Drop by Sidney and find Canada’s only “BookTown” where, within a four-block radius, book lovers have a multitude of stores to shop for modern, used, collectors’, and antiquarian books.
Plan to visit Butchart Gardens, located in Brentwood Bay. Another must-see is the popular Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. Learn about this living eco-system and see marine life from the surrounding waters. Feeling peckish? Check out the Greater Victoria Flavour Trails for self-guided exploration of orchards, vineyards, farms, distilleries, and more in the Island’s Saanich Peninsula.
In the capital city of Victoria, stop by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, home to BC’s largest public art collection, which includes a permanent collection of 17,000 pieces and features artists from Asia, Europe, and North America, including works by iconic Canadian female artist and writer Emily Carr. Other galleries include the Winchester Galleries, the Bateman Gallery, and the Fran Willis Gallery. Peruse BC’s natural history dating back 10,000 years at the Royal BC Museum. Make sure to visit Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway, a great spot to learn about celebrated Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist Terry Fox.