Girls Weekend: Victoria, Canada

Being on a trip with a friend is a different kind of reset that resonates with the soul. Close friendships harbor loyalty; promises to support each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, and till death do us part. These are women who have shaped the person I am today. We have been with each other through marriages and divorces, children and the endless struggles of parenting. We have comforted each other through great loss and catastrophic mistakes. We have laughed and loved each other at our best and worst. Spending quality time with them is worth the effort it takes to plan, pack up, abandon home, and jump into the adventures that may befall us. 

Victoria, Canada is at the southern edge of Vancouver Island, in a luscious and temperate little bubble. Just a 24 minute flight from Seattle, it is easy to get to, but feels like a world away. A backdrop of calm coastal waters give way to blankets of colorful flowers in the shade of massive woods and pines. Whales abound and wildlife chatter amidst a bustling downtown district. The old city stands sentinel tucked into the port with stone buildings and bustling markets. Artists work from the sidewalk lining the boardwalk and music plays from the multitude of bars and restaurants. Gorgeous days give way to lively evenings lit up with thousands of twinkle lights. Its an absolute gem and a great place to spend a girls weekend. 

Where To Stay

We stayed at the Strathcona Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Victoria, it  is centrally located and very quaint. The staff was friendly and accommodating, the location made walking anywhere super simple, and the prices were competitive for the area. It has built quite the following in its many years, and has several notable establishments for entertainment on site; the Sticky Wicket Pub and Restaurant, Big Bad Johns dive bar, and the the rooftop Distrikt nightclub. The Pub has pretty decent food and a pool hall, while the nightclub has raging parties with a cover charge. Big Bad Johns is iconic for the plethora of women’s bra’s hanging from the ceiling and fixed to the walls, so plan to leave a token of your appreciation by way of lingerie when visiting this gem. However, the close proximity to these gems and the Strathcona’s downtown location does have a small drawback of being a fairly loud place to sleep. The hotel will make accommodations ahead of time for a quieter room, and each room is equipped with a fairly loud window A/C unit with fan that will drown out noise, but know it could be an issue if sheer quiet is what you need. 

Alternatively, the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel is a bougie option a couple of blocks away from the Strath, which would have been fun to stay in as well. Any other hotel accommodations nearest Wharf Street or Government Street, between the Parliament building and Chinatown would all be convenient places to stay for walkability.  

What to Do: 

Tea at the Empress: Get dressed up and treat your party to a lovely high tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. The iconic restaurant is set in a grand chateau-style building built in 1908. Afternoon tea is served with special house made tea blends, desserts made by a famous chocolatier chef, and adorable tea sandwiches and scones. Prices range around CA$100 per person. 

Butchart Gardens: In the 1970’s, a coal mine owner and his wife opened their doors to the community to enjoy their personal home and lush gardens. Now, the world famous property spans 55 acres, with dozens of fields and greenhouses to feed the enchanting displays of the gardens. Over 100 gardeners and thrice that number of employees keep the grounds prestine and running each day. From downtown Victoria, catch bus 75 for $6 round trip. The route takes approximately 35 minutes. Guests can easily spend 2-3 hours roaming the winding pathways of the gardens and enjoying a nice meal or ice cream. If you have more time, there is a lovely courtyard to lounge in, play games, and spend time with family or friends. As an alternative to high tea at the Empress, you can choose to take tea at the gardens for about half the price instead. Entry fee to the Bucharest Gardens for the day is CA$45 per person. 

 Explore Victoria: Visit the Legislative building. There is a free tour that takes about 45 minutes and a unique fine dining restaurant in the basement for something different. Walk down Government Street and check out the cool shops and street entertainers. Take the water taxi to Fishermans Wharf, with its cute little multi-colored floating houses and yummy food vendors. Walk down Ogdens Point breakwater, which is beautiful at sunset. Visit Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley, dating back 150 years. I was not that impressed but it’s something fun to check out if you have the time. Take the Hop on Hop off bus tour or just stroll around, the city is very walkable. On the weekends, you can also catch the steamship water show at 10:30 each morning, which is adorable. Take your time and immerse yourself in this enchanting city. 

Find an Adventure! Victoria is famous for its whale watching tours because of the year-round abundance of whales. In fact, most tours guarantee you will see whales or you can try again the next day at no cost. A tour will run about $200 per person for a half day or sunset catamaran tour. Go on a winery tour! Victoria has a fantastic craft beer scene and some beautiful local wineries that are sure to impress. Explore Hatley Castle and Park. Step back in time and tour the well preserved grounds of these estates. Take a seaplane tour, and experience the world from above. These tours cost about $200 for a 35 minute flight and you get to depart and return right in downtown. Indulge in a Spa Day. Mineral pools, floating saunas, floating hot tubs, or any number of day spas for some relaxation and rejuvenation. 

Where to Eat: 

Zambri’s Italian Restaurant had a great wine menu and fresh, light food dishes. The ambiance was lovely and the service was superb. 

Finns Seafood and Steaks for waterfront dining. You just can’t beat the view, especially during sunset. Reserve a window-front table ahead of time they will absolutely book up. The staff went out of their way to accommodate our group and make our meal exceptional. Everything on the table was fantastic and it was all around our favorite place to enjoy a meal. 

Murchies Fine Tea & Coffee. This was the best place for a quick breakfast with fresh and yummy dishes ranging from quiche to baked goods. There were tons of tea and coffee choices and the adjoining tea shop offered some unique and fun gifts. The dining area is open and plentiful and the service is fairly quick for how busy the establishment always seems to be. 

My friends and I loved Victoria, and found it a wonderful place to visit on a girls trip. Vancouver Island is so much more than the city of Victoria. I would love to take the time to return to the northern part of the island and take a multi-day kayaking tour observing whales and other wildlife far from the city lights. There is also fantastic hunting and fishing and lush rainforests to explore. Whatever your interest, add Vancouver Island and Victoria to your list!