Between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains lies a wonderland where orcas breach offshore and bears forage in ancient forests. Victoria's Inner Harbour buzzes with seaplanes and street performers, while the Butchart Gardens transform an old quarry into floral magic. Tofino's surfers brave frigid waves before warming up with seafood chowder at waterfront eateries. Cathedral Grove's Douglas firs have stood sentinel for 800 years, making visitors feel delightfully insignificant. The Pacific Rim National Park's Long Beach stretches for miles, often empty save for beachcombers hunting glass floats. Don't miss afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel – it's touristy but somehow still worth it.
