Victoria, British Columbia is the provincial capital of Vancouver Island, the largest North American island in the Pacific Ocean. Victoria is located on Vancouver Island’s southern tip. We are staying in Oak Bay across Beach Drive from the Juan de Fuca Strait, the Salish Sea’s outlet to the Pacific Ocean which lies on the western edge of the island. Oak Bay is the easternmost neighborhood of Victoria and is on the very southeastern tip of Vancouver Island.
From this vantage point, we have been able to really appreciate the active-ness of the residents, as we watch (or join them) as they walk, run, or exercise dogs on the many sea/harbor pedestrian paths across Victoria.
Some highlights from our walking path explorations–
Looking back towards downtown, across the Inner Harbor, while crossing the Johnson Bridge to walk the West Song Way pathArt sculpture made from sea debris along the West Song Way pathA very nice way to be reminded to pick up after your petA boardwalk portion of the pathA sign identifying the Esquimalt neighborhood as you walk towards the West HarborBoats in the Oak Bay Harbor across from where we are stayingA seal swimming in the Oak Bay HarborBoats moored in Cadboro Bay just north of Oak BayBoats at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Cadboro BayA walkway and retail/residential area off of the Galloping Goose TrailThe Galloping Goose Trail where it crosses the Upper Harbor near the Isle of the Dead, a small island where First Nation tribes buried their dead prior to 1867
Along with checking out the great hiking paths, we have also explored neighborhoods across the island and some of Victoria’s other attractions. St. Ann’s Academy — once served as major center for the Sisters of St. Ann, a Roman Catholic nursing and teaching order
Craigdarroch Castle, built for Robert Dunsmuir a coal magnate, who died before the castle was completedView of downtown from atop the Chateau VictoriaSculpture in atrium outside of public library downtownArmory buildingOne entrance to Victoria’s ChinatownChinese Public School in ChinatownVictoria Public Market which houses retail, restaurants, a bakery, and an organic groceryGovernment House — the ceremonial home of all BC residents and the estate of the Lt Governor View of the neighborhoods and bay from the garden lookout at Government HouseView of some of the gardens and the back of Government House
Peckish Travels 