Also known as British Importers, this high-end shop features men’s off-the-rack sportswear, suits, and accessories; also women’s sportswear.

Vertical space in this closet-sized shop makes for unusual displays. T-shirts, scarves, bags, and more, all screen-printed by hand.

Head to this lifestyle boutique for carefully chosen homewares, jewelry, footwear, and leather goods, as well as exclusive skin-care brands and a spa.

Silk Road offers a tea tasting bar similar to a wine bar. In addition to tea, it boasts a spa (For further details see silk road spa) and its own line of natural body care products.

Hundreds of purses crowd the shop: from glitzy clutch bags to industrial laptop bags. Check out She She Shoes across the street.

At this unisex boutique mod meets boho-chic, from the runway to a rock show. Pieces by international designers and homegrown talent create a unique range of clothing, as well as an eclectic selection of shoes.

Gifts from around the world, with a focus on India, Indonesia, China, and France. Home accessories include mats, iron sconces, baskets, linens, bath products, art, and curios.

Inspired by quaint Paris jewelry boutiques, the owner stocks mainly Canadian-made pieces in both dainty and chunky styles.

A magnificent store with a wide range of books from Canada, the US and the UK.

Discover one-of-a-kind silverware, glass and china, fine art, furniture, and jewelry on upper Fort St.

A variety of colonial-themed dining venues await at Victoria’s grandest hotel. Especially popular is the formal afternoon tea, served daily since 1908 – reservations are required.

A small restaurant on the edge of Chinatown that serves impeccable American and international cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients. Reservations recommended.

Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub’s waterfront dining room menu includes all-natural smoked meats and sausages, perfect companions to the assortment of beers on tap.

Local organic produce, meat, and wild seafood are on offer at this brewpub, marina, and restaurant, in an historic 1894 waterfront property. Classics such as burgers and fries go especially well with a craft brew.

French bistro dishes – lamb shank, mussels, and frites – using local products.

Set in a shipping container on the inner harbor, this canteen-style fish restaurant serves up sustainable seafood.

Fine Northern Italian food; heated courtyard. Wood oven-roasted meats and pizzas, pastas, and seafood arrive with a flourish.

Linguine, lasagna, and fettuccine are simple and satisfying. Pag’s bread is coveted.

Huge portions of noodle and rice dishes come in decorative boxes, at eight levels of spiciness.

Progressive West Coast cuisine including fondues, rack of lamb, seafood, and vegetarian entrées.

The Old Quarter, built during the days when Nanaimo was a coal-mining town, has many 19th-century buildings, including the 1895 Nanaimo Court House. Stroll along the Harbourfront Walkway, stopping at The Bastion military museum. Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market is held next to Bastion on Fridays (May–Oct). Nanaimo is a good starting point for wildlife tours.

This pastoral valley is a mix of forests and farmland. Local wines, ciders, and gourmet cheeses attract gastronomically minded visitors by car and touring bicycles. Cowichan Lake is Vancouver Island’s main freshwater lake and a terrific spot for swimming, canoeing, and fishing. The Cowichan River is a designated heritage treasure, famed for its fly fishing.

When the sawmill, the basis of its economy, closed in 1983, Chemainus transformed itself into a picturesque seaside town. More than 40 giant murals by local and international artists appear throughout the town, depicting the region’s history.

Visitors flock to these islands in the Strait of Georgia to enjoy their quietness and natural beauty. Salt Spring with its many artists’ studios, and Galiano, which has a lovely provincial park, are the most popular island destinations. Saturna, Pender, Mayne, and Gabriola are the other major islands. Each has its own personality; all are accessible by BC Ferries from Swartz Bay (For further details see Ferries).

Duncan is known as the City of Totems for the 80 Coast Salish poles displayed around town. At the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre see carvers at work, and some of the best Native arts and crafts in BC. The focus of the BC Forest Discovery Centre is the province’s heyday of logging. In summer, a 1920s steam train carries passengers past heritage buildings and through a rainforest.

For over a century, the incomparable Butchart Gardens, wrung out of a worked-out quarry, have awed visitors with their lush and varied beauty.

An archipelago of some 100 rugged islands and islets is paradise for nature lovers, kayakers, and scuba divers. The area around Barkley Sound has outstanding views of coastal rainforest, beaches, and sea caves. Accessible only by boat, a guided tour is the best way to experience this isolated wilderness. Majestic Ocean Kayaking in Uclulet offers whale watching and specialty tours.

Parksville’s beautiful Rathtrevor Beach is easily accessible for waterside sports and activities. Dip your toes in the gentle surf, build sandcastles, dig clams, canoe, or camp along the 4 miles (7 km) of sand. Swim in the warmest saltwater north of California. Nearby are mini-golf courses, bistros, and art studios for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

Beachcombers and kayakers find delightful Qualicum Beach and its nearby British-style village a pedestrian-friendly stopover. The curved beach presents magnificent sunsets.

Massive old-growth Douglas firs, some 600 years old, tower overhead in this mystic rainforest only 12 miles (19 km) from Victoria. Once a fishing ground for the Coast Salish, miners overran the park during the Gold Rush of the late 1850s. An annual fall salmon run on the Goldstream River attracts hundreds of majestic bald eagles. Dropping 155 ft (48 m) into a canyon pool, the park’s waterfall is easily reached by a five-minute walk along a trail. A visitor house offers a variety of weekend activities.