers admission by donation on Tuesday evenings from 5pm to 9pm, and the LeSoleil Fine Art Gallery currently offers free admission every day.

And so – have any of you guys been to Vancouver, or plan on using my guide to visit this absolutely gorgeous city in the future? Let me know in the comments below!

*This is currently a big dream of mine. When things seem tough, what could be better than running away to the rainforest and living with the monkeys?

BEFORE YOU GO – WHY NOT SHARE THE LOVE AND PIN THIS POST?

For the past four months I have been living in Victoria, Canada. I have been based on the East of the island, where I quickly found myself consumed by a relative amount of stress on a daily basis. Why had no one told me how expensive this country is? Why had I chosen to live in accommodation which looked like a futile mix of a hostel, jail cell, and army barracks? And most importantly – why had I decided to take an intense language course which featured a regional dialect I had never studied before, that would be deeply important to my overall degree grade back home?

I had been trying to use my spare time to sort out my plans for the future, re-organise my business, and of course, send approximately a million essays to university a week. At the end of each day, I would have my blogging responsibilities gnaw at me, but would be too exhausted to sit down, make a tea, and focus on writing a new post. This, mixed with the overall stresses of temporarily moving to another country, meant that I was getting about 0% of the work done which was necessary to balance a degree and a career.

To combat this, I bought last-minute flights to Hawaii (don’t tell my parents!), and went on road trips to Tofino and Portland and Vancouver. I tried to gain inspiration by writing at friends’ houses, or boutique cafes, or even on top of a bloody mountain. NOTHING. WORKED.

That’s when I read a magazine article about Staycations, and thought you know what? Screw it.

That’s where Chateau Victoria comes in. I was walking downtown one day, minding my own business, when I stumbled upon the luxury hotel. A warm orange glow was spilling out from the glass doors onto the street, and a member of staff pulled back said doors to let in a guest, a beaming smile on his face. I was drawn to it immediately, and knew that if I was going to be staying anywhere in the city, I wanted it to be there. The very next day, I finalised a reservation.

This gorgeous hotel is situated in downtown Victoria, amongst the finest restaurants, shops, and establishments in the city. Walking into the lobby, having the glass doors pulled back for me just like they had been for that other guest, I was welcomed into my temporary haven. It was designed exactly like I imagined Donald Trump’s sitting room to be – gold furnishings, marble desks, staff members raring to make everything perfect.

My apartment featured an open plan dining area, with an abstract carpet print mimicking that of a cosy 50’s house style. There is a little kitchen space where I was able to brew fresh coffee every morning, and a kitchen table where I could drink said coffee whilst typing furiously at my Mac. My sole qualm? The kitchen is within eyesight of an exceedingly comfortable sofa suite – the idea of reverting to a couch potato and abandoning all work was definitely tempting.

The living room features this two-piece suite, a third table (there really is an abundance of places to work from), and a large television showcasing all the North American television shows I’ve read about. My favourite part of the living room is that it opens out onto a balcony, where you can sit back and watch the world go by. At night, I would seek out the twinkling lights of Parliament and tiny people going about their daily business, and during the day, I would glance out at mountains and oceans and miles upon miles of places to explore. In the very early hours of the morning, when the sun is at its brightest, I would meander out onto the balcony, green tea in one hand, book in the other, and just let my mind go blank. I’m not sure how or why, but that quickly leads into some of my most inspired writing – and has singlehandedly cured my writer’s block. When your only plans for the evening are to order room service and kick back on the settee, life feels pretty easy.

There are various frames of artwork hanging around the suite, with my favourite blue-and-green rendition featured in the bedroom. A massive king-sized bed sits in the middle of the quarters, where I spend a bit too much time swathing myself in blankets and overtly plump pillows. With tall curtains facing out to towering skyscrapers, I would find myself waking up to the view of a million other people, racing around to partake in the rat race of life. Somehow, seeing other people rush around whilst I am calm and (temporarily) free of responsibility, is oddly inspiring – is there a way to replicate this outside of a Staycation?

Having written some of my best articles milling around the hotel, I was left with an empty feeling when I knew I would have to check out. I took one last bath, submerging myself in bubbles and later slathering on some of the nicest smelling lotion I have ever tried, feeling more relaxed than I had in months.

I realise now that the idea of Staycations isn’t a futile one – instead, staying at this Chateau has completely rejuvenated me, and utterly fixed my writer’s block. I spent my days there wandering down to the sauna – perhaps after taking a swim in the pool – and writing pages upon pages of blog posts and articles. Sometimes, you just feel like getting pampered and dining on food which you haven’t had to slave over, eventually re-entering into civilisation stress-free. According to Christoffer Arfert of Select Saunas, incorporating a sauna into your staycation routine not only enhances relaxation but also supports better circulation and overall wellness, making the experience feel even more restorative.

This post 100% feels like an ad for the Staycation business – but alas, it’s just your favourite blogger talking about how she’s been one heck of an idiot for the past few years. Even Carrie in Sex in the City would go on a Staycation to her home in Manhattan to write an article when she didn’t have the creative space at home. Now who am I to contradict Carrie?

Have you guys ever taken a Staycation – or are you a naysayer like I was? What’s more, have I tempted you into staying at the Chateau Victoria? Let me know in the comments below!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO – WHY NOT SHARE THE LOVE AND PIN THIS POST?

I recently spent time exploring Tofino, which is a tiny district on Vancouver Island surrounded by ancient rainforest, vast stretches of white beach, and surf shops. Locals follow a laid-back, slow-paced lifestyle, and it is the perfect place to get away from the more crowded parts of the continent. Having spent the past few months living with the residents, I feel as though I am now adequately packed with local knowledge – and ready to share my newly-acquired expertise with you.

Where to stay

LONG BEACH LODGE RESORT

The Long Beach Lodge Resort is hands down one of the best hotels that I have ever had the pleasure of staying at. Our deluxe beachfront room offered a massive two-person bathtub in the wet room (which came with the most divine bath salts) and also had shutters overlooking the bedroom, and subsequently, the VIEW. The room features a large balcony which looks out to a perfect vista – distant mountains, pearl-coloured sand, tall emerald trees, and, best of all, the ocean. Ideal for when the sun was out, we could kick back on the balcony sipping green teas from silk teabags and martinis from tall glasses, looking out to the lazy rolling waves and soft pink skies.

We had both fluffy bath robes and sturdy Helly Hanson raincoats in the room, which we could use to wear down to the sauna, or out to the ocean on a rough day. One of my favourite pastimes involves laying back in an armchair and reading my book – and I could do exactly that in front of our fireplace, in a room which I imagine my future book chamber to replicate. The hotel itself is gorgeous, with curio wooden furnishings, cast iron and granite decorations, and hallways showcasing local artwork. I had a wonderful stay, and it definitely offered me the perfect haven to unwind from the accumulated stresses of travel. If there is one place that you have to bunker down at in Tofino, it’s here.

THE WICKANNINISH INN

Being someone who has a big fat crush on everything architecture and interior design related, the Wickanninish Inn was perfect for me. It is incredibly unique, with every decoration and item of furniture being handmade and locally sourced, and each painting showcasing the works of local artists. Every aspect of the hotel has this stunning history behind it, and honestly, it is divine. They feature many rustic elements – such as driftwood rocking chairs, bathtub views overlooking miles upon miles of ocean, suites with lounges stuffed with books and open fireplaces – along with more modern items, such as flat screens which pop out of the bedroom cupboards. It’s very pretty, and the perfect place for a retreat out of the city. Also – their cafe offers the most gorgeous chocolate muffins and green tea seeped through paper funnels!

Where to Eat

LONG BEACH LODGE RESORT

I can’t recommend the Long Beach Lodge Resort enough – especially as they offer the best evening meal in the whole of Tofino. Not only was the food incredible, but the view was absolutely breathtaking. As we sat eating our meal, we were able to glance out at the red and orange hues of the setting sun, mirrored in the silent waves. Something about the hazy light and the relaxed atmosphere had me and my travel partner talking for hours about things we’ve never revealed to each other before. It was weird, and magical, and wonderful.

In regards to the food itself, every item of produce is locally sourced, with all of their fresh seafood harvested in a sustainable manner. My favourite dishes include their confit duck leg (with celery root slaw, apply, and toasted almonds), the muscle and clam dish (served in a gorgeous broth with shaved fennel and parsley), the scallop risotto, the lingcod (with stripe shrimp, roasted squash and citrus emulsion), and the polenta. Their hummus is the smoothest that I have ever tasted, and the bread that they bring to the table before you meal was ridiculously tempting for me throughout the evening (I can’t digest gluten, and yet there I was, gnawing on this beguiling bread). For those of you with a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with their classic chocolate brownie dish, or their oversized French macaron.

TACOFINO

Quite frankly, this place was love at first bite. I’d heard so much about it, and visited the sister company in Victoria – but it didn’t come close to comparing to this little food truck. Something about the atmosphere of tens of complete strangers hanging out on wooden benches in the sun, snacking on tacos and burritos and tamales, is oddly alluring to me. The people are the friendliest and it is such a nice place to really sit back and take it all in.

SHELTER

Shelter is arguably the best place to spend a late afternoon – kicking back in their plush armchairs by a small open fire, listening to chill music which you will no doubt Shazam the heck out of, all whilst gorging on some of the most gorgeous food. I have never had such a charismatic waiter before in my life than I had at Shelter, and it would be exceedingly difficult to feel down when he’d bring out a plate of yam fries or buttermilk chicken or a ridiculously fat burger, and be super charming as he did so. It’s a lovely little place, and definitely one of the best on the island.

WOLF IN THE FOG

Absolutely every dish is delicious, submerged in a plethora of stunning flavours. Whilst you try the crab arancini, or the tuna and pork jowl, or the halibut with assorted shellfish, you will be submerged in the loveliest ambience. The whole restaurant is lit up with a warm colour scheme, enhanced by the wooden furnishings and locally designed earth-tone decorations. Soft chatter filters over smooth jazz, and you can see the chefs working at their stations on the far side of the room. Waiters wear plaid flannel, and let you take your time as you devour the food. The food menus themselves are about an eighth the size of the wine menu – which suggests that both the owner and I have the same priorities in order. For dessert, I highly recommend their gala apple – and not solely because of how #InstaWorthy the presentation is.

CHOCOLATE TOFINO

Chocolate Tofino is, quite frankly, a woefully dangerous place for a chocolate fiend like I to venture into. You step into their teensy-tiny little shop, surrounded by glass rows of hand-decorated truffles and chocolates, with workers in this Willy Wonka-esque set-up folding and garnishing the products behind the counter. They offer a wide selection of goodies, with my favourite being their “hedgehog” ice-cream and wildflower honey ganache – and, truth be told, every single item in their Happy Pack. The latter is a little parcel showcasing a variety of the locals’ favourite chocolates, from their strawberry cream starfish to their wild blackberry buttercreams, to their hazelnut rainforest crispy logs. Everything is so unique and pretty and made with love, and I love every second there (and bite!). It took all the willpower I have to not demolish every bit of chocolate instantly.

WHAT TO DO

LEARN TO SURF

One thing that you absolutely must do during your time in Tofino is mimic the locals and fling yourself on top of a surfboard. In my opinion, the best company to do this with is Pacific Surf Co – and let me tell you why.

I had my first ever surf lesson with these guys, arriving in-tow with my travel partner who, frankly, cannot swim for the life of him. Whilst highly entertaining for me to glance out at him every five minutes in the water as he erupted from the ocean and spat out sea foam, our instructor was the nicest ever and helped him learn to stay above the waves. We went out as a small group, where we were in turn introduced to the fundamentals of both catching a wave and being able to safely read the water – and despite both myself and my land-bourne travel partner being relatively nervous before starting, by the end of it we felt fully prepared and ready to go.

Once I was in the water, my main fear of freezing to death utterly dissipated as my wetsuit clung to me like blubber, keeping me warm against the frosty ocean. It didn’t take me long to find myself getting real cocky, as I felt ready enough to wade out in water up to my hips. The waves were slowly getting higher and more powerful, and somehow I managed to lose grip of my board and have it cut in front of me. As one massive wave started towards me, I pushed my head under the water and out of the way of my board, where I was pulled under by the waves. Seconds later, when I was finally released from the surge, I stood up coughing up sea salt and having snot run down my face as the instructor gave me a big thumbs up. I was told that it was a good thing I moved and didn’t get knocked completely unconscious by my board, and was advised on how to turn it into a sick wave. When we left Tofino several days later, I was covered in some very pretty bruises – reminders that I’d tried something epic, loved it, and had the battle wounds to prove it.

VISIT THE HOT SPRINGS COVE

Another one of the best things to do in Tofino is to visit the hot springs on the Sidney Inlet. There are several companies that run here, but I personally recommend Jamie’s Whaling Station as they tend to get you as one of the first groups there (it does get busy!) – also offering the chance to stop and view wildlife on the way.

In my experience of the tour to the cove, we discovered on the ride that a member of our group was actually deathly terrified of boats – and she was here, on a boat ride. The staff was calm and collected as my travel partner and I shook our heads in disbelief as this lass burst into tears, going right out of their way to avoid the sharp corners of the choppy waves. Regardless, the ride there was beautiful, and we were told that if our skipper were to continue piloting south, there would be nothing but clear waves between us and Antarctica (can I hear, impromptu day trip?).

When you arrive at the forest on the Sidney Inlet, it takes a half an hour boardwalk to get to the heart of the springs. The second I clocked that we would be the first ones to jump into thw water, I decided to dive right in – and let me tell you, there’s a reason why they don’t merely call it the “Vaguely Lukewarm Springs.” It was 53°C and so ridiculously hot that it immediately caused our limbs to sizzle and glow bright pink, making my head swim after ten minutes. In the end, we spent nearly three hours soaking back in the water, and it both relaxed the heck out of me and made me feel as though I could pass right out. Every single person that has ever visited Tofino has visited the Hot Springs Cove (probably, but don’t quote me on that), and a trip to the area really isn’t complete without a saunter around the springs.

CHECK OUT LOCAL ARTISTS

I mentioned that local hotels such as the Wickanninish Inn display the works of many of the local artists in their suites – and with good reason. For pieces that are unique and made with love, why not spend a free hour wandering around the open woodwork stores, and kitsch little home-reared galleries? Even boutique stores are run by people with a flair for art, and a mere clothing browse can easily end up with you falling in love with a new painting or photograph. Tofino is such a gorgeous place – and the art scene definitely doesn’t let it down.

GO WILDLIFE WATCHING

Tofino, being part of Western BC, is unsurprisingly choc-a-block with wildlife. Going out on a pre-planned tour is  one of the best ways of securing a sighting from up close, without ending up directly facing off with a black bear. On a single boat ride, you may expect to see porpoise, seals, grey whales, orcas, and otters – and I saw all five on my ride to the Hot Springs! Looking out to land, you can spot wolves, cougars, and bears – definitely the best way to get a glimpse into the wild side of Canada.

EXPLORE THE HIKING TRAILS

Frankly, you can’t really say that you’ve visited Tofino until you’ve conquered their many hiking trails. There are many to choose from, with local favourites being the South Beach Trail, Wild Pacific Lighthouse Loop, and every inch of Maquinna Marine Provincial Park. Be sure to do research on the trails beforehand – some, such as the walk around the crashed bomber site, may be unsuitable in certain conditions, or too extreme for an average hiker to attempt.

TAKE A BEACH DAY

Honestly, the only place in the world that compares to the beaches in Tofino, is Wales (although I may be slightly biased on the latter). Everywhere you go in Tofino, you will find yourself surrounded by vast rolling waves and sparkling white sand. Honestly, there’s no escape – you’re encircled by the vista from your hotel bathroom, and a cafe window, and the balcony you grab martinis at after dinner. The seaside is such a staple to the local Tofino life, that it is literally impossible to not spend at least one day loitering on the sand.

Some of my favourite beaches are Cox Bay, Chesterman Beach, Mackenzie Beach, and Long Beach. They all feature distant mountains, glistening blue ocean, and condensation coming from the waves which settles like smoke over the horizon (rendering the most gorgeous, soft, hazy views). The only downside is that during these colder months, the water is so chilly that when you submerge your half-naked body in for even half a minute, the hypothermia kicks in and you quickly start to feel as though you’re burning. That could just be me, though.

HOW TO GET THERE

TOFINO ALL ISLAND EXPRESS

One of the easiest ways to travel to Tofino is via a coach from the larger cities. Whilst it may take longer than it would to drive, you get to kick back in comfort, knowing that you have several hours to yourself. My favourite part of the All Island Express is that the windows are nice and big – perfect for staring out at the stunning scenery around you.

HITCHHIKE OR DRIVE

Whilst taking a bus is perhaps the most convenient way of travelling to Tofino, it may be more beneficial to have more control over your transportation if you want to explore nearby towns and islands. Due to the fact that it is c-o-s-t-l-y to drive yourself all the way up to the area, why not consider hitchhiking, like your old pal Amy? I found myself travelling the breadth of the place in a bright yellow school bus, kicking back in a kid called Marco’s assigned seat, feeling like I was finally a background actor in an American movie.

Have you guys ever been to Tofino, or want to drop everything and leave right now? Or do you fancy visiting one of the other absolutely gorgeous places in British Columbia? Let me know in the comments below!

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