Downtown Victoria - where cosmopolitan meets colonial
If it's Old English charm you're after, then you've come to the right place. Downtown Victoria is the buzzy heart of the capital of BC. Despite its colonial facade, this place is young at heart, with hip districts like Lo-Jo - Lower Johnson Street. Start your Canadian adventure by booking Downtown Victoria vacation rental close to all the action. Perched at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, its scenic waterfront position means it's a great base for hiking, sailing, and whale watching. But don't miss a traditional high tea, a nod to its former British Empire days.
From historic houses to high tea, Victoria ticks all the boxes
For a small city, Victoria is crammed with cool attractions. Book a Downtown Victoria vacation rental and have the best of the city on your doorstep. For those with a botanical bent, Butchart Gardens is a must-see, as it's one of the world's finest show gardens. You can't miss the gargoyles and turrets of Craigdarroch Castle, an ornate Scottish Baronial mansion-turned-museum which looks like a backdrop to a horror film. If that's too scary for little ones, take them to the National Toy Museum of Canada, or the Royal British Columbia Museum, to learn about Canada's natural history.
Year-round sunshine? Canada has it!
One of the biggest draws to Victoria is its appealing weather. Long, warm summers are followed by a colorful fall, and a mild winter, where temperatures rarely drop below freezing. The city enjoys year-round sunshine. What's not to like? Peak season is the summer months, June through early September, when Downtown Victoria vacation rentals tend to get booked up months in advance. Thanks to the temperate conditions, it's known as the Garden City, thanks to its warm, sub-Mediterranean climate, so don't forget your sunscreen.
BC in Bloom - Victoria's natural attraction
Perched on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria has some of best views in the province. It's renowned for whale-watching, where orca, minke, and humpback whales pass through the waters. Boasting the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria's many parks and gardens are in bloom all year round. One of the city's favorite hikes is up Beacon Hill Park, which has magnificent views of the Strait of Georgia and the jagged peaks of Washington's Olympic Mountains. To escape the city, head out of downtown to Mount Douglas Park, which has many hiking trails leading down to the beach.