Victoria is a genteel harbor capital of tea rooms and gardens, while Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park are wild surf-and-storm-watching country. Whale watching runs from spring to fall.
Good to know
- Book BC Ferries reservations for peak summer weekends.
- Tofino is 4 hours from Victoria; plan overnight.
- The Butchart Gardens' evening illuminations run in summer.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Waterfront promenade with seaplanes and the Empress Hotel.
Classic tea service in an old hotel; reserve ahead.
Orca and humpback tours from the harbor, with naturalist guides and a good chance to see wildlife.
Natural and human history of British Columbia.
Floating houseboats and seafood stalls on a colorful dock, popular for fish and chips.
Victorian castle built by a coal baron, with stained glass, carved woodwork and a tower with views.
Surf town with wide beaches and storm watching in winter.
Boat or floatplane to natural hot pools in the rainforest.
Century-old gardens in a former quarry with fireworks on summer Saturdays.
Salmon run in the fall and old-growth forest trails.
Wine and cider region with small producers and farm-to-table lunches, 45 minutes north of Victoria.