If you are planning a vacation or trip to Victoria BC, the Gulf Islands BC or to somewhere else on Vancouver Island BC, then this page will help you find just about everything you will need. All of the underlined links on this page will open a new browser window, so to get back here close the new windows or hit the back button. Stick with this page as it links to all you will need. For your enjoyment, make sure you read the whole page and visit lots of the links-its all here!

The majority of visitors to Vancouver Island come to Victoria. Our Victoria page has links to all types of accommodations and many other services, information and activities. The City of Victoria is one of 13 municipalities that make up great Victoria. Greater Victoria has a population of approximately 350,000. Most of the activities and attractions in Victoria are centred around the Inner Harbour. The Inner Harbour is a must see. It is busy with Ferry, Airplane, Shuttles, whale watching boats, tours and much more. The Habour is surrounded by accommodations, restaurants, other attractions, and incredible shopping. Check out other services in Victoria.

There are some attractions that you must not miss. We have world-class attractions that are really worth checking out: Butchart Gardens, the Provincial Museum and Imax Theatre, Whale Watching, the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre and Victoria's world-Class environmental ambiance (the view!) Be sure to take a tour of the city on foot, by boat, or on one of the open air double decker buses. And don't forget, there are several fun activities you can do in Victoria for free.

You might choose to visit one of our two castles - Craigdarroch Castle or Hatley Castle. There is an excellent mountain bike park just north of Victoria. The Galloping Goose Trail and Lochside Trail provide miles of hiking, biking and walking trails. They go from Sooke to the BC Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay. Garden lovers might like to see Abkhazi Garden and many others throughout Victoria.
History buffs might enjoy Fort Rodd Hill a national historic site which borders Esquimalt Lagoon.


When you get hungry, check out our restaurant directory. Copy the page and bring it with you when you come.

If you are into shopping there is great shopping along Government Street and on the side streets surrounding it. Check out Chinatown, Market Square, Fan Tan Alley and Trounce Alley or our own West Coast Store
Be sure to take home a piece of Victoria, Vancouver Island or British Columbia which you can purchase at any one of these
sources. Check out the seasonal Christmas Craft Fairs and Teas.

Welcome to Victoria Island. There are so many people looking for Victoria Island, that we have tried to accommodate you. This is a common error. Victoria is on an Island, but that Island is called Vancouver Island. Victoria is the Capital City of British Columbia. If you want to call it Victoria Island, no problem, just come for a visit.

We are not a booking service, If you're looking for a place to stay or another service, here's is how we suggest you find what you need. Select several email links to services that you're interested in, write a list of your needs/requirements in a message, paste it into the emails, and send them. Most of these businesses should get back to you in a day or so. This is a fast and easy way to find out if they can help you. If you still have questions that you cannot find the answer to, please send us an email. We are a small home-based business and cannot afford to return long distance calls around the world.

We do not have or distribute free printed information. Send a request to this address if you want want printed information on Victoria. However, if you're interested in purchasing an awesome travel guide with the inside scoop on Victoria for a very reasonable price (available in both printed and electronic versions) check out our BEST KEPT SECRETS OF VICTORIA! The electronic version (PDF) has hundreds of links to almost everything mentioned and in addition there are 27 videos (and counting) highlighting some very special places

Below is a description of Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. If you really want to enjoy Vancouver Island, be sure to check out the links to the Gulf Islands and on the Vancouver Island page, you can find a list of Vancouver Island Communities. Each has its own home page. There is so much to see and do on Vancouver Island. You will be amazed.

Victoria BC is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Victoria is a 1 hour and 40 minute ferry ride west of Vancouver BC. Victoria BC is a metropolitan area consisting of the City of Victoria and 12 other municipalities. The core municipalities include Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt. Sidney by the Sea is 25 minutes north of Victoria, along with the municipalities of North Saanich and Central Saanich. To the West of Victoria BC is the City of Colwood, Langford, the Highlands and Metchosin (called The West Shore locally). Sooke is located 45 minutes West of Victoria. Victoria Island is a name made up by visitors.  It is a common mistake.  Victoria is the capital of BC and it is on Vancouver Island.

VICTORIA British Columbia Canada is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and was voted #1 in environmental ambiance by Con de Naste travel magazine. When you travel to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler BC, be sure to take a trip to Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island, you will be very glad you did.

Some of the top activities and attractions in Victoria BC British Columbia are Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Victoria Museum and IMAX theatre, whale watching and the spectacular scenery. Within minutes of downtown Victoria British Columbia you can be alone in the wilderness or on the rugged coastline west of Victoria. The Galloping Goose Trail is one of our world class tourist attractions. Whether you fish, hunt, hike, bike, golf, site see, scuba dive or sail, every outdoor activity awaits your pleasure on this special island we call home. Visit Victoria BC and Vancouver Island British Columbia often there is just so much to see and do. Be sure to include the Gulf Islands in your plans.

Does it rain much in Victoria?

Well, not very much, especially in the summer. Most of the weather patterns pass by and dump on the Olympic Mountains, the Sooke Hills or the North Shore mountains in Vancouver BC.

Victoria boasts the mildest climate in Canada. Greater Victoria is one of Canada's driest areas, with an average snowfall of only 25 centimetres (9.75 inches) and an average rainfall of 592 millimetres (23 inches), less than recorded precipitation in Vancouver, BC or Seattle, Washington. Summers are pleasantly warm, but never too hot and the winters are mild. Located in a sub-Mediterranean zone, Victoria receives an average of 2,183 hours of sunshine each year, with flowers in bloom all year long and an eight month or more frost-free season. The mild Spring arrives as early as February, with some Rhodos and some trees often blossoming in January. Summer is comfortably warm and dry with temperatures from 18° to 32°C (65° to 90°F). Victoria British Columbia has a very low humidity ratio and almost constant offshore breezes, which keep summer days from becoming too hot and summer evenings somewhat cool.

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The average monthly rainfall in summer is less than 2.5 cm (1"). Victoria often enjoys a warm, sunny September and in late October deciduous trees turn the city to gold, but lawns and golf courses are green and lush throughout the winter.

There are four world-class attractions in Victoria, be sure to plan to take them all in.  Click here for details.

I have written an insiders guide to Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island called the Best Kept Secrets of Victoria.
Click here to see how to obtain this guide.

VANCOUVER ISLAND
British Columbia

Vancouver Island is located to the West of Vancouver British Columbia. A good portion of the Island is below the 49th parallel (American Border). Vancouver Island is over 500 kilometers long (300 miles). It takes about 6.5 hours to drive from Victoria BC on the south end of the Island to Port Hardy on the north end of the Vancouver Island. There are small towns and cities along the way so you will never be far from the services you need. Although Vancouver Island is well inhabited, there are many places where you will find wilderness and wild life is abundant throughout the Island. There are eight tourism regions on the island and they are shown on the Vancouver Island page.

Travel to and from Vancouver Island is fast, convenient and relaxing. Air service includes scheduled flights by major airlines to Victoria International airport, the Nanaimo airport and the Comox airport. There are also harbour to harbour helicopter and float plane services. Smaller airlines travel throughout the island and there are chartered flights to various Island locations. Ferry service is available from several mainland British Columbia and Washington points as well as between locations on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The Ferries travel through some of the finest scenery imaginable.

Vancouver Island has a population of over 750,000 and stretches southeast to northwest along the western coast of British Columbia. The rugged west coast is cut deeply by fjords (inlets) bordered by mountains. Many of the communities are located along the shores of protected bays and inlets. The eastern shoreline is much less rugged but rich with forests, farmland, fishing streams, villages and a few cities.

There are some things on Vancouver Island that you should not miss. Travel to Long Beach on the West Coast of the Island. This area is mystical and is bordered by the towns of Ucluelet and Tofino. On the way to Long Beach you will pass by two essential stops, the Coombs Old Country Market (probably the best little tourist trap in the world) and then Cathedral Grove, where you can take a really short walk through a really old growth forest. When you are at Ucluelet, you have easy access to the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound. There is world class kayaking in this area, as well as wildlife watching and incredible salmon fishing. If you want to discover our First Nations Culture check out the Island Community of Alert Bay or visit the Quw'utsun Cultural Centre in Duncan. Also visit the little town that reinvented itself with an incredible mural display - Chemainus. If you like to golf, Vancouver Island has some excellent courses from Victoria in the south to Port Hardy in the north. If you are interested in seeing what is underground you can take a guided tour in the Horn Lake Caves or visit the town of Gold River. If you like to Scuba Dive there is excellent diving at Race Rocks on the south end of the Island and at God's Pocket north of Port Hardy. If you want to see Bear's take the side road into Telegraph Cove. If you don't see bears along the road, take the Grizzly Tour from Telegraph Cove. This is just a taste of what Vancouver Island can offer you when you visit.

The Gulf Island British Columbia

The Gulf Islands are a group of jewels lying between Vancouver BC and Vancouver Island. Just a short Ferry ride from Vancouver or Victoria, these special islands are just waiting for you. Discover these great getaways soon. Kayak or sail in protected waters among the islands. Hike, bike or drive through some of the most fantastic scenery you will ever find. Fantastic viewpoints, great places to shop for crafts, superb eating, unbelievable scuba diving and much more await you in the Gulf Islands. Fun, excitement, wild life, wonder and fantastic scenery await your discovery. These Islands are known as the Southern Gulf Islands. While visiting Vancouver or Vancouver Island, plan a visit to at least one of these islands. Salt Spring Island is the most populated and has the most amenities and accommodations. Saturna is the least populated and has the least accommodations. If you want to be busy and find lots to see and do go to Salt Spring. If you want to get away from it all go to Saturna. The other Gulf Islands are somewhere in between and each is well worth a visit. There is so much to do outdoors and when you travel to them on BC Ferries you never know what you will see along the way. Sea lions, Orca Whales, bald eagles and more are common sites. The beauty of these islands will amaze you. Venture to the Gulf Islands relax in the peaceful tranquility and breathe in the clean ocean air. Rejuvenate yourself in the Gulf Islands. Some of Canada's artists now reside in the Gulf Islands as they fell in love with the charm and natural beauty of the Gulf Islands.

There are some things in the Gulf Islands that you should not miss. On Salt Spring Island, be sure to attend the Saturday Market from April thru October. The Salt Spring studio tour is also very good. On Saturna Island check out the beautiful Winter Cove Marine Park, home of the Canada Day Lamb Barbeque. Go to Eastpoint Park and stand on the unusual shoreline of Georgia Strait at the entrance to Haro Strait and what the ships pass by. Drive or hike to the top of Mount Warburton Pike for incredible views of the Gulf and San Juan islands. Also visit the Saturna Island Vineyard Bistro. Check out the Saturna Cafe and see if they still have a crab night dinner! If you go to Galiano Island check out Bold Bluff for the views and go to Bellhouse park for the views of Active Pass. Orca whales pass through there regularly. Try dinner at the Galiano Inn. Also visit Montague Harbour and Dionisio Marine Park. If you go to Mayne Island be sure to go to the lighthouse at Georgina Point for great views of Active Pass. If you go to Pender Island be sure to stop near the bridge separating the two Penders (north and south) and also visit scenic Poet's Cove.

This is just a taste of what you will see and do in the magical Gulf Islands between Victoria and Vancouver British Columbia.

The Victoria BC web site and the Vancouver Island Web Site both contain a huge selection of lodging-accommodations including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, b&b's, resorts, lodges, inns, vacation rental homes and suites, cabins, condos, cottages, as well as information on adventure tours, RV rentals, golf, whale watching, skiing, fishing and much much more. This homepage leads you to detailed information for Victoria BC,the most popular destination on Vancouver Island. Many tourists do not leave enough time to visit other parts of Vancouver Island and miss much that the Island has to offer. Many visitors to Vancouver Island have heard about the beautiful Gulf Islands and also want to include a visit to these gems. Be sure to come for an extended visit so you can do justice to your visit to one of the very special parts of the world.

Victoria BC offers great walking adventures, by strolling past old town secrets, unique historical buildings, street-side cafes,and English Tea rooms. In old town Victoria you will find yourself exploring the many specialty and souvenir shops, world class art galleries, antique shops, Fan Tan Alley and Trounce Alley. Victoria is home to the University of Victoria. Victoria is served by one daily newspaper the Victoria BC Times Colonist.

An Interesting Tidbit: It does not snow here very often, but when it does....WOW!
Victoria's Snowstorms of the Century - February 2, 1916 and December 28-29, 1996. Huge snowstorms, 80 years apart, clobbered Canada's "snow-free" city with more than 55 cm of snow. The December storm dropped 80 cm of snow in 24 hours, 125 cm in five days with cleanup costs exceeding $200 million (including a record insurance payout for BC of $80 million).

As a reward for reading this far, here are some links to very special pages that outline some special places you may wish to visit.