Victoria, British Columbia

We booked a private tour, which was such a good decision. We only had an evening there, so having someone show us around made a big difference. We would have driven right past little things like a tiger carved into a tree along the side of the street, but our guide made sure we spotted details like that. They also took us to beautiful overlooks where we could see the Olympic Mountains in Washington across the water, and drove us through Chinatown. Here are a few other highlights from our evening in Victoria, British Columbia.

The British Columbia Parliament Building is beautiful lite up at night.

Parliament Building

Beacon Hill Park. It is the most beautiful public park I have ever seen. There are wild peacocks and deer walking right next to you.  The park is also home to the famous Story Pole, installed in 1956, which was once recognized as the world’s tallest free-standing totem pole. Seeing a bald eagle perched on top made it even cooler.

We also stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf to see the floating homes—actual residences right on the water, each painted uniquely and full of personality. There are dozens of floating-home berths there, which give the whole area a truly unique feel. It was colorful, lively, and definitely worth visiting.

There was honestly so much more to do in Victoria than I expected. Even though it was just one stop on the cruise, it felt like a place I’d gladly go back to and spend more time exploring.

Sometimes the places you expect the least from end up being the ones that surprise you the most.