What sets Aum Journeys apart is that we try to include experiences in every trip that are awe-inspiring and help you to feel more positive and centered moving forward. These 6 destination highlights will help inspire you on your next trip to Victoria, BC!
1. Afternoon Tea at the Empress
At around $75 CAD per person, Afternoon Tea at the Empress may seem like a steep (no pun intended… also, if you get this, please let me know LOL) price to pay for some tea, but it’s so much more than that! This is a spread fit for kings and queens! Not only that, but you’ll be surrounded with elegant furnishings, gorgeous views of Victoria Harbour, and very friendly service.
Afternoon tea includes a layer of scones with the BEST clotted cream spread you’ll ever taste (to be fair, I’d never tried it before this), mini sandwiches, and a top layer of mouthwatering deserts. And of course, you have your choice of teas to accompany it – my choice just happened to also be Princess Diana’s favorite – rose petal!
2. Jam Café
I’m ashamed to say (because of the “fat kid” nature of the food here) that the Jam Cafe was probably the highlight of my visit to Victoria! The décor inside is right up my alley – full of eclectic lights and vintage items, antique maps, and casual, hip seating.
I can’t say I’ve ever seen a menu with so many cool and unique offerings. They have s’mores pancakes, chicken n’ waffles, and cast iron jalapeno macaroni, among other things. The wait to get in was around a half hour (on a Sunday morning!), but let me tell you, it was 150% WORTH IT!
3. Fan Tan Alley & Chinatown
Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest alley in North America. You can stand inside and have one hand touching a brick wall on either side. There are lots of cute art, clothing, and snack shops to explore in the alley, so it’s definitely worth a stroll!
Chinatown in general is really fun to walk around as well. It’s only about a 2 block radius, but there are some intricate Chinese arches (great for photos!), paper lanterns lit up at night, and a big, decked out restaurant called Don Mee that would be fun for dim sum (although I didn’t have time on this trip).
4. And of Course, Butchart Gardens
I was a little leery of the Butchart Gardens, being that it’s probably the most-visited (and previously in my mind, the most touristy) place to visit on the island. However, it undoubtedly blew all my expectations out of the water and was absolutely stunning.
The day I ended up visiting was a tad overcast, but it made the beautiful colors of the flowers POP even more. There are Italian gardens, Japanese gardens, English rose gardens, and so much more. The sunken garden is the most unique part. Everything was expertly manicured and picture perfect.
My only regret is that I didn’t leave myself more time to explore. I’d recommend giving yourself at least two hours to get lost!
5. A Day Trip to Salt Spring Island
Being in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve gotta make it a point to ride a ferry at least once! I went with a friend from Seattle who had her car, and I was simply AMAZED at the fact that people just drive onto the ferry and it could hold SO many vehicles and weight.
From downtown Victoria to Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about a 30 minute drive (there is also bus service). Swartz Bay is only a little past Butchart Gardens, so if you get up early enough, you can hit Butchart Gardens first, then go on to Swartz Bay and take the ferry to Salt Spring Island. It’s about an hour on the ferry to Fulford Harbor in Salt Spring, but it’s a very scenic boat ride where you can see wildlife on the other islands along the way, get something to eat, and enjoy the fresh air.
Once to Salt Spring, there’s a cute little town with unique artisan shops, a restaurant called Tree House Café that is literally built into a tree, and lots of fun hiking. There’s also a restaurant called Rock Salt Restaurant & Cafe where you can park at the harbor while waiting for your ferry departure. Go grab a craft beer and a delicious daily special like seafood chowder or some sweet potato fries that are to die for!
I also signed up for a yoga class at the Salt Spring Centre while there, and the vibe is totally something else. The Centre is in a little farmhouse and it has a tight-knit community feel and very welcoming and experienced instructors. People stay there for months at a time to disconnect from the world and reconnect with themselves. You’re literally on the edge of the Earth at this place.
6. Bao
Yes, another restaurant! “Bao” is Chinese cuisine consisting of filled buns or bun-like dumplings with various foods. This restaurant (in Chinatown) has tons of options! They have buns filled with meats, egg, tofu, fried chicken, as well as sweet ones like Nutella banana. You can also get Ramen at Bao too!
So there you have it! Those are Aum Journeys’ favorites from Victoria, BC! It’s such a beautiful destination and makes for a great add-on to an Alaskan cruise or a trip to Vancouver and/or Seattle!
Be sure to check out Aum Journeys’ Instagram highlights for more from this trip and other travel tips and inspiration! You can also check out some other international destinations at the blog.
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