“Victoria, British Columbia: Full of Life” is registered as a trademark of the Greater Victoria Visitors & Convention Bureau. This sparkling phrase is used to promote, market, and foster travel and tourism in the greater Victoria and Vancouver Island area. It was also the first piece of text to appear – bright and full of color – at the top of the itinerary that Tourism Victoria created for my recent trip to Vancouver Island.
“Full of life” is an incredibly imaginative and open-ended description that implies vitality and positivity. It makes me think of a wrinkled grandmother with a sneaky smile and a temporary tattoo shellacked on her upper arm. It’s also a phrase that can put a revitalizing spin on an otherwise undesirable object like a feculent kitchen sponge or a beloved t-shirt with hardened armpit stains. When referring to a city, the term “full of life” leaves a similar amount of wiggle room. I arrived in Victoria wondering if the city’s catch phrase would prove to be more than a cute costume for an otherwise average tourist destination. But after an extended weekend in Victoria, I couldn’t have picked a more accurate sentiment to describe my experience in the vibrant capital city of British Columbia.
If I were to stand on Wharf Street and spin around in a circle with my eyes closed and my arm outstretched, there is no place in Victoria that I would not want my index finger to land. With the Olympic Mountains to the south and the Juan de Fuca Strait wrapping around the coastline, Victoria is no slouch in the nature department. The water glistens with a come-hither shimmer and the city’s recreation-based companies offer every thinkable activity to enjoy the outdoors. Ocean River Sports specializes in paddle rentals including year-round single and tandem kayak trips from Victoria’s upper harbour. Cycle BC offers two-wheel adventures via bicycle or scooter, and Prince of Whales – the premiere whale watching company in Victoria – will travel as far as the San Juan Islands in search of Orcas. If you’re tight on money, Victoria West, a neighborhood located just over the Johnson Street Bridge, has several miles of waterside pathways with an unbeatable view of downtown Victoria. The Inner Harbour – home to the Parliament Buildings and the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel – provides a perfect spot to catch the sunset, watch and listen to street performers, and get a glimpse of water traffic weaving in and out of the city.
When I think of the things that make my life full – nature, music, adventures, and opportunity – Victoria answers with both palms extended. It will be my pleasure over the next few weeks to describe a few of Victoria’s epic highlights. Stay tuned for a sampling of suggested restaurants, scooter routes, and sneak peaks into the lives of Victoria’s resident whales.