A FIRST-TIME VISITOR’S GUIDE TO VICTORIA, BC: THE 18 BEST THINGS TO DO

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, next to the Pacific Ocean. It’s just a short ferry ride (or flight) from Vancouver, which is the gateway to Western Canada for many travelers.

Victoria was named after Queen Victoria and is one of the oldest settlements in the Pacific Northwest. While First Nations peoples have lived here for many centuries, British settlement of the Victoria area began in 1843.

Visitors to Victoria can still feel the city’s British influence today. In fact, Victoria is known as the most British city in Canada. Examples include Afternoon tea sessions, red double-decker buses, and architecture with Old British names.

Thanks to its moderate climate and great selection of things to see and do, Victoria is a popular place to visit all year. Locals and visitors alike enjoy Victoria’s music festivals, outdoor activities, ocean views, many shopping opportunities, and a diverse food scene.

In this action-packed first-time Visitor’s Guide to Victoria, I’ll share must-do tourist activities, like visiting the Royal BC Museum, Canada’s Oldest Chinatown, or Fisherman’s Wharf. But I’ll also include hidden gems that locals recommended when I lived here for three months in 2025.

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The 18 Best Things to do in Victoria

Royal BC Museum

Address: 675 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8W 9W2, Canada

If you want to learn about British Columbia’s rich natural and cultural heritage on your first visit to Victoria, you cannot miss the Royal BC Museum. It first opened in 1886 and covers 26,000 square feet of indoor exhibits and seven million artefacts.

Its permanent exhibits feature the Human History Galleries (which include an exhibit about indigenous languages in BC and Forgotten Landscapes), Natural History Gallery, and the history of immigration to BC from around the world.

The Royal BC Museum also has temporary exhibits that change several times per year. One example that’s going on until July 27, 2026, is Orcas: Our Shared Future, which talks about the relationship between orcas and humans. From June 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027, you can visit their Ancient Egypt exhibit.

Natural History Gallery and First Nations exhibit at Royal BC Museum. Photo #2 is credit of Royal BC Museum.

One past exhibit I loved was Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, which talked about rebellion through music. Examples included musicians who wrote anthems about feminism and for the 2SLGBQI+ community, and racial justice. There was also a mini exhibit about the Punk Rock history of Victoria!

The Royal BC Museum often hosts onsite and online events as well, like Music at the Museum, Native Plant Garden Tours, Pride Button Making, and Slow Burn Dating Night! Finally, visitors can browse around the Gift Shop or watch movies at the IMAX Theatre.

The Royal BC Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm (except December 25 and January 1) and admission starts at 18 CAD per person.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Address: 1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC V8V 0B2, Canada

Another must-visit attraction for first-time visitors to Victoria is Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s just a stone’s throw from downtown and one of Victoria’s most colourful spots!

This is thanks to the floating homes that stand around at Fisherman’s Wharf and each one looks totally unique!

Tourists also come here to buy locally made souvenirs, enjoying the stunning view while eating fresh food (e.g. Fish’n’Chips, pizza, ice-cream, and Mexican food), or joining a whale watching tour or guided kayak tour around Victoria’s harbour.

Please note that local residents live in the colourful floating homes, so it’s important to keep your distance to not bother them.

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Address: 501 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8V 2H2, Canada

One of Victoria’s most famous and very photogenic landmarks is the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia by the Inner Harbour. These parliament buildings are also one of the oldest buildings in the city (dating back to 1871) and politicians of the province work and meet here.

These buildings feature ornate neo baroque architecture and artwork. It’s possible to join a free guided tour of the Parliament Buildings on week days between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm during the summer. Visitors can look at stunning architecture, learn about British Columbia’s history, and check out the work environment of the politicians.

Another thing that I loved during my summer in Victoria was the free yoga class on the front lawn of the Parliament Buildings! Mat Collective offered this class every Wednesday evening and everyone was welcome to join! Hopefully, it will happen again this summer.

The Empress Hotel

Address: 721 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada

The Empress Hotel (also known as the Fairmont Empress) is one of Victoria’s oldest hotels, which was completed in 1908. It was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1981. This 5-star hotel overlooks the beautiful Inner Harbour of Victoria.

While this iconic hotel is famous for its luxurious rooms and suites, the number one reason people visit the Empress is a famous English tradition: Afternoon Tea! Ever since it opened, famed royalty, celebrities, and guests have enjoyed this at the hotel lobby.

Celebrities who visited this hotel include Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, John Travolta, and Katherine Hepburn!

In the busy summer season, more than 400 cups of tea a day are served here (more than at most hotels in London, England)! So it’s recommended to reserve in advance through their website.

Afternoon Tea in the lobby of the Empress Hotel (photo credit: Fairmont Empress Hotel).

Join a Whale Watching tour

Another reason why Victoria is a popular place to visit is seeing some of its iconic wildlife on a whale watching tour. One operator who offers this kind of experience is Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours at Fisherman’s Wharf.

This locally owned and family-operated company has taken visitors on whale watching tours inside the Salish Sea since 1997. Wildlife conservation and sustainability are their main values and they are Canada’s first 100% carbon neutral whale tour operator!

They offer whale watching tours inside semi-covered boats all year or in open boats and sunset tours from May to November. Aside from orca and humpback whales, you may spot sea lions, porpoises, bald eagles, and more!

Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours offers a sighting guarantee and free photo package if you book a semi-covered boat tour.

An orca whale we saw during our whale watching tour in August 2025. Photo credit: Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours.

Check out a Music Festival

Music festival fans are also in for a treat in Victoria, especially during the summer months. Whether you’re into classical music, jazz, blues, rock, ska, pop, opera, folk, heavy metal, or EDM music, there’s surely something going on in Victoria!

For example, music fans can choose between TD Victoria International JazzFest (June 19-28, 2026) at multiple venues in Victoria, or Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival from June 24-28, 2026 at the Inner Harbour and other locations (my favourite last year)!

Besides, check out Victoria Folk Music Festival on July 4, 2026, Phillips Backyard Music Festival from July 10-12, 2026, or Rifflandia Festival in September 2026 if you’re in town.

Finally, if you’re into heavy metal, you cannot miss the Mosh the Rock Island Metalfest in Sooke (only 38 km/23 miles from Victoria) on August 9, 2026!

One of the awesome bands playing at Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival in 2025.

This is just scratching the surface of music festivals in Victoria though. For more music festivals happening this year, I recommend looking at Tourism Victoria’s Events Calendar.

Explore Canada’s Oldest Chinatown

Address: 500 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC V8W 1R4, Canada

Just a few steps from downtown is Victoria’s Chinatown. Established in the mid 19th century, it’s Canada’s Oldest Chinatown and the second-oldest in North America (after San Francisco)!

Gate of Harmonious Interest, the entrance to Chinatown. Photo credit: Off the Eaten Track.

After gold was found in the Fraser Canyon in 1858, many Chinese people immigrated to British Columbia from California. Besides, many Chinese immigrants traveled through Victoria while working for the Canadian Pacific Railway from the late 19th century.

Until the early 20th century, this was the largest district of Chinese immigrants in Canada. Chinatown also had many stores, restaurants, temples, schools, movie theatres, and a hospital. But soon this neighbourhood got a bad reputation because of opium factories, gambling dens, and brothels.

Sadly, Chinatown’s significance declined dramatically between 1920 and 1970. By 1971, only 173 people lived here (versus more than 3,000 in 1911) and many buildings were destroyed.

But in the late 1970’s the City of Victoria saw Chinatown’s importance for heritage and tourism potential, so it was revitalized. Since 1995, Chinatown has been a National Historic Site of Canada.

Today Chinatown has multiple must-see landmarks. Examples include the impressive Gate of Harmonious Interest, the Historic Chinese School Building (still used today for community events), Tam Kung Temple, as well as many shops and restaurants.

Back in the day, famous Fan Tan Alley was a gambling street with opium dens and suspicious-looking pubs. But today, it’s known as the Narrowest street in Canada! It also has several shops as well as the Victoria Chinatown Museum.

The Historic Chinese School Building (Photo credit: Off the Eaten Track) and Fan Tan Alley.

Go Shopping in downtown Victoria

Downtown Victoria also has awesome shopping opportunities. From touristy gift shops, to outdoor shops, book stores, clothing stores, jewelry shops, tea stores, handmade item stores, and cosmetics stores, there’s something for everyone!

Besides, The Bay Centre is a nice shopping mall with brand-name Canadian retail stores (e.g. SportsChek, Winners, Ardene, and Purdys Chocolates). The Bay Centre and most of the stores above are found on vibrant Government Street.

My favourite stores in downtown Victoria are Munro’s Books (inside a beautiful heritage building), Out of Ireland, and Artina’s Jewelry, which has the biggest selection of handmade jewelry from Canada. Many of these items were made by indigenous artists.

Rent a Bike

If you prefer to discover Victoria on two wheels, renting a bike is an awesome idea! Victoria is known as Canada’s Cycling Capital, with 10% of the population commuting around the city. Besides, with its flat terrain, many cycling lanes and trails, and mild climate, Victoria belongs to the Most Bike-friendly Cities in Canada.

There are several bike rental companies in Victoria, especially near downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf. Feel free to choose between city bikes, tandem, kids’ bikes, touring bikes, or e-bikes and e-scooters. Most rentals include a helmet, lock, and maps.

We rented bikes from The Pedaler Cycling Tours & Rentals (321 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8V 1X2, Canada) for a few hours. The bikes were in amazing condition and the staff was happy to show us the best biking routes in the area.

We rode along the coast by Fisherman’s Wharf, Dallas Road, then to Beacon Hill Park and Terry Fox Statue and back. This is one of the most popular routes to see a lot of Victoria’s City Centre in a short time! You can book guided bike tours with The Pedaler around the city as well.

Massive totem pole at Beacon Hill Park and the Terry Fox Statue.

Hike up to Mount Douglas

Address: 4500 Cedar Hill Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 3S8, Canada

If you feel like a non-touristy nature activity (that many locals love), you need to hike up Mount Douglas. Mount Douglas Park is tucked away in Saanich and covers 188 hectares of terrain and has 21 km (13 miles) of trails for all abilities.

Visitors can choose between easier coastal trails and more challenging paths up to the summit. The paths feature a diverse ecosystem, like rocky outcrops and forested areas, which makes this hike quite special.

If you’re climbing to the summit, it’s 4 km (2.4 miles) roundtrip, which takes about 1.5 hours. Once you reach the top, just take a deep breath and enjoy a spectacular 360º view of the Victoria region!

While it takes about 1.5 hours to get from downtown Victoria to Mount Douglas Park with public transit, it’s definitely worth it! Dogs are allowed on the trails as well, but must be kept under control at all times.

Malahat Skywalk

Address: 901 Trans-Canada Hwy, Malahat, BC V0R 2L0, Canada

Another spot with amazing views (and less exercise needed) is Malahat Skywalk. Opened in 2021, it quickly became one of Vancouver Island’s top tourist destinations.

Only here, visitors walk a 600-metres elevated pathway through Arbutus and Douglas Fir treetops that takes you to a 10-storey spiral tower with breathtaking views of the Salish Sea. 

But wait, there are more things to do at Malahat Skywalk than just enjoying the view! If you’re brave, walk on the SkyWeb with its see-through, heart-racing look straight down through the tower’s spiraling centre. Or go down the spiral Sizzler Slide or try out the new Overhang Lookout (with only glass walls below you)!

Malahat Skywalk. Photo credit: Destination Greater Victoria.

Malahat Skywalk is fully accessible for everyone and is open year-round. Admission is 49.95 CAD for Adults (18-64 years), 45.95 CAD for Seniors (65+ years), and 35.95 CAD for Children/Youth (6-17 years). Children 5 years and under are free!

If you don’t have a car, just hop on the free shuttle bus from downtown Victoria to Malahat Skywalk (about 35 minutes) available from May-October. It runs on Saturdays and Sundays in the spring and fall and seven days a week from late June to early September.

Visit Salt Spring Island

Just a 45-minute ferry ride from Victoria’s Swartz Bay terminal is Salt Spring Island. It’s the biggest and most populated of the Southern Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia that lies between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. There are several villages on this island and Ganges is the main one.

Salt Spring Island is known for its vibrant arts and crafts scene, but also hiking trails, kayaking, beautiful beaches, and nice stores.

Other people come here for cycling adventures (you can rent a bike or join a tour) or the Farmers Market on Saturdays in Ganges from April to October. You can also find dozens of restaurants in this area.

Besides, you can visit a lavender farm, go wine tasting at a winery, or try some cider or local craft beer on Salt Spring Island. After browsing around the Farmer’s Market, I watched the many boats at Ganges Harbour for a bit, which was very relaxing!

While many people go to Salt Spring Island for a day trip, you can spend the night at one of the hotels as well. Besides, if you don’t have wheels, there are buses going around the island.

Join a Ghost Tour of Victoria

If you’re up for an unusual activity (and like history and ghost stories) in Victoria, I recommend booking this after dark Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria.

First, you meet your local guide (they wear a black historic costume) in front of the Visitor Information Centre across from the Empress Hotel.

During your tour you’ll stop at several haunted landmarks and your guide will tell you a spooky story about each spot (that many people don’t know about). The tour ends at Bastion Square in downtown Victoria.

One of the local guides of the Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria. Photo credit: Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria.

Our guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable, so we learnt a lot about Victoria’s haunted places!

The Ghostly Walking Tour happens all year. Please note that in October, the meeting point is at the Main Gate of Market Square (560 Johnson Street). The regular rate for this tour is 24 CAD per person and it takes about an hour.

Visit Craigdarroch Castle

Address: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC V8S 3L5, Canada

On your first-time visit to Victoria, you cannot miss the iconic Craigdarroch Castle. This ornate Victorian castle was built for industrialist Robert Dunsmuir between 1887 and 1890. He was a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune in the Vancouver Island coal industry.

Craigdarroch Castle sits proudly on a hill overlooking the city. It has four floors with stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and stunning furniture from the Victorian era. Visitors can book a tour of the castle to learn about privileged life of the Dunsmuir family in the 1890s.

Craigdarroch Castle from the outside and inside. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Today Craigdarroch Castle is a National Historic Site of Canada. It’s possible to rent this place for weddings or other private events as well.

The castle is open for inside tours from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Admission for self-guided tours inside the castle is 24.50 CAD.

Go Ziplining in Sooke

If you’re looking for a thrill, I suggest heading to Sooke and joining an exciting ziplining tour with Adrena LINE Zipline Adventures (5120 Gillespie Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0E2, Canada)! They are one of the major ziplining operators on Southern Vancouver Island.

You can choose between The Guided Canopy Tour, which offers 8 ziplines inside the treetops of a temperate rainforest that range from 150 ft/45 m to 1000 ft/305 m in length. This tour takes about two hours and the cost is 119 CAD for adults.

Or go for The Big Zip Experience where you fly down on one of their two 2400 ft/732 m long ziplines twice. At a speed of 65 km/h (40 mph), you’ll enjoy amazing views of the Sooke Basin. This tour takes about 45 minutes and it can be combined with the Guided Canopy Tour. All tours are guided by their professional staff at all times.

A fun ziplining tour at Adrena LINE Zipline Adventures. Photo credit: Adrena LINE Zipline Adventures.

I ziplined with Adrena LINE back in 2019 and had a blast! The guides were very kind and supportive, especially with guests who were a bit nervous. If you don’t have a car, just hop on bus #95 from downtown Victoria to Langford Exchange, then transfer to bus #61 to Sooke.

Check out Sooke Potholes Provincial Park

While in Sooke, check out some of its other amazing attractions, such as Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. This scenic spot sits next to Sooke River, which cuts through a narrow rock canyon.

This canyon created deep green natural swimming pools, small waterfalls, and rocky areas for climbing. Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is a destination that locals go back to year after year.

Besides, this spot has mostly easy hiking trails and lookout points, beautiful beaches, and is great for camping or having a picnic. Finally, it’s possible to go for bike rides in this park, which connects to the Galloping Goose Trail.

Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is about 7 km (4.34 miles) from downtown Sooke. Unfortunately, no public transit goes there, so I recommend booking a taxi if you don’t have a car.

French Beach & Sheringham Point Lighthouse

Breathtaking French Beach is inside French Beach Provincial Park about 20 minutes west of Sooke. After entering the provincial park, it’s just a short walk to French Beach.

French Beach is both a sand and pebble beach and is amazing to hang out at for a while and enjoy the ocean breeze. There are picnic tables, with fire pits, a playground, pit toilets, and a campground that’s open year-round near the beach as well.

When we visited French Beach on a weekday in early August, not many people were here, but it’s supposed to get busier with locals on the weekends or holidays.

Last but not least, it’s a great idea to stop at Sheringham Point Lighthouse (1 Sheringham Point Rd, Shirley, BC V9Z 1G7, Canada) for a bit.

This historical landmark dates back to 1912 and overlooks the scenic Juan de Fuca Strait. It sits on a rocky headland in Shirley, just a few minutes from French Beach Provincial Park.

The lighthouse is looked after by the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society and is open to the public. There are walking trails around the lighthouse and a small Visitor Centre as well. Finally, keep an eye out for whales while enjoying the view, as they sometimes hang out near this spot!

Same as Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, French Beach and Sheringham Point Lighthouse are not accessible by public transit. So if you don’t have a car, I recommend booking a taxi to these spots.

Where to Stay in Victoria

Same as other touristy cities in Canada, Victoria has a good selection of accommodations to choose from for every traveler’s budget, from high-end to moderate to cheaper places to stay.

When I visited Victoria in 2019 and 2021, I stayed at Ocean Island Inn Backpackers & Suites (791 Pandora Avenue, Victoria BC V8W 1N9, Canada). This vibrant hostel inside a historic character building is in Victoria’s city centre and has mixed and female-only dorms and private rooms.

They offer tons of cool amenities, like free dinner and free breakfast, laundry facilities, secure bag storage, bike rentals, discounts to local attractions (e.g. the Royal BC Museum, whale watching, and Malahat Skywalk)!

Finally, there’s a kitchen and lounge area for everyone to use and make new friends from around the world!

Where to Eat & Drink in Victoria

As you’d expect from a big city in Canada, Victoria has restaurants from various cuisines to offer to first-time and returning visitors.

Here are my favourite restaurants in Victoria:

Le Petit Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant

Address: 1010 Langley St, Victoria, BC V8W 1E7, Canada

If you get hungry while exploring downtown Victoria, stop at Le Petit Saigon for a meal. Since 1986, this small, but very cozy family-owned restaurant has been serving authentic Vietnamese foods to the community.

You’ll find many classic Vietnamese dishes on the menu (e.g. pho, salad rolls, vermicelli noodle bowls, curry dishes, stir-fries, and hot pots). There are lots of vegetarian options as well, such as the Tofu Vermicelli Bowl (see below) and Tofu Salad Roll.

Every time I’ve been in this restaurant, the service was prompt and very personal (one of the servers told me about Vietnam’s history and was amazed by how much I can eat, lol!). The prices are pretty good as well.

Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant

Address: #5, 560 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6, Canada

Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant sits inside historic Market Square’s Courtyard in downtown. If you like self-serve and all you can eat buffet restaurants, this is the place to go!

Since opening in 1990, this restaurant has been committed to environmental sustainability, transparency, and inclusion. Their vegan menu changes daily and they are proud to offer fresh, healthy, and local food items to customers.

They also make their own kombucha and vegan gelato in house! Finally, you can buy homemade artisan plant based items here, like tofu and tempeh.

Shoal Point Coffeehouse

Address: 19 Dallas Rd #110, Victoria, BC V8V 4Z9, Canada

Cozy Shoal Point Coffeehouse is the perfect break spot after browsing around busy Fisherman’s Wharf!

They are proud to offer many kinds of coffee and tea specialties, fruit smoothies, as well as yummy pastries and savory sandwiches. It’s possible to sit inside or outside during the warmer months and they are open for breakfast and lunch.

Roasted Veggie Feta Sandwich and Iced Chai Latte. They were to die for!

The Best Time to Visit Victoria

Thanks to its moderate climate, Victoria is a great place to visit all year. The best time to visit this charming city is from May to September, when the weather is mostly dry and warm, which is awesome for outdoor activities and vibrant cultural events.

Most tourists come here in the summer months (June to end of August), so if you prefer good weather, less crowds, and cheaper accommodation prices, visiting Victoria in May or September is the perfect time!

The fall/autumn months are a good time to visit as well, with nice temperatures and fall-themed events happening. Besides, don’t miss the colourful fall foliage if you visit Victoria in this time period!

A beautiful autumn walk in Victoria. Photo credit: Destination Greater Victoria.

As it gets closer to winter, rain gets more common here. But it doesn’t usually get too cold in Victoria, so snowfall is rather rare. This is when accommodation prices and tourist numbers are at their lowest as well.

How to Get to and around Victoria with Public transit

Many visitors travel from Vancouver to Victoria by either taking BC Ferries from Tsawwassen Ferry terminal or flying to Victoria International Airport. But it’s also possible to fly via seaplane from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria with Harbour Air.

If you’re traveling from the Seattle area, you can take the Victoria Clipper ferry to downtown Victoria or take a seaplane with Kenmore Air.

One of the BC Ferries going to Victoria. Photo by Ronin on Unsplash.

If you’re traveling from Nanaimo, Campbell River, or Tofino to Victoria, I recommend taking the IslandLink Bus. The buses go several times a day and are clean and affordable.

Victoria has a good local bus system and the buses go pretty much everywhere in the city. Just note that the city is quite spread out, so it can take a while to get to places (e.g. it’s a one hour bus ride from Swartz Bay Ferry terminal to downtown).

For a quick (but very expensive) way from the Inner Harbour to Fisherman’s Wharf, feel free to hop on one of the water taxis. Of course, there are regular taxis and Ubers going around the city and its surrounding communities (like Sooke).

Finally, Victoria is quite walkable and thanks to its many bike lanes, it’s perfect for cycling as well!

How many Days should I spend in Victoria?

As a first-time visitor to Victoria, I’d recommend spending at least two or three days here.

That way, you’ll have time to visit its main tourist attractions, e.g. Royal BC Museum, the Legislative Assembly of BC, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and Malahat Skywalk. Besides, don’t forget to join a whale watching tour to see local wildlife!

If you’re in this charming city for longer, you’ll have time to see some hidden gems, like the Sooke Potholes, hiking up Mount Douglas, or spending a relaxing afternoon at French Beach.

I suggest that first-time and returning visitors to Victoria stop by the Destination Greater Victoria Visitor Centre (812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada) to find out about events going on during your visit.

Is Victoria a Safe city to Visit?

Yes, for the most part, Victoria is a safe city for tourists (including solo travelers and the 2SLGBQI+ community) to visit. It ranks as one of the safer major cities in Canada and I always felt safe walking around here.

But theft and pick-pocketing can happen sometimes in crowded tourist areas and some downtown spots are not as safe, especially at night. This includes Pandora Avenue, where drug use is common, or Yates and Johnson Street, which is a risky spot for thefts and vandalism.

While Victoria has less homeless people than Vancouver or Toronto, they are still around, mostly in some downtown areas. But most of them are harmless, although I wouldn’t recommend being around them at night, especially if you’re alone.

Finally, like any place in the world, I suggest using common sense to avoid issues. This includes not walking to your accommodation alone at night (especially when intoxicated), watching your drink at a bar, not flashing valuables while walking around, and so on.

Conclusion: A First-time Visitor’s Guide to Victoria, BC

Victoria is a charming city on Southern Vancouver Island that blends historic attractions and outdoor activities, fun festivals and events, museums, stunning beaches, exciting (and a bit spooky) walking tours, awesome shopping opportunities, and so much more!

So whether you’re visiting Victoria in the summer, spring, fall, or winter, you’ll surely have a blast in this amazing city!

My favourites were hiking up Mount Douglas, joining the whale watching tour with Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours, walking around the Inner Harbour and admiring the Legislative Assembly of BC, and dancing like crazy at the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival!

Unfortunately, I didn’t see all of Victoria’s attractions while living here, so I can’t wait to go back here soon! If you have any tips on things not to miss in Victoria, feel free to share them in the comments 😀

Traveling around British Columbia for a while? Then check out these posts:

How to Spend Two Days in Kelowna, BC

Summer in Blue River, BC

HOW TO SPEND TWO DAYS IN KELOWNA, BC

Last updated: August 27, 2025

Kelowna is inside the Okanagan Valley in Southern Interior BC and is the region’s largest city. It’s located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan people. The word Kelowna comes from the syilx/Okanagan word ki?láwna?, which means grizzly bear.

Kelowna is right next to scenic Okanagan Lake. Like the rest of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is famous for its vineyards, with more than 40 wineries in the area, as well as craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

I visited Kelowna in May 2022 and I’m psyched to share How to Spend a Two Days in Kelowna with you! 🙂

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Things to See and Do in Kelowna

After arriving in Kelowna, stretch your legs while exploring the Downtown district and get a feel for the awesome vibe of this city!

You can find several museums, e.g. the Okanagan Heritage Museum (470 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S7), Okanagan Military Museum (1424 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A5), and Kelowna Art Gallery (1315 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3) here.

Kelowna’s City Parks

Then take a stroll around Kelowna’s parks (City Park, Kerry Park, and Stuart Park), that are right next to the gorgeous Okanagan Lake. Each park is an attraction within itself.

City Park has the Variety Children’s Waterpark, playground, skate park, a sandy beach, and the Veterans’ Memorial Square. Kerry Park is famous for the Ogopogo statue and concerts, and Stuart Park is home to the Grizzly bear statue, the Kelowna Yacht Club and an outdoor skating rink in the winter.

Walking around City Park, the Grizzly Bear statue (Photo credit: tourismkelowna.com – Shawn Talbot photography) and one of the sandy beaches by Okanagan Lake.

If you keep on walking, you’ll find Waterfront Park and the Rhapsody Plaza, with the famous dolphin sculpture named Rhapsody. It was created by Scottish-born artist Robert Dow Reid in 1993. Concerts and music festivals often happen here as well during the summer months.

Kasugai Japanese Gardens

Address: 1435 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4

A hidden gem in Kelowna’s downtown district is Kasugai Gardens. It covers 0.29 hectares and is known as Kelowna’s Japanese garden. Here you can unwind from the busy city life for a little bit!

The gardens have tons of traditional Japanese elements, like the Japanese Snowbell Tree, Green Panda Bamboo, Japanese Maple trees, and koi fish swimming around a pond. There’s also a waterfall, bamboo fountain, pathways, and stone lanterns.

The gardens were completed in 1987 to celebrate the union and friendship of Kelowna and Kasugai, its sister city in Japan.

There are sitting benches and a small gazebo to get some shade and just watch the beautiful scenery. The park is open from early March until late October and most of the trails inside the gardens are wheelchair accessible.

The Circle of Friendship Sculpture

After exiting Kasugai Gardens, don’t miss the Circle of Friendship Sculpture, which was built by Geert Maas to honour Yukihisa (Roy) Tanaka (1915-1995). Roy worked hard on supporting the harmony and understanding between Kelowna and Kasugai.

It stands for the close relationship between the local Japanese-Canadian community as well.

Rent a Bike with Kelowna Bike Rentals

Address: 589 Poplar Point Dr, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Y2

If you like exercising, rent a bike with Kelowna Bike Rentals. Their fleet consists of city (cruiser) bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes, trikes, gravel bikes, tandem, and adaptive bikes. So everyone gets to enjoy cycling around the city and beyond! All bikes come with a helmet, lock, and maintenance kit.

Kelowna Bike Rentals is at the Knox Mountain Overflow Parking lot from May to October. You can rent bikes overnight or even multiple days.

What makes this company stand out is that it’s owned by two local charities, Elevation Outdoors and CRIS Adaptive. You can find more information on these organizations here.

I rented a cruise bike and it was perfect for cycling around downtown Kelowna and the nearby Okanagan Rail Trail. The bike was super light, so it wasn’t exhausting to ride around, and I was sad to take it back in the end, lol!

Kelowna is a bike-friendly city, with many bike lanes and trails all over the place. Other popular bike trails in and around Kelowna are Knox Mountain Park, Myra Canyon, and Rose Valley Regional Park.

Mosaic Books

Address: 411 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N8

Book lovers shouldn’t miss Mosaic Books, the Okanagan Valley’s largest independent bookstore. It’s been family-owned ever since it opened in 1968.

They are proud to offer fiction and non fiction books, puzzles, diverse reads (also by indigenous authors), and books written by local authors.

There are also journals, greeting cards, card games, and calendars for sale! You can order books online on their website, and there’s a monthly book club as well.

The Mosaic Book store from the outside (photo credit: Mosaic Books).

Orchard Park Shopping Centre

Address: 2271 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H2

Another great shopping spot in Kelowna is Orchard Park Shopping Centre with more than 160 retail stores and services. It’s the largest shopping centre between Calgary and Vancouver.

You can find Sports Chek, Old Navy, Best Buy, Lush Cosmetics, Sunrise Records, Hot Topic, Purdy’s Chocolates, and many more stores here.

Of course, there’s so much more to do in Kelowna! It’s also very family friendly, so if your kids are joining you on your trip, check out Crystal’s post on the 15 Best Things to Do in Kelowna in the Summer!

Check out the Kelowna Visitor Centre

Address: 238 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S4

I also recommend stopping by the Kelowna Visitor Centre to learn about other things to do in and around Kelowna. The staff are super friendly and there’s a lovely gift shop with many gems made by local artists.

The visitor centre is currently open daily from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. There’s also a kiosk at Kelowna International Airport (open daily from 8 am to 8 pm) in the Arrivals Lounge.

As you can see, Kelowna is a fun destination to visit all year-round. In the spring, summer, and fall, cycling, boating, golfing, and hiking are popular outdoor activities. If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, check out Big White Ski Resort or Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Where to Eat & Drink in Kelowna, BC

Like any bigger city, Kelowna has a great selection of cafés and restaurants.

Here are a few I got to check out during my visit:

Pulp Fiction Coffee House

Address: 565 Bernard Ave #01, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6P2

Pulp Fiction Coffee House is a charming unique retro coffee house, especially because of the many antique books and cool posters on the wall! Don’t miss the Robbie Rare Books section, and admire the many antiques around the café (e.g. clocks, a couch, and copper bookends)!

It’s awesome to learn about Pulp Fiction (not the movie 😉 ), which are books printed on cheap (pulp) paper starting in the early 1900s and became super popular in the 1930s and 1940s! Dogs are welcome too.

Veggie Calzone and Chai Tea Latte and some cool antique books!

Marmalade Cat Café Downtown

Address: #102 1195 Richter St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K8

Marmalade Cat Café Downtown offers healthy breakfast and lunch made from scratch and vegan and gluten free options are available. They like to display work of local artists and there’s often live music on Friday evenings!

I love the vibe and colours of this café (dark blue and yellow), what a great contrast! While there are no real cats to hang out with, they sell some cool cat-themed stuff! They have three locations in Kelowna (Downtown, Pandosy, and Okanagan College).

Veggie wrap at Marmalade Cat Café.

Pick Thai Restaurant

Address: 467 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N8

Although Pick Thai Restaurant doesn’t look super fancy from the outside, it’s very much worth it to give it a shot.

They serve authentic Thai food, like Pad Thai, Green Curry, Tom Yum soup, and bubble tea! The food and drinks are very affordable and feel free to grab a book from their small library while waiting for your food!

Veggie stir-fry with coconut rice at Pick Thai.

Ga-On Sushi Restaurant

Address: 605 K.L.O. Rd, #3B, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8E7

Ga-On Sushi Restaurant is a cute little restaurant offering a great selection of sushi, but also Udon and Yakisoba noodles, Teriyaki, Donburi, and bento boxes! The light green and light brown colours inside the restaurant create a calm vibe.

Veggie Bento box at Ga-On Sushi.

DunnEnzies Pizza Co. Downtown

Address: 1559 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A7

If you’re into pizza, music, and beer, check out DunnEnzies Pizza Co. Downtown! The cool outside street art grabbed my attention immediately!

Their New York style pizza was voted Kelowna’s Best Pizza in the Best of Kelowna Awards. They also have salads, calzones, nachos, wings, tacos, burgers, and even brunch on weekends!

They often host events, like open mic night, jam nights, trivia games, drag shows, Celtic nights, and Punk Rock Bingo! While I only saw this place from the outside this time, I can’t wait to try their food and check out an event when I’m back in Kelowna!

Where to Stay in Kelowna, BC

I stayed at Samesun Kelowna Hostel (245 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6C2), that is only a few steps from Okanagan Lake and downtown’s bars and restaurants. It has private and dorm rooms and I stayed in a 4-bed female dorm.

The room was a bit small, but had everything you need, and the beds were very comfortable.

There’s luggage storage, a spacious kitchen, TV room with a library, laundry room, back patio, and common area to use. Moreover, you can join daily activities, play pool, or get a snack from the vending machines!

While this hostel is still in the same location in August 2025, it seems like the owner has changed from Samesun Hostels to HI Hostels Canada.

How to Get to and Around Kelowna

Kelowna is next to Highway 97, which is easily accessible from Kamloops (166 km/103 miles) and Vernon (45 minutes). From Vancouver, it’s a 389 km (241 miles) drive, and from Calgary, it takes about 7 hours to get to Kelowna.

Or you can take Ebus from Kamloops (2.5 hours), Vancouver (5 hours 40 minutes), or Vernon (1 hour) to Kelowna. They stop in downtown Kelowna (516 Lawrence Ave), Kelowna International Airport, and West Kelowna.

Kelowna International Airport is about 10 minutes north from Kelowna. They offer many flights within Canada (e.g. Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton), but also from/to Seattle, Phoenix, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta.

There are local buses available in Kelowna with BC Transit. If you’re going to different areas in Kelowna, it’s useful to take the bus, as the city is quite spread out. The bus goes pretty much everywhere.

You can also rent e-scooters and through Spin. Just leave them somewhere for the next person when you’re done!

Of course, Uber and taxi services are available as well.

Conclusion: How to Spend Two Days in Kelowna

Kelowna is a great place to stop for a few days while traveling around British Columbia. Whether you like shopping, cycling, peaceful Japanese gardens, museums, or beautiful parks inside a city and stunning Okanagan Lake, Kelowna doesn’t disappoint.

Besides, it has many nice restaurants and accommodations for every taste and budget.

Traveling around British Columbia for a while? Then check out these posts:

Summer in Blue River, BC

The Best Nanaimo Travel Guide

Our Visits to Golden, BC

SUMMER IN BLUE RIVER, BC

Last updated: August 14, 2025

In my experience, many tourists prefer to visit only the hot spots of a destination. But I suggest to also check out small towns that are off the beaten path to recharge from all the hustle and bustle. Here’s a travel guide about Blue River, BC, my favourite Canadian small town!

Blue River is inside the North Thompson Valley in Interior British Columbia, surrounded by the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Its nickname is “The Jewel of the Yellowhead”.

230 year-round residents call this town home and the main industries contributing to the economy are logging and tourism. Moreover, this area is traditional territory of the Simpcw First Nations.

So here’s a guide on how to spend Summer in Blue River, BC!

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

What to See and Do in Blue River

Eleanor Lake

Blue River’s main attraction is Eleanor Lake, right in the heart of town, so it’s impossible to miss! Here you can chill at the beach (and maybe chat with a friendly local), go for a swim, canoe or kayak, or standup paddle board (SUP), or go for a walk on Eleanor Lake Trail around the lake.

There are tons of nice walking and mountain biking trails in and around Blue River, such as cross-country ski trails, only minutes away from the beach.

Eleanor Lake beach and having a blast canoeing on the lake!

Entrance to one of Blue River’s cross-country ski trails, with beautiful Saddle Mountain in the distance.

The Blue River Community Park

But wait, there’s much more to do in this area! The Blue River Community Park is right next to Eleanor Lake beach, and it has a volleyball field, sitting areas with a fire pit (great for a small get together or BBQ!), and a playground is only a few steps away, too.

Bears & Other Wildlife in Blue River

If it’s your lucky day, you might meet one (or more!) black bear(s) that live in this area. They sometimes hang out near the train tracks across the street from Eleanor Lake. One of their favourite things to do is getting high on grains falling off from trains passing through!

Even though they look cute and fluffy, please keep your distance to not startle these majestic creatures. Also, don’t forget to bring bear spray if you plan to spend time in the bush.

BC Parks has a great guide on how to behave around British Columbia’s wild animals, including bears. Other wildlife living in the Blue River region are moose, deer, eagles, cougars, and wolverines.

Mud Lake

Another popular spot in the Blue River area is Mud Lake. But don’t be fooled by its name, as the water is of a spectacular jade colour! Same as Eleanor Lake, it’s perfect for many water activities, but with less people around you.

There’s even a camp site, and if you have an ATV, it’s great fun driving up the trails close to this lake (I like Red Sands Mountain) and admire a beautiful view of Blue River and its surroundings!

Awesome times at Mud Lake 🙂

On my way up to Red Sands Mountain trail and beautiful Parberry Falls <3

Go for a Hike at Green Mile

Many people like to go hiking and mountain biking on Blue River’s trails in the summer. A great one is Green Mile, which grows to an elevation of 220 meters (721 feet). Besides, it’s within a lush inland rainforest, with tons of cedar and spruce trees around you!

Moreover, blueberries and huckleberries grow here each year, so feel free to pick some as a snack 🙂 You can find more details about these activities in Blue River here.

Murtle Lake

Murtle Lake is popular with locals and visitors alike, especially because it’s North America’s largest paddle only lake! It’s a 24 km (17 miles) drive from Blue River on a graveling backcountry road, which starts behind Blue River Campground.

After you reached the parking lot, it’s another 2.5 km (1.55 miles) walk on a wheelchair accessible trail to the lake. Murtle Lake is inside Wells Gray Provincial Park and with more than 100 km (62 miles) of shoreline, it’s the largest lake in the area.

Some people spend the night at one of the 70 wilderness campsites around the (mostly sandy) shoreline, and enjoy the starry nights. You may even see the Northern Lights! Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed at Murtle Lake.

Mystery Lake Recreation Site

Mystery Lake Recreation Site is also a great spot for adventure and tranquility seekers! Just get on to Highway #5 next to Blue River, turn left onto Blueberry Road, and drive for 10 kilometers. Make sure that your car is suitable for this (mostly) graveling road though!

Not many people know about this gorgeous spot. If you’d like to spend the night and have experience with wilderness camping, there’s a free campsite for two tents, two picnic tables, fire pit, and an outhouse toilet, all only a few feet away from the lake. There’s a boat launch as well.

For any of these outdoor activities, I highly recommend to bring bug spray, as lots of mosquitoes live in this area!

Beautiful Mystery Lake <3

Where to Stay in Blue River

Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing

Address: 1 Harrwood Drive, Blue River BC V0E 1J, Canada

Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing is perfect if you’re looking for a special getaway. There are 22 cozy chalets (cabins) inside this famous heli ski resort. The chalets range from two to six bedrooms, and all have en-suite bathrooms, a common area and kitchen.

Although the resort’s other amenities (e.g. the Main Lodge with the Powder Max Dining Room and Silver Buckle Lounge) are only open during the winter season, guests enjoy walking in and around the resort, and looking at the beautiful flowers!

This resort is right next to Eleanor Lake, and the Blue River Motel (791 Spruce St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0) and Saddle Mountain Lodge (Yellowhead S Highway 5, Blue River BC V0E 1J0) are a part of the Mike Wiegele operation, too.

The Blue River Campground & RV Park

Address: 991 Blue River West Frontage Rd, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada

The Blue River Campground & RV Park is quite a budget-friendly option, with basic tent sites and full service sites. The campground is open from May to October each year. It has 52 tent and RV campsites, and cabins.

You can also book one of their Canoe Trip Packages to Eleanor Lake, Mud Lake, or Murtle Lake (plus transportation, if needed). Outdoor equipment rentals, like canoes, stand-up paddle boards (with a cart or transportation), camping and fishing gear, and mountain bikes and cruiser bikes are available as well.

There’s also a small store, laundry facilities, showers and flush toilets, sand area for small children, badminton area, free WiFi, and a log cook shelter with a BBQ and fridge for 20 people or more to use. You can also get trail maps from the campground staff.

The Glacier Mountain Lodge

Address: 869 Shell Rd, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada

The Glacier Mountain Lodge is a lovely hotel right next to the Petro Can gas station. It is ideal if you’re looking for comfort, but don’t want to break the bank.

They offer 35 standard rooms, with one Queen (with a couch) or two Queen beds (and with a third single bed, if needed). Continental breakfast, an indoor hot tub, WiFi, free laundry service, and BBQ are available as well.

The Sandman Inn

Address: 795 Highway 5 South, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada

The Sandman Inn is right next to Highway #5 that goes through Blue River. It has one or two Queen bed rooms and your furry friends are welcome, too! Moreover, seniors get a special rate at this hotel.

The Glacier Mountain Lodge (left) and the Sandman Inn (right).

Where to Eat & Drink in Blue River

Grizzly Food Shack

Address: 869 Shell Rd, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada

If your stomach is screaming for food when you arrive in Blue River, head to Grizzly Food Shack next to the Glacier Mountain Lodge. This tiny house style place has an outside sitting area, perfect on a sunny day!

You can choose between many types of burgers, wraps, fries, hot dogs, poutine, salads, and even breakfast!

Don Forsyth Beach House

If you’re hanging out by Eleanor Lake, grab some food from Don Forsyth Beach House. Their menu consists of burgers, hot dogs, wraps, fries, pop, ice-cream, and more!

What a great way to support the local economy, plus the food is prepared by lovely volunteers of the Blue River Community Association!

The Beach House is open on weekends only until the rest of the summer.

The Don Forsyth Beach House, Veggie Burger and Beach Burger, and onion rings. So yummy :p

Saddle Mountain Restaurant

Address: 965 South Yellowhead Hwy, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0

Saddle Mountain Restaurant across from the Mike Wiegele Heli Ski resort is open daily during the summer months from 11 am to 8 pm.

Their menu includes tasty burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, homemade chips, cocktails, and milkshakes! Sitting on the outside patio and enjoying the gorgeous mountain views is just another bonus of this restaurant.

The Royal Canadian Legion & Tilted Bear Liquor

For a drink after dinner, check out the Royal Canadian Legion (817 Pine St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0), the only bar in town. Although a bit outdated, it’s a fun place to hang out, and they have some games as well (pool and darts on the wall).

It’s currently open on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 6 to 9 pm (or later, depending on business).

Or if you prefer to cook your own meals, Blue River has a small liquor and convenience store called the Tilted Bear Liquor (848 Cedar St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0). They have a limited supply of groceries (e.g. fresh produce, dairy, meat, canned food, spices, and sometimes even vegan cheese)!

There’s the Buy Low Foods grocery store in Clearwater and a smaller IGA store in Valemount (both an hour away from Blue River) as well.

How to get to Blue River

Blue River is halfway between Kamloops, BC, and Jasper, Alberta (2.5 hours each way), and is reached via Highway #5 North (Yellowhead Highway).

The closest airport is Kamloops Airport, which offers flights to Calgary and Vancouver several times a day.

Unfortunately, public transportation to this tiny remote town is very limited.

The Canadian operated by Via Rail stops here on Wednesdays and Saturdays (to Vancouver) and Tuesdays and Saturdays (to Toronto). But please keep in mind that this train is often delayed.

Conclusion: Summer in Blue River, BC

Blue River is a great spot to visit for a day or two in the summer. Nature lovers will love hiking or mountain biking on Green Mile, spending time next to its lakes, and maybe seeing some wildlife! Finally, Blue River is known for its great accommodation and restaurant options.

So I hope this post has inspired you to visit Blue River sometime! In my opinion, it’s a welcoming and tranquil place to relax and recharge from city life!

To learn more about cool places in British Columbia, check out these posts:

How to Spend a Weekend in Kelowna, BC

The Best Nanaimo Travel Guide

Our Visits to Golden, BC

“A WHALE OF A TIME” AT THE ORCAS EXHIBIT IN VICTORIA, BC

Last updated: June 19, 2023

While planning my trip to Victoria and Vancouver Island in 2021, I learnt about the cool-sounding “Orcas: Our shared future” exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. These giant marine creatures have been in my Top 5 of favourite animals for many years, so of course, I had to check it out!

After being in the making for five years, this exhibit opened in mid-April 2021 and ended on March 31, 2022. It covered 10,000 square feet, and featured 10 movie presentations and 7 interactive games for its visitors.

Poster advertising the Orcas exhibit at Victoria International Airport.

The Royal BC Museum Corporation was founded in 1886, and as per its website, is “one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures”. In a nutshell, its core galleries (Natural History, Becoming BC, Our Living Languages, and First Peoples Gallery), and temporary exhibits teach visitors about British Columbia’s natural and human history.

The IMAX Movie Theatre is in the same building, where you can watch both educational and commercial films. The Royal BC Museum stands on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum First Nations), who have lived here for many years.

Lastly, this is one of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions (860,000 visitors in the 2018/19 season), and is only steps away from the Inner Harbour and Empress Hotel in downtown.

After taking an escalator to the first floor, where the Orcas exhibit was displayed, the first thing you saw was the whale tail-shaped entrance door. What a great way to start a museum tour!

Right after entering, visitors were greeted by Ruffles, Slick, and her daughter, Scarlet, three local orcas hanging from the ceiling, who, of course, weren’t real, but 3D printed replicas. They were Southern Resident Orcas, and each replica looked exactly the same as the original. For example, Scarlet had several scratches and scars on her body, which were caused by her difficult birth, when other orcas of her clan had to pull her with their teeth out of her mother’s womb.

There was very little light in this room of the exhibit, and several screens on the left and right showed marine creatures, just swimming around and singing, and you could hear them breathe, by listening to the bubbles rising up to the “surface”. Some of them were orcas close to the replicas, so Ruffles, Slick, and Scarlet felt comfortable, and it felt like you’re right there with them in their home!

The whale tail-shaped entrance door, and the three 3D printed orca replicas, and screens on both sides. Both photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.

Then I walked to the next section of the exhibit, which showed a bunch of panels with cool information about orcas. For example. did you know that more than a dozen orca species live in all oceans, both inside the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, and they are distinguished by their behaviour, hunting styles, anatomy, and diet?

Apart from the Southern Resident Orca, who eat mostly Chinook salmon, the Bigg’s (Transient) Orca, who’s diet consists of other whales, seals, and sea lions, and the Offshore Orca, who prefer to eat sharks and other fish, call the North American west coast home.

A detailed overview of orca kinds around the world, and what’s unique about each one!

Another panel in this section taught visitors about the orca’s anatomy, and that females can weigh up to 5,000 kilograms (11,023 lbs), and can be up to 8.5 meters long (27.88 ft), and live up to 80 years in the wild! Males, on the other hand, can even weigh up to 6,000 kg (13,227 lbs), and get up to 9.5 meters (31 ft) long, but “only” live up to 60 years!

Lastly, they can stay underwater for up to 17 minutes, like to swim 55 to 60 km (34 to 37 miles) per hour(!), and can dive up to 260 meters (853 ft) deep.

Next, did you know that orca species around the world live and travel in pods (e.g. the Southern Resident Orcas are separated into J, K, and L-pods and each whale has his/her own number), and every family has its own dialect and preferred territory to swim in?

Each pod is led by the oldest female, who, with other females of the group, passes on her extensive knowledge about ocean life (like good areas to hunt, and which to avoid), including their unique dialect, down to their offspring.

In 2018, you may have seen tons of media content about a heartbreaking incident that happened to Tahlequah (J35), when her baby had died only an hour after birth. Afterwards, she kept carrying her child’s body with her on the surface for 17 days, which, in my opinion, is a proof that orcas, among other animals, can experience grief and other sad (or happy) feelings, just like us.

Panel showing a few members of the J-pod of the Southern Resident Orcas. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.

Here’s one fact that amazed me the most in this section: Orcas used to live and walk on land, before entering the water about 50 million years ago, which caused their back legs to get smaller, their tails grew long and powerful, and their nostrils turned into blowholes! The earliest known orcas (Pakicetus) had ankle bones similar to a cow’s, deer’s, or hippo’s, and the latter is the closest living relative of today’s whales.

Man, the animal world has so many surprises to show to us humans!

The next stop of this exhibit was the Indigenous Views Gallery, which told visitors about the strong significance that orcas have had for local coastal and inland tribes for many years. As per Lou-Ann Neel, Curator of Indigenous Collections of the Royal BC Museum, orcas are perceived as family, and these groups believe that orcas feel the same way, because they are so gentle and friendly to us.

They are respected like elders, and some nations are convinced that their loved ones are reincarnated as orca whales after passing away. Orcas can also transform themselves into humans and other animals, and talk to all of these beings, to share their wisdom, wealth, power, and healing.

I was very impressed by these beliefs, but also by the stunning art pieces displayed in this gallery. There were 100+ indigenous artifacts, and a lot of them were traditional work, like a large orca carving, and a button blanket with Killer Whale crest by Elizabeth Kasalas Hunt of the Kwagu??, Kwakwaka’wakw tribe, which was made before 1897, but also contemporary art.

My personal favourite was a screen print reproduction called “Killerwhales”, that was created by Don Yeomans from the Haida people in 1999, because I thought that the blue, red, white, and black colours match very well.

Last but not least, there were animations by two young Haida artists, telling stories about orcas that have been passed on to younger generations for many years!

From the top left to bottom right: “Scana with the Woman” screenprint reproduction by Freda Diesing of the Haida people (1980), Button blanket with Killer Whale crest by Elizabeth Kasalas Hunt, “Killerwhales” by Don Yeomans, and orca carving,

Now it was time to check out the Science Section of the exhibit, that had a bunch of great information about orcas as well. One of the best parts, in my opinion, was a real skeleton of Rhapsody, another local Southern Resident orca, that hung down from the ceiling! Sadly, Rhapsody was pregnant when she died in 2014, and her calf’s bones were displayed underneath her skeleton.

Next, you could look at (and touch!) a silicone replica of an orca brain next to a human’s brain, it’s amazing that the orca one is almost 4 times bigger than the human’s (5 kg vs. 1.3 kg/11 lbs vs. 2.8 lbs)!

There was no way to miss the scientific equipment from various decades, that’s been used to support orca research in BC and around the world, like drones, hydrophones, a tape recorder, and a digital acoustic recording tag. The latter is needed to find out the speed and orientation of whales while they swim, both during the day and at night!

Last but not least, I learnt that orcas can hear frequencies of 0.5 Hz to more than 120,000 Hz (in comparison, a human can hear frequencies of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), and use echolocation (i.e. reflected sounds), to find and hunt their prey.

From the top left to bottom right: silicone replica of an orca brain vs. a human’s, scientific equipment to research orcas whales’ behaviour, partial panel about orcas finding their prey through echolocation, and Rhapsody’s skeleton.

Next, let’s look at a dark era of orca history, which was caused by human beings. I’m talking about Orca Captivity, that first started close to Saturna Island in BC in 1964, when Moby Doll was captured and later taken to the Vancouver Aquarium.

Before that, humans never got this close to an orca, and marine scientists were able to study them close-up for the first time. For many years, orcas were seen as “killer whales” in Western culture, and many people were scared of them, but then, they learnt what Indigenous cultures had known for a long time: Orcas are intelligent and friendly creatures towards us humans, so they fell in love with them.

Soon after, more orcas and other marine creatures were captured, and marine theme parks and aquariums featuring them opened their doors, like SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, and Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain. These marine theme parks were incredibly popular in earlier decades, and the exhibit displayed some original material, like a trainer’s wetsuit, and tons of rare footage. Some of it hadn’t been shown to the public in 40 years!

Moreover, there was no way to miss the Wall of Commercial Photographs, which were supposed to promote a fun time for the entire family, and the small movie theatres in the exhibit showed rare film footage, too.

But with time, it became obvious that taking orcas away from their families (often at a young age), and forcing them to perform and spend the rest of their lives in a tiny pool terribly affects their mental and physical health. In the wild, orca families stay together for their entire life, and if there are conflicts with other pods, they can get away from each other, but this is not possible in captivity.

Another sign of stress and mental trauma is a floppy dorsal fin, which commonly happens to orcas in captivity, but only to 1% of them living in the wild. Nowadays, life captures of orca whales are banned in BC, but they are still captured and bred in marine theme parks in other parts of the world.

After taking in this sad (but I think, important to know) information, I moved on to the next section, Orcas in Popular Culture. In the past, several orcas gained fame while participating in popular movies, like Namu, the Killer Whale (1966) and Free Willy (1993), and this section featured the original movie posters, and a detailed biography of each famous orca.

I’ve loved Free Willy since I was a kid, and Keiko, the whale who played Willy, was the first orca being released back to the wild in 1998, after children around the world had raised money to make this possible. Of course, it’s devastating that Keiko wasn’t able to survive on his own for long, and passed away because of pneumonia in 2003.

Partial area of the Orcas in Captivity and Orcas in Popular Culture sections. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.

Original movie poster of Free Willy and Keiko’s detailed biography.

Thankfully, the popularity of marine theme parks has decreased drastically in recent years. One reason for this is the documentary Blackfish, published in 2013, which shows how much orcas suffer in captivity, and how this affects their mental and physical health, and other beings around them. The “main character” of this movie is Tilikum (1981-2017), an orca who lived in captivity for many years, and killed several of his trainers. The original movie poster of this movie was displayed in this section as well.

With time, several orca rights organizations were founded, such as the Free Morgan Foundation, who fights for Morgan, a malnourished orca whale who was rescued off the coast of the Netherlands in 2010, but once she was cured, was taken to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, instead of being returned to the wild.

In 2018, Morgan gave birth to a calf, Ula, from whom she was separated right after, and last year, Ula died, at only 3 years old. Until today, Morgan still lives at Loro Parque, so hopefully, she’ll be freed someday!

According to Dr. Lorne Hammond, Curator of History at the Royal BC Museum, children who visited marine theme parks often become teenage activists, who fight for orca rights. My family and I visited SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, in 1993, but after my mother learnt about these horrible conditions, we never went to one of these places again.

I only became an animal (including orcas) activist in my early Twenties, though! 😉

Collaterals from the Free Morgan Foundation and buttons that support orca rights.

A much more ethical way to get close to orcas is Whale Watching. There are several whale watching companies in Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island, and many people like to support them, especially national and international visitors.

Of course, it’s not guaranteed to see orcas and other marine creatures (like in an aquarium), but I think it’s worth it, to see them happily swimming around their natural environment, and either way, it’s always exciting to be out on a boat!

If you’re out with a tour group, the tour leader tries his/her best to make the whales feel comfortable while they’re being looked at. For example, he/she would turn off the boat’s motor, or it’s switched for a quieter electrical motor, and the boat is within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the whales.

The Signal Flag, introduced by the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association.

Although capturing orcas to perform is much less popular nowadays, there are still other man-made threats that orcas and their fellow sea dwellers have to deal with. Orcas are apex predators, so same as humans, they don’t have any natural enemies.

Some major threats are starvation, often because of overfishing, air and noise pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and (plastic) trash found in the oceans.

Remember Scarlet, one of the 3D printed orca replicas who greeted us in the beginning of our tour? Unfortunately, she’s not with us anymore, as she passed away from malnutrition in 2018, at only 4 years old. Moreover, her clan, the Southern Resident Orcas, are endangered because of these issues.

So this section wants to show visitors how some of our behaviour influences the lives of orcas, either directly or indirectly, and us as well in the future, because everything is connected.

There was the Ocean Health interactive table, on which you could move pieces around, to learn how our habits affect the health of the oceans and orcas. What a cool way to learn about these issues, for both kids and adults!

One of the Royal BC Museum’s slogan was “Orcas need clean, quiet oceans, and pollution-free food. What about you?”, and I think that’s all that needs to be said to motivate humans to think about how we can improve, so hopefully, we can all live together in peace someday!

The Ocean Health interactive table, and a display of trash found in the ocean in the background. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.

This was the end of the Orcas exhibit, and wow, I’m amazed by all the great things I learnt about these magnificent marine mammals!

The Royal BC Museum is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm, and tickets are valid all day, for all exhibits, so it’s a great way to spend a cold or rainy day in Victoria! I recommend to arrive fairly early, so you’re in no rush to explore the museum. Visitors are strongly encouraged to buy tickets through the museum’s website here. You can also buy combination tickets to visit both the museum and the IMAX theatre!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Royal BC Museum

675 Belleville Street

Victoria BC

V8W 9W2

Telephone: +1 250-356-7226

Email: reception@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

MUSEUM ADMISSION PRICES

Adult (19+) $29.95

Senior (65+) $19.95

Youth (6-18) $16.95

Student (19+ w/ ID) $19.95

Child (3-5) Free

What I really liked about this exhibit is that it was fully accessible to everyone. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, elevators are provided, and several benches are available if you’d like to take a break.

But wait, of course, no museum visit is complete without checking out the gift shop, lol! It’s on the ground floor of the Royal BC Museum, and upon entering, a bunch of cool orca souvenirs (e.g. t-shirts, books, stuffed animals, and chocolate) grabbed my attention.

But if you keep on walking around the store, there are even more nice things, like gifts made or designed by local indigenous people, games, jewelry, puzzles, and other items related to exhibits at the Royal BC Museum.

Awesome orca souvenir selection at the Royal BC Museum’s gift shop, and really yummy orca chocolate 😛

Thank you for checking out my blog today 🙂 Cheers!

THE BEST NANAIMO TRAVEL GUIDE

Last updated: July 3, 2025

Nanaimo, also called “The Harbour City”, is on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. It’s the second largest city on the island and is next to the Strait of Georgia inside the Salish Sea.

While less popular with tourists than other places on Vancouver Island, you shouldn’t miss Nanaimo. It’s known for stunning areas of unspoiled nature, awesome shopping opportunities, artist vibes, and a growing culinary scene!

I visited Nanaimo in July 2021 and June 2025 and I’m stoked to share the Best Nanaimo Travel Guide with you!

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The Best Things to See and Do in Nanaimo

Check Out Street Art in Downtown

Downtown Nanaimo alone has many cool things to see and do, so I recommend you start your tour here. While walking around, you cannot miss some awesome street art murals that are scattered around the neighbourhood.

I loved the variety of colours, painting styles, and themes, which I think puts locals and visitors alike in a good mood. You can also walk on rainbow-coloured crosswalks on Bastion & Commercial Street!

Street art murals and rainbow crosswalk in Nanaimo’s downtown district. Photo #2 is credit of Tourism Nanaimo.

Browse around Cool Shops & Boutiques in Downtown Nanaimo

If you’re on a hunt for hidden gems, Nanaimo’s downtown area has many locally owned stores to offer.

For example, Sound Heritage (33 Victoria Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B9) has Nanaimo’s largest selection of used and new CD’s, vinyl, tapes, video games, electronics (like stereos, speakers, and record players), and more!

Literacy Central Vancouver Island (Well Read Books) (19 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G3) sells all kinds of books that were donated by the local community.

Flying Fish (180 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G6) has many stylish kitchen and cooking accessories, jewelry, body products, furniture, and other home décor.

Sound Heritage store (Photo credit: Sound Heritage) and a cool souvenir I found at Flying Fish!

Another cool store in downtown Nanaimo is NoiseAgonyMayhem (183 Commercial Street,  Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G6). If you’re into Punk or Metal music, this is the place to go! Here you’ll find records, books, patches, buttons, stickers, and much more! They also have their own band and record label.

Downtown Nanaimo has trendy fashion boutiques as well, such as Lucid, Guava Apparel, and Cayo Fashions (all on Commercial St).

If you’re in Nanaimo on a Thursday evening, check out the Commercial Street Night Market! From mid-June til late August from 5 to 9 pm, you’ll find street vendors, food trucks, and live music in this area. Some of the regular stores and restaurants are open longer as well.

Kitties & Cream

Address: 437 Fitzwilliam St #101, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A9

After all this shopping, let’s walk to Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter district. Here you’ll find Kitties & Cream, Vancouver Island’s first and only Cat lounge.

Their goal is to find loving homes for homeless cats on Vancouver Island. Since February 2022, more than 600 cats were adopted!

When I visited, four friendly cats (three of them kittens) lived in a small room. Please note that they moved to this location not long ago, so they are still working on the permanent cat lounge. Still, the small room was more than enough to have an awesome time!

Besides, there’s a large retail area with tons of locally made kitty merch, like key rings, stickers, buttons, and more! Visitors can also buy scratch posts, toys, or treats for their cat(s) or the cat lover in their life here!

Kitties & Cream is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Historic Bastion

Address: 98 Front St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7, Canada

Next, stop at Nanaimo’s historic Bastion. It’s a three-floor blockhouse built from 1853 to 1854 by the Hudson Bay Company to defend its coal mining operations.

It’s the oldest building in Nanaimo. During the Summer 2025 season, the Bastion is open from June 28 to September 1 on weekends and stat holidays only. Group tours can be booked as well.

The Nanaimo Bastion. Photo credit: Shannon LaBelle on Wikimedia Commons.

The Harbourfront Walkway

Afterwards, go for a stroll on Harbourfront Walkway. It’s a fully accessible 4.5 km (2.7 miles) long path which snakes along downtown waterfront and Newcastle Channel.

Breathing in the salty ocean air and watching the boats and seaplanes in the harbour marina made me feel so calm and relaxed!

One of the best locations to take photos of the Salish Sea is the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Walking/Fishing Pier. This is also popular a popular crab fishing spot.

Maffeo Sutton Park

Address: 100 Comox Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3H7, Canada

If you keep walking, you’ll get to Maffeo Sutton Park that overlooks Nanaimo Harbour. It’s a great place for picnics and community events. There’s also a swimming area, playground, walking trails, and the Nanaimo sign!

Harbourfront Walkway continues almost all the way to the BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal.

Bowen Park

Address: 500 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC V9R 1Z7, Canada

If you want to keep exploring, Bowen Park, one of Nanaimo’s 200+ parks, should be on your list. It’s a 36-hectare natural area and is only 10 minutes from downtown by local bus. Its many interpretive trails are all close to Millstone River inside the park.

Be sure to check out the scenic waterfall and duck ponds and just enjoy the earthy scent. All of these will surely make you forget that you’re in a city!

Bowen Park has plenty of amenities as well, such as an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, disc golf course, picnic shelters, and amphitheatre. Dogs are welcome, too, but have to be on a leash at all times.

Visit Gabriola Island

Gabriola Island, one of the Gulf islands inside the Strait of Georgia, has a year-round population of 4,500 people. It’s just a 20-minute ferry ride from the Nanaimo Harbour ferry terminal in downtown.

Gabriola Island is also called “The Isle of the Arts” because many artists live here and it has more than 70 artist studios open to visitors.

Many visitors like to relax or swim at one of the beaches inside Gabriola Sands Provincial Park close to the ferry terminal. It’s also possible to have picnics here, walk inside the mud flats at low tide, and catch crab.

Besides, you can shop at the local stores, check out a festival, or have a bite at a restaurant. Gabriola is an Outdoor Person’s paradise, with more than 170 kilometers (105 miles) of hiking trails.

Gabriola is also famous for the stunning Malaspina Galleries. This is a four meter (13 ft) high limestone gallery in the shape of a wave. It’s been around for thousands of years and the local indigenous people used this spots for burial rites.

Other Things to See and Do In and Around Nanaimo

Here are a few more attractions in and close to Nanaimo that sound pretty awesome:

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park (Saysutshun)

Saysutshun Island is traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nations, same as the rest of the Nanaimo area. They lived on Saysutshun throughout the late winter and early spring every year to catch as many herring as possible.

After someone of the community died, people close to them came here to spiritually cleanse their body and soul from the suffering, and letting go of their tears.

Nowadays, attractions include interpretive tours of the island, visiting Snuneymuxw village sites, hiking on trails, eating at Q’uluc’tun Bistro, and admiring the view of the Coastal Mountains.

Saysutshun is only accessible by passenger ferry from the Maffeo Sutton Park dock between June 13 and September 2, 2025 (about 10 minutes, 7 days a week). Afterwards, the ferry will run on a low season schedule and you can also get there by private boat, stand-up paddleboard, or kayak.

Whale Watching with Vancouver Island Whale Watch

Address: #5, 90 Front St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7

Vancouver Island Whale Watch is Nanaimo’s only whale watching company and they offer whale watching tours from three to five hours inside the Salish Sea.

It’s either on an open zodiac vessel or a semi-covered boat and they also offer private tours. There’s a 90% chance to see wildlife on their tours, like Transient (Bigg’s) orca, humpback whales, sea lions, harbour seals, porpoises, and eagles.

Their goal is “to offer BC’s most sustainable whale watching”, as per their website, so their tours don’t focus on the endangered Southern Resident orca whales.

Mighty Orca whales. Photo by Bart on Unsplash.

Where to Eat & Drink in Nanaimo

Like other bigger cities in Canada, Nanaimo offers a large selection of cuisines from around the world.

Here are a few restaurants I recommend you check out in Nanaimo:

Sukkho Thai restaurant

Address: 123 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G5

Sukkho is a popular restaurant for Thai food in Nanaimo’s downtown district! Their menu features many classic Thai dishes, from noodles, soups, salads, to rice and curry dishes.

I tried their Massaman Curry with tofu and Thai Ice Tea, which were super yummy!

New York Style Pizza & Pasta (Downtown)

Address: 299 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B4

New York Style Pizza & Pasta (Downtown) is one of Nanaimo’s oldest restaurants. In 2009, their pizza was proclaimed the best in the city! Their menu features many pizza and pasta dishes, but also salads, like the Manhattan Salad.

I grabbed their Mushroom Fettuccine for takeout. The sauce was super creamy and the meal size was perfect!

As per Google, this restaurant is temporarily closed (July 2025). Hopefully they’ll reopen soon!

Columbia Bakery

Address: 2151 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H8

If you feel like lunch (or satisfying your sweet tooth), stop at Columbia Bakery. They offer many European pastries (e.g. apple strudels and “Bienenstichkuchen” (bee sting cake)), but also savory sandwiches, breads, soups, and pretzels.

I had their German cheesecake while sitting in the cute café area. The rich filling was to die for, very similar to my German Oma’s (grandma) cheesecake! Besides, you can find a small selection of imported groceries, like pancake mix, candy, and prepared cooking sauces.

The Nanaimo Bar Trail

While visiting Nanaimo, trying the famous Nanaimo Bar, that was invented here, is a must! Feel free to grab the Nanaimo Bar Trail Brochure at the Visitor Centre (101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo BC, V9R 5J8) to learn where you can enjoy this tasty dessert.

There are tons of places all over and close to Nanaimo selling the classic Nanaimo Bar and many variations, such as raw, vegan, gluten-free, deep-fried, fudge, ice-cream, and even spring rolls!

I had my Nanaimo Bar fix at Waffle Magic (101-427 Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A9), which has a Nanaimo Bar waffle. It’s a perfect combination of hot and cold ingredients! They also have many other kinds of sweet and a few savory waffles, either Brussels (light and crispy) or Liege style (soft and sweet).

Where to Stay in Nanaimo

I stayed at the HI Nanaimo – Painted Turtle Guesthouse (121 Bastion St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A2), a cozy, clean and affordable hostel in a heritage building in downtown. It’s only a few steps to most tourist attractions and is open year-round.

I booked a private room in 2021 and stayed in a female dorm in 2025. The rooms were quite bright and spacious. They have family rooms as well and the older guy at the reception was super nice and funny!

The hostel also has a kitchen, small library, lounge area, laundry facilities, and towels are included.

How to Get To and Around Nanaimo

Nanaimo has a good local bus system (BC Transit) and buses go pretty much everywhere. Fares start at C$ 2.75 for a one-way ticket.

It’s easy to get to Nanaimo Airport from Kelowna, Vancouver, Toronto (seasonal), and Calgary. Several seaplane airlines (e.g. Harbour Air) and HeliJet Helicopters fly from Vancouver Harbour and Richmond (YVR Airport South) to Nanaimo as well.

Moreover, Nanaimo has two ferry terminals (Departure Bay and Duke Point) and ferries go to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen) many times a day. Ferry service is provided by BC Ferries.

Photo credit: Raymond Wong on Unsplash.

There’s also ferry service from/to Nanaimo’s Port Authority (100 Port Way, Nanaimo BC V9R 0C7) to the Harbour Flight Centre in Downtown Vancouver called Hullo.

IslandLink bus goes from/to Nanaimo every day from many locations (e.g. Victoria, Tofino, and Campbell River). Ticket prices are reasonable and the buses are safe and clean.

Of course, Nanaimo is easily accessible by car, too, via Highways 1, 19, and 19A.

In general, Nanaimo is very walkable. It’s also one of Vancouver Island’s most popular mountain biking spots. It has more than 50 km (31 miles) of trails for all skill levels to ride on and enjoy the scenery!

Conclusion

Nanaimo is a rather underrated city to visit on Vancouver Island, but shouldn’t be missed on your trip! Whether you like being close to the water, outdoorsy activities, great local restaurants and shops, or history, Nanaimo has it all.

While visiting Nanaimo is most popular in the summer, its mild climate also invites travelers to check it out during the rest of the year, when it’s less busy.

So hopefully this post will inspire you to visit Nanaimo someday!

Feel free to check out my posts about other cool places in British Columbia as well:

How to Spend a Weekend in Kelowna, BC

Summer in Blue River, BC

OUR VISITS TO GOLDEN, BC

Last updated: September 21, 2023

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.

It’s June 2014, and we have a few days off, so we go on a short road trip, with no destination in mind. From Calgary, we head west on Highway #1 (Trans Canada Highway), that leads us through a very small part of the Rocky Mountains, then into British Columbia.

After a while, we’re thankful to see Golden appearing on the horizon. After driving around this town for a bit, we decide to spend the night.

Golden is inside the Columbia Valley in southeastern BC. It’s surrounded by the Rocky and Purcell Mountains, and is close to six national parks (Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Jasper National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park).

Besides, two rivers are located in Golden, the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River. Many tourists travel on the Trans Canada Highway every year, so Golden is a popular stop. That’s why the local economy is highly dependent on tourism.

We really want to go camping this summer, so we’re staying at the Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park (1411 9th Street S, Golden, BC V0A 1H0). It has 70 campsites (both serviced and unserviced tent sites, and rates start at C$ 35 per night. We’re lucky to find a spot right next to the Kicking Horse River, and are amazed by its turquoise colour.

This campground is perfect for us, as it’s clean and well maintained, and offers a bunch of amenities, like a convenience store, laundromat, free WiFi, showers, and a firepit at each site (fire wood can be bought at C$ 12 per bundle).

Besides, it’s only minutes away from downtown Golden, an outdoor swimming pool, playground, as well as the Golden Rotary Trails, which start at the back of the campground, and are popular with hikers and cyclists.

The first thing I do after arrival is going for a walk on the pretty path by the river, to recharge from the drive!

Several trains go by on the opposite side of the river quite often, so that’s fun to watch, too. Tonight we cook our own dinner, instead of eating at a restaurant, but plan to do that next time.

If you’re sensitive to train noise at night, you might want to book a campsite further away from the river and/or bring earplugs.

The pathway next to the mighty Kicking Horse River and our tent site.

The next day we don’t do much, except for driving around Golden a bit more, then head back home. Still, this town left a great first impression on us, so we can’t wait to see more of it in the future!

In October 2016, we travel around Alberta and BC again, and my companions want to see Golden. How exciting! Of course, the weather is a lot chillier now, so this time, we stay at Le Beausoleil Bed and Breakfast (1403 Deer Ridge Road, Golden BC V0A 1H1) for a few nights. It’s within a peaceful residential area, but just a short drive from the city centre and other attractions.

Heather and Bob Munro, the kind owners and our hosts, meet us at check-in, and the warm and friendly atmosphere makes us feel right at home. We also love that natural wood and stones were used to build this place, as it makes it even cozier than it already is.

Guests can choose between four large bedrooms, and there are private bathrooms, a guest lounge with TV and library, free WiFi, a ski and sport locker for storing equipment, an outdoor hot tub, and a beautiful garden area with a patio, deck, and walking path.

Le Beausoleil B&B from the outside, Purcell Room, and guest lounge. Photo 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.

A selection of tasty homemade breakfast food (bread, bagels, muffins, jam, waffles, etc.) is waiting for us each morning inside the two guest service areas. No single use dishes and cutlery are used, so that’s another bonus!

Since this residence is on a hill, it offers a great view of the Purcell Mountains and the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and sometimes, local wildlife (e.g. eagles, bears, mountain sheep, deer, and coyotes) likes to hang out nearby, depending on the season.

Garden area, mountain sheep enjoying the nice weather, and a view of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in winter, from the back of the facility. Photos 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.

Unfortunately, as of June 2023, the lovely Le Beausoleil B&B is closed.

It’s a beautiful fall day, so we’re heading out to explore some of Golden’s downtown area right after. I’m excited to introduce my companions to the Kicking Horse River, which hasn’t changed at all since our last visit, and they love it just as much!

So we go on a long walk on the path next to the river and back, and walk across the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge (8th Avenue N, Golden BC). It’s 46 meters (150 ft) long, and was completed in 2001. As per Tourism Golden, it is “the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada”.

The Kicking Horse River and Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge.

We keep strolling around downtown Golden for a bit, when suddenly, a bright yellow and red coloured building grabs our attention: The Bacchus Bookstore & Café (409 9 Avenue N, Golden, BC V0A 1H0).

This quirky independent business has been at its current location for about 20 years, and is co-owned by Katie Mitzel and Petra Musick, who have many years of experience in professional cooking and catering.

Bacchus Bookstore & Café from the outside, partial sitting and books area, and some gift items. All are photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.

The building has two floors, where new and used books of numerous fiction and non-fiction genres, but also journals, maps, and cards can be found!

Start saving your ideas

They also have many handmade gift items, like jewelry, bags, t-shirts, mugs, paintings by local artists on the walls, and even chocolate from Mexico for sale! But now it’s “refueling time”, so we walk up the creaky stairs, where their café area is located.

Bacchus Bookstore & Café offers a variety of homemade sweet and savory foods for breakfast and lunch (e.g. muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, sandwiches, soups, and Buddha bowls), and is eager to use as many local ingredients as possible.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, too. For drinks, you can choose from coffee (by The Banff Roasting Company) and tea specialties (by The Banff Tea Company), smoothies, and other cold drinks.

My companions are in the mood for a café latte, and I’m having a berry smoothie, and all are super tasty! We’re happy to relax and enjoy our drinks while sitting at one of the tables, which gives this place a very cozy and “no rush” vibe.

“Coarse Salt and Caramel Cinnamon Rolls” and “Mama’s Turkey Soup and Garlic Bread”, both photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.

It’s too bad that it’s cold outside, so we cannot spend time in their outside sitting area, but it’s only open during summer months anyway.

Bacchus Bookstore & Café is open Monday-Saturday from 9-5 pm and 10-4 pm on Sundays.

Later that day, we have burgers for dinner at a restaurant in downtown Golden. We much appreciate the tasty food and friendly service, but unfortunately don’t remember the restaurant’s name. 🙁

In general, Golden offers a variety of cuisines for restaurants, such as North American, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian, as well as pubs and bars, cafés, and fast food places (e.g. Mc Donald’s, A&W, and Subway).

Many among these have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and welcome families with children. More details can be found on TripAdvisor or Tourism Golden’s website.

Although we only saw a very small part of Golden, we had a blast, and can’t wait to come back! This gorgeous little mountain town is a wonderland for adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, no matter what time of the year you visit.

So here are a few ideas for spring, summer, and fall, which sound like lots of fun:

Golden offers numerous water and land activities to locals and tourists. For example, there’s kayaking and canoeing on the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River, and on lakes in the nearby backcountry, like Emerald Lake inside Yoho National Park. These bodies of water, same as Blaeberry River, Kinbasket Lake, and Cedar Lake, are great for stand up paddle boarding as well.

Nearby national parks (Yoho, Glacier, and Kootenay National Park) look like a Hiker’s paradise for all abilities. The Kicking Horse Bike Park (accessible by gondola from late June to early October) and Mount 7 are mountain biking hotspots, especially if you’re into downhill riding!

Golden is famous for (whitewater) rafting as well, on the Kicking Horse River, Columbia River, and Blaeberry River. Yoho National Park and the Northwest Ridge of Mt. Sir McDonald, 80 west of Golden, “one of the three classic 50 climbs in North America”, according to Tourism Golden, are great spots for climbing and mountaineering.

Of course, there are a lot more things to do, like sightseeing, fishing, waterfall viewing, horseback riding, golfing, skydiving, and last but not least, lots of shopping opportunities (like the Golden Farmers’ Market from late May to early October)!

If you’re into indoor climbing and bouldering, check out the Dogtooth Climbing Gym and Gear Store, which is open all year, and all ages and abilities are welcome. Depending on the activity, tour packages, rentals or lessons can also be booked with local operators all year.

The Golden Visitor Centre (1000 Trans Canada Highway, Golden, BC V0A 1H1) is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm until September.

The staff is happy to give you Golden travel guides and maps, and hiking and biking trail maps, if you wish. The visitor center has free WIFI, picnic tables, a dog run, sani dump stations, charging stations for electric cars, and you can buy Parks Canada passes and Kicking Horse Resort passes.

Here’s a video about fun summer activities in and around Golden:

Golden BC - Seek And You Will Find

If you’re driving, Golden is about 3 hours west of Calgary, and 7.5 hours east of Vancouver. The Rider Express bus offers transportation from/to Vancouver (11 hours) and and Calgary (4 hours) as well.

The closest airport is Cranbrook Rockies International Airport (YXC), and flights from/to Calgary are available.

For visiting Yoho and other nearby national parks, it’s recommended to buy a Discovery Pass, which allows unlimited entry to all national parks of Canada for one year. Please see Parks Canada’s website for more information.

So whether you’re into spending time outdoors and being adventurous, or looking for a relaxing getaway, I suggest visiting his cute little mountain town in the future!

Please feel free to check out my other posts about destinations in BC as well:

How to Spend a Weekend in Kelowna, BC

Summer in Blue River, BC

The Best Nanaimo Travel Guide

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