One of the highlights of our recent Pacific Northwest vacation, Cape Flattery offers spectacular…read morecoastal views for the price of a short, half-mile stroll along a level wooded trail from the parking lot. The hike is an easy go during daylight, but if you come to enjoy sunset at the Cape (a highly recommended experience when the weather is clear), I'd suggest bringing flashlights or headlamps for the walk back. The parking lot at the trailhead feels like its miles from anywhere, mostly because it is. A two-hour drive from Port Angeles, it feels even longer going back, especially in the dark, when the rural, winding roads take on a casually menacing ambiance. But if you time your arrival just ahead of sunset, you'll be treated to one of the most exhilarating views on the American continent -- a panorama of falling light and crashing seas that will remind even the most self-assured person of their modest place in the world. From the small wooden observation platform that juts out over the Cape, you can see across the mouth of the San Juan de Fuca Strait to the distant shores of Vancouver Island. Looking south, the jagged coast of the Olympic Peninsula absorbs the whitecaps of the violent surf with a lazy indifference, letting the ocean spill over its granite outcroppings and return to the tide pools below. And just to the west, across the dark water, the decommissioned Cape Flattery Lighthouse sits like a lonely sentinel on a rock island, maintaining its official place as the northwesternmost point in the continental United States. Yes, a drive to Cape Flattery is a long detour from the more popular sights of Olympic National Park, and as you're making the slow trek through the backwoods of Washington State, you may wonder if the destination is worth it. But when you stand on that wooden deck at the edge of America, with the Pacific wind and ocean spray spilling over you and the setting sun disappearing over the distant horizon, you'll realize -- it absolutely is.

We were excited for this hike!! And we were also prepared for the weather...summer in July is…read morewonderful but when we visited, it was early 60 degree weather with clouds and rain :/ So experiencing the northwestern tip of the U.S. -- that is pretty special! And our first rainy drenched hike, also an experience to never forget! Not a bad hike; 1.5 miles round trip. We started at 12:30pm and finished around 1:30pm so about an hour. Many tourists for this rainy weekend so be prepared to pass by a lot of ppl, it's a very popular hike!! The views are spectacular, even in the rain! Beautiful in site.

Wow, gorgeous castle and grounds! When we visited, there were plenty of people taking photos and…read moreexploring the area. I wasn't able to enter as you need a guided tour, although there was enough to do by wandering the grounds. If you're lucky, you might see some peafowl foraging in the grass for delicious food. They're quite skittish. Don't feed them though! Be sure to explore the nearby gardens. There's an Italian garden, Japanese garden, and a rose garden. The Japanese garden in particular is a great place to sit and enjoy the stillness of the area - the pond reflects the sky and the surrounding vegetation and you can really take it all in. It really is an oasis. Of note, the carpark is a pay-to-park lot. There's not a lot of publicly accessible washrooms either.

Hatley Castle, tucked away on Victoria Island, was a serene and picturesque stop on a crisp…read moremorning. Even though the air was chilly and the castle didn't open until 10 a.m., wandering the grounds beforehand felt like a moment out of a storybook. The expansive, beautifully kept gardens and coastal views made the stroll well worth it, offering a quiet and peaceful way to take in the surroundings. Paid parking is available, making it an easy stop to add to a morning itinerary.

This trail leads from Lighthouse Point Rd down to Sheringham Point Lighthouse. Most likely you'll…read moreaccess it after walking down from the Sheringham Point Lighthouse and Trail Parking Lot onto Sheringham Point Rd, which ends at Lighthouse Point Rd. That's a lot o' Sheringhams, Points, and Roads! In any case, it is a little steep and not wheelchair accessible. Additionally, it will be slick because the area tends to be damp, even without rain. The trail itself zig-zags until the Lighthouse opens up among the trees. You'll be treated to a wonderful view of the water, waves, and wind surrounding Sheringham Point Lighthouse. It is a short trail, but will take 10 minutes to safely traverse. See my review of the Lighthouse for more info about it. This trail is a great place to take pictures from afar on the way down or back up. Even without the sun, it is quite spectacular!

Small town feel with everything you need. If you are looking for a stop along your trip through…read moreOlympic national park this is a great place to regroup. The town is centrally located near several key areas of the park and about a half hour from the ocean. You could spend a day exploring checking out the twilight museum, getting a bite to eat, and shopping along the Main Street.

I stayed in Forks when I was visiting Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest. It was kind of…read morea trippy town to stay in. Forks was big into the timber industry in its early days before the industry declined. They are also known for their abundance of steelhead trout and salmon in nearby rivers. Forks is one of the rainiest towns in the U.S. It is located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula and has a population of around 3,000 people. When I arrived in Forks, I began to notice two big obsessions in this town - Sasquatch and Twilight. Forks hosts annual festivals dedicated to both of these things. I have never read or seen the Twilight movies, but the town of Forks happens to be the setting of the series. Even though the movies weren't filmed here, a number of locations in Forks were used in some scenes. As I drove around town, I started to see Twilight gift shops, signs and merchandise everywhere. The visitor center has Bella's truck and a gift shop that sells merchandise. I observed groups of fans that traveled to this town just to do self-guided tours of Twilight filming locations. I didn't realize those movies were such a big deal. Forks was close proximity to many of the stops that I did in Olympic National Park. The beaches near Forks like Rialto and La Push are just beautiful. There are a number of good places to eat here too. Sully's Drive-In was a popular hang-out spot. I also found a couple of coffee shops that I enjoyed. Forks is a small town that can be driven through in less than ten minutes. Everyone that I encountered in town were really nice.

Cute area where you can walk around and enjoy yourself without the pressure of spending any money,…read morebut if you do have some cash to burn you can get a bite to eat or browse some gift shops. If you really have some money, you can consider buying one of the float homes! They're around half a million CAD, and no, there weren't any open house tours when I visited. I'm a lookie-loo and I'm sure other tourists are too, so maybe it's only by private appointment for serious home buyers...Anyway, you can still admire the houses, as well as peer down into the depths to see the sea creatures - quite a few sea anemones and fish down there. The washroom situation is interesting as it is attached to the dock, but bobs up and down with the waves. If you have a shy body, might not be the best for you!

just a leisurely (maybe 36 minute) walk from downtown, or a quick, breezy ride across the harbour…read moreon one of the cute little water taxis, this spot feels like stepping straight into a postcard. the moment you arrive, the air shifts, sea salt mixes with the faint scent of fried fish, seagulls hover lazily above, and sunlight scatters across the rippling water like handfuls of coins tossed for luck. floating homes line the docks in a cheerful row of colour, each one reflecting softly in the water, like brushstrokes that never quite stand still. water taxis glide past, picking up and dropping off passengers, their propellers leaving slow, curling ripples behind. a whale watching group gathers near the pier, their chatter carried by the breeze, while the smell of seafood and freshly fried mini donuts drift from the stall nearby. barb's fish and chips, a local favourite, has its usual line, with diners perched at picnic tables, seagulls keeping hopeful watch. there's a small mexican food stand, a souvenir shop filled with nautical trinkets, and locals walking their dogs, exchanging smiles as they pass. everything here moves at its own rhythm, calm, relaxed, and quietly cinematic. it's the kind of place that doesn't just ask you to visit, it makes you slow down, breathe deeper, and really take in the view, the raw beauty, the smell of the ocean, and the lull of the water. this is victoria at its most picture perfect.

I've visited Victoria more times than I can count and somehow the Parliament Buildings still manage…read moreto stop me in my tracks every single time. The exterior alone is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in British Columbia. During the day, the grand dome, and maintained grounds make it feel like something you'd expect to find in a Europe than in BC. I highly recommend taking one of the free guided tours. Stepping inside reveals craftsmanship with soaring ceilings, beautiful woodwork and historic artwork. The tours are informative without feeling overwhelming and offer a fascinating look into both British Columbia's political history and the building itself. One of my favourite aspects of the tour was seeing the various royal connections and items related to the monarchy. As someone who enjoys learning about the Royal Family, I loved seeing portraits and hearing stories about visits from members of the royal family over the years. I honestly think it becomes magical at night. When all of the lights illuminate the exterior, the entire building seems to glow against the harbour. It feels almost storybook-like.

The buildings were Absolutley beautiful. We were there at night so they were all lit up. I didn't…read moreget to go inside because again we were there at night.

A beautiful place to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the pleasant smell of flowers and beautiful…read morediverse color variations of flowers. We came on a beautiful day with no rain and sunshine. It was hot but luckily we brought a hat. Very relaxing garden. Came here on vacation and took the ferry from Vancouver. Ate snacks on the boat as well as at the gardens. Pro Tip-make a reservation and buy tickets for the ferry and gardens at the same time. We made the mistake of showing up to the ferry and it being sold out. So we had to pivot our trip. We booked tickets for the ferry and Gardens for the following day and it worked perfectly.

It was a 45 mins drive from the cruise port to the garden. Luckily my friends are smart enough to…read moreuse the public transit route which cost us $6 and it dropped us off right at the entrance to Butchart garden. A short walk and we paid for the entrance which was approximately $45 pp. I think price is a bit steep for a self tour garden. I think it should've been $25-$30 pp but that's my opinion. There's no rides, no shows or attraction whatsoever beside the theme gardens. We entered and saw several souvenir shops and eatery and information desk. Further is the trail towards the flowers garden that lead us to the sunken garden a little to the left. The sunken garden is a beautiful sight from above and below complete with water fountains and pond. The beauty doesn't stop there. Further walk to the right outside of the sunken garden is the rose and dahlia garden. The dahlia is something else! I've never seen so many in quantity and so many variety in one place! Just gorgeous and they're huge! I tried to take photos with my hands for comparison. A little walk further is the Japanese garden and this is what I call serenity, peace, tranquility. It was so quiet except for the trickle of water and the pond. I can imagine meditating in the Japanese garden. At the end we walked through the English garden and stop at the eatery for their huge bowl of chili and a hot dog and refreshment. They do offer complimentary water fyi so bring your water decanter if you have it. I bought a Coke Zero instead Near the exit I stopped by their window garden which is like a greenhouse packed full of flowers. My only disappointment was that I was expecting to see a greenhouse of exotic, tropical flowers and plants. They have an abundance of flowers and plants but they were all common variety. Roses, dahlia, vinca, marigold etc... I was hoping to see tropical orchids, hibiscus, tropical bird of paradise, torch ginger, monstera deliciosa, passion fruit flowers etc... I was also hoping they have a fruit orchard but the only fruit tree I saw was apple tree.

love visiting victoria, and one of my favourite things to do is simply wander along the waterfront…read morewith nowhere in particular to be. for me, the inner harbour and the david foster harbour pathway have always felt like the same experience. i honestly couldn't tell you where one ends and the other begins, and i don't think most people walking there care much either. you're not following a trail so much as soaking in everything that makes victoria feel like victoria. you start near the parliament buildings and the empress, surrounded by overflowing hanging baskets bursting with colour. horse drawn carriages roll past, double decker buses glide through downtown, and tourists stop every few steps to snap photos from every possible angle. everyone seems to be moving at their own pace, with nowhere urgent to go. out on the water, there's always something happening. seaplanes skim across the harbour and lift gracefully into the sky, while others drift back in and settle onto the water as naturally as birds returning home. little harbour ferries weave back and forth between fisherman's wharf, songhees, and the inner harbour, their captains waving to people along the shoreline. the path itself quietly ties everything together. one moment you're listening to a busker, the next you're leaning against the railing watching pleasure boats and kayakers pass by. maybe you grab an ice cream, maybe a coffee, or maybe you simply stop because the view across the harbour is too beautiful to rush past. and if you stay long enough, one of the best moments comes after sunset. the parliament buildings slowly light up, every dome, window, and architectural detail outlined with incredible precision. i've always found myself admiring not just how beautiful it looks, but the patience and craftsmanship it must have taken someone to get it exactly right. thousands of lights, perfectly placed. by then, people are lingering on benches, couples are strolling hand in hand, and visitors are still taking photos as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. it's one of those places where nobody seems to be in a hurry, and honestly, that's exactly the way victoria should be experienced.

Inner Harbour of Victoria BC is such a tranquil and beautiful place. We were fortunate to have…read morevisited on a bright, sunny, mild day. It was wonderful taking in the sights and enjoying the weather. I hope to visit again someday and experience the evening after the sun goes down.