Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Established in 1843 by James Douglas as a Hudson's Bay Company Fort, the City of Victoria has a proud history of British custom.
Victoria has a temperate climate with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and mild summers. It is sometimes classified as a cool-summer Mediterranean climate due to its usually dry summers. There is a rich diversity of landscapes within the region, ranging from the Douglas fir forests along the coast to the drier, exposed conditions of the higher, rockier elevations that support arbutus and Garry oak forests.
Conde' Naste Traveler Magazine reader's poll rated Victoria one of the top ten cities to visit in the world. The picture-perfect Inner Harbour is surrounded by many of Victoria's beautiful character buildings and premier attractions: the stately Empress Hotel, the BC provincial Legislative Buildings, museums and galleries.
District Municipality of Esquimalt
Esquimalt's original native inhabitants knew it as "the place of shoaling waters", derived from a native Indian expression Es-whoy-malth.
Esquimalt is located 2.5 miles (4 km) west of downtown Victoria at the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
The municipality of Esquimalt, incorporated in 1912, has many heritage buildings and beaches with excellent views of Victoria Harbour and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
29 hectares (72 acres) of beautiful parks, scenic waterfront walkways, recreational facilities, golf course, shopping and restaurants for residents and visitors to enjoy.
District
Municipality of Oak Bay
Oak Bay is named after the distinctively characteristic Garry Oak, the single oak species native to the Coastal Pacific Northwest. Considered the most "British" neighbourhood in Greater Victoria, the attractive residential community retains a distinct genteel flavour, reflected by its village shops, restaurants and tearooms.
There are also cafes, pubs, take-out fish and chips, great restaurants, and a charming shopping district with a wonderful array of specialty shops and art galleries.
Oak Bay has several beautiful gardens to stroll through, and parks with plenty of viewpoints. The community takes pride in its many peaceful streets of elegant homes and gardens.
Marine life in its natural habitat can often be seen from the shores of Oak Bay. Sailors, fishermen, and kayakers are not alone in the ocean. They are likely to be sharing the sea with one of three pods of killer whales, gray whales, or minke whales, and curious harbour seals.
Saanich Peninsula - District
Municipality of Saanich
The name
Saanich is derived from the Native word meaning 'elevated' or
'upraised', possibly describing what Mount Newton looked like when
approached by sea from the east. The largest municipality in Greater
Victoria, Saanich offers the charm of country life with the convenience
of urban residential neighbourhoods and close proximity to Victoria.
Saanich is one of the oldest agricultural settlements in British
Columbia, rich in local history still evident in many of the old
buildings and structures. The homes, schools, churches, commercial
buildings, and farm buildings of heritage significance reflect the
pioneer era and later periods of development.
Almost everywhere you turn in Saanich there's a place to enjoy the
great outdoors, meadows of wildflowers and Garry Oak trees, mountain
parks and scenic viewpoints, serene forests and riverside paths, or
quiet coves and ocean beaches. The Saanich Peninsula offers many activities from golfing, hiking & cycling, waterskiing or fishing in the fresh water lakes.
A cyclist's paradise, many country roads criss-cross the Peninsula past parks, farms, beaches and bays as well as the Peninsula Trail System which connects to the Galloping Goose Trail in Victoria. Stop by a roadside fruit and vegetable stand for fresh, locally grown produce or in at the village of Brentwood Bay which offers shops, restaurants and marina facilities.
B&B's, inns, resorts and motels can be found in the Saanich Peninsula as well as restaurants, bistros, and eateries to suit every taste. Air and boat charters and rentals are avalable as well as sailing, kayaking, fishing and diving adventures.
Several main attractions are located here too. The world-famous Butchart Gardens, and a prize-winning winery. The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society offer an excellent family attraction on a 29-acre site. The Sandown Harness Raceway offers live harness racing or you can visit the indoor tropical rainforest and stroll amidst hundreds of exotic butterflies flying free.
Western Communities or West Shore
The West Shore region lies to the west of Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island from Esquimalt Harbour to rocky Point along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait which leads out to the Pacific Ocean.
The cities of Colwood and Langford, the town of View Royal, and the District Municipalities of Highlands, Metchosin, and Sooke, which lie generally west of Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet
Outdoor activities are abundant throughout the West Shore. Hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, and golf. Eleven parks cover nearly 2000 hectares and provide many hiking trails from nature walks along the shore to more challenging day hikes. The Galloping Goose Trail, a 60 km former rail line, is a linear park running from downtown Victoria, through the West Shore, to the ghost town of Leechtown, named after the old steam locomotive which made its run at the turn of the last century. " The Goose" is a walker or cyclist's dream, well-groomed and peaceful with nary a hill to climb.
Wildlife (whales, deer, eagles, seals), hiking, cycling, golfing, fishing, swimming, and site seeing away from the hustle and bustle of downtown while only a short drive to all the amenities that Victoria has to offer.
Mill Bay
Mill Bay is an unincorporated village-style community of approximately 3,000 people. It includes three shopping malls, including Mill Bay Centre, which serves as a regional shopping centre for the south end of the Cowichan Regional District. As well as being a significant commercial centre, the area is noted for its spectacular ocean views and numerous recreational opportunities. It includes the Kerry Park Recreation Centre with an ice rink, and the Brentwood College School.