This beautiful little triangle of land along the main drag in White Rock was a delight to stumble…read moreupon on a recent fall afternoon. Blooming with everything from tropical plants to sunflowers, it was a small but mighty stop on our way to the beach to watch the gorgeous sunset. When I say this is a triangle of land I mean just that. This park has no parking lot, no benches, heck it doesn't even have a sign (I had to look it up on my maps appnto even find out what it was called). In fact, it didn't even have a Yelp page until I made one for it. :) Still, during the blooming season, it was a fun little place to discover, and it felt almost secret since it didn't have any markings or other indications of why exactly it was there. Definitely a great place to take some beautiful pics!

If you are looking for an usual experience on Orcas Island do not forego visiting this very special…read moreprivate museum that has over 800 works of art from 250 San Juan Island artists. It features the largest collection of HELEN Loggie's work and an extensive collection from James Hardman all in an exquisite architectural setting on the water with breathtaking views complete with follies. It is breathtaking and will provide you with inspiration and awe along with thanks that people like Leo Lambiel exist in this world.

Leo Lambiel's guided tour of his awesome home cum museum is awesome, and well worth the $20 fee per…read moreperson. His taste in art by San Juan Islands artists is eclectic -- inspiring, humorous, ironic, abstract, representational -- in a range of media. The house reflects his own craftsmanship in construction and decoration, and grew from its origins as a cabin to a mansion of many rooms, soaring ceilings, windowed walls, and outdoor stairways. Leo's folly is the grotto, which he continues to work on after 17 years. Wine also is his passion, and his wine room has patterned walls made of used corks. Altogether, a wonderful tour.

Have you seen the drama "The Beachcombers". Yup it was filmed in Gibson Landing and that is what…read morethey are known today. The known restaurant Molly's Reach is operating in Gibsons. Well it was really a stage prop but the owner of Molly's Reach bought it many years (10 years or so I believe) after it was left abandoned and transformed it into a real restaurant. They also have the Persphone boat on site great for picture taking. The boat is beside or within walking distance from Molly's Reach. I actually came here in 2015. Surprised that I didn't write a review at that time. Today Gibsons Landing is a tourist attraction landmark. Not all restaurants are open during regular hours in the summer due to labour shortage (not sure if this is still the case but it was for many years). It is a really cute tiny town. You do need to take the ferry if you are coming from Vancouver (or you can drive the extra miles up Squamish, cross and back down). Yes it is not really an island and yes it is connect to the mainland. Also you need a car to sight-see.

I booked with non refundable hotel and then find out I can't go stay there. After communicating…read morewith owner they kindly offered to refund me. I appreciate it. Thank you

When I left Victoria in '11, this building had just started to renovate. Now that is is finished I…read morespent a sunny Victoria lunch hour wandering the harbour and decided to peek in. The building holds a Starbuck, restaurant with bar and Robert Bateman Center Shop and Gallery upstairs. I loved that they stayed true to the original design of the building it is so beautiful.

Fan Tan Alley, one of the narrowest streets in Canada and is only three to six feet wide and 240…read morefeet long, that runs between Fisgard Street and Pandora Avenue (formerly Cormorant Street). It came into being between 1885 and 1920 as Chinese and Western landowners initially constructed buildings fronting on Fisgard and Cormorant, then over time filled in the spaces behind with new building. "Fan Tan" is named after a game played in gambling dens above the alley. The lower storefronts housed opium dens, restaurants, and shops. Opium was legal in Canada until 1908, but gambling was not. Trap doors to second floors and locked gates at each end of the alley helped slow down police during raids on the illegal gambling dens. Today, Fan Tan Alley is a neat shopping street with several locally owned stores. The shops are small in size, but each offers something different. Products available in Fan Tan Alley range from ice cream and other treats to vintage records and trendy clothing. Another key feature of Fan Tan Alley is its architecture. A significant amount of the exterior has a brick finish. The old buildings appear extra tall thanks to the street's narrow width.

fan tan alley feels like a secret the city almost doesn't want you to find…read more you can wander through victoria's chinatown without noticing it, then suddenly there it is: an impossibly narrow passage wedged between old brick buildings. stepping in feels less like entering an alley and more like slipping behind the curtain of the city. its name comes from fan tan, a gambling game once played in hidden rooms nearby. a century ago, this alley was alive with apartments, businesses, clan halls, gambling dens, and opium rooms, all connected by stairways, courtyards, and passageways mostly invisible from the street. while some activity was secretive, the bigger story is the community that thrived here despite discrimination and exclusion. for generations of chinese immigrants, fan tan alley offered work, friendship, support, and a sense of belonging. the buildings and hidden courtyards weren't just functional, they were the backbone of a community carving out its own space in a world that often shut them out. the narrow alley, tiny doorways, upper windows, and unusual fractional addresses like "1/2" all hint at the dense, layered way life was lived here. today, fan tan alley hums with a quieter energy. independent shops, galleries, studios, and cafés occupy spaces that once hid games, meetings, and everyday life. the history isn't confined to plaques or museum displays, it lingers in the narrow passage, the hidden courtyards, and the oddly numbered doorways. for all the stories of gambling dens and opium rooms, what remains most striking is the sense that this was, above all, a place where people built lives. walking through it feels less like seeing a landmark and more like stumbling across a piece of history that never quite disappeared.

I was not expecting to be as impressed as I was by this brand new pier at Little Squalicum Beach…read more For decades, I've visited this rustic little beach park with family or friends, always gazing out at the long-dilapidated former shipping pier. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and they've transformed this creosote-scented landmark into a place of beauty. We were lucky to be there on a warm, sunny day. We walked out to the end and took it all in. From views of Lummi and Orcas Islands to the west, Mt. Baker to the east, and even some humongous-looking crabs wandering the shallow depths beneath the bridge, it was a delightful (and free!) way to spend some time in nature.

Really really cool experience the ONLY drawback is there isn't really a beach very rocky but man…read morewas that cool!! A LOT of wildlife in the water that you can see from the pier. SO rad would definitely recommend and will definitely be back someday

I always thought Lafarge Lake lights would be the same every year! But I was wrong there's some new…read morestuff they add each time ^^ so it was refreshing to see, it's a cute date idea for free to do with friends or luved ones

We come here once a year. Usually during Christmas/holiday season it's super busy and hard to park…read moreat. This year we decided to go after the holiday season since the weather was nice. Way less people which made the whole thing more enjoyable. Love that they have lots of photo stations and that there are warming stations.

If you haven't been to Barnston Island, you're missing out on an adventure. First, there's the…read morewacky ferry to get over there. It's basically a tugboat with a barge attached that chugs back and forth across the river every ten minutes or so. You can drive, but the ferry has limited capacity for cars (maybe six?), no public parking on the island, and you have to back up off the ferry when you get to Barnston Island. It's better to leave the car in the free lot at the end of 104 Ave in Surrey and walk or take your bike. (The ferry is also free.) Most of the island is private property (lots of "no trespassing" signs), although there is one park at the northwest corner with picnic tables and some marshy beach. A narrow paved road encircles the island, a 10 km route with very little traffic and plenty of scenery. On our summer bike ride, we saw everything from goats to eagles to skydivers, with views of Golden Ears Bridge, the North Shore Mountains and Mt. Baker in the distance. An abandoned home with brambles taking over the doorway was also strangely cool. Barnston Island has a peaceful feeling, inhabited yet abandoned at the same time. One car passed us on the entire ride, and the only other people we saw were fellow cyclists and walkers. There are also no stores on the island, so be sure to bring your own water and provisions. You can say you've been somewhere without really leaving.

The coolest (and still free!) ferry! It's a fun little ride over to the island and only 10 km…read morearound... Very idyllic and restful... Nice for a little bike ride, a walk in the country or just a peaceful drive... I wish there was a legal place to enjoy a picnic beside the river, though.., And it is a smart thing to bring some mosquito repellant because they like to attack fresh blood... Lol

I had a amazing experience at Kensington Prairie Farm in (Alderbridge) Langley BC yesterday! The…read morestaff were very friendly and explained pretty much all the animals behaviours and where are the from. There are interactive experiences such as feeding and petting thr Llamas and alpacas! There are many other animals to see too such as pigs, goose, roosters, camels and turkey! There is a lot of things to see such as Easter egg hunting and the upcoming Shearing event for the alpacas and llamas. Don't forget to visit the gift shop as there are many clothes and knitting items made from the wool of alpacas and Llamas!

OMG this is such a cute farm! They have an informative tour every Saturday morning where you feed…read moredifferent groups of alpaca and listen to their stories. There're a bunch of moments and corner where you can take a photo with those cute creatures. You will need to send an email to register for the tour but if you register on Friday like me and didn't hear back from them, don't worry. My group still head there and they are happy to let us join as long as we sent them the register email. After the tour you will go in the store to wash your hands and pay for the tour (which is around 10bucks). The store has a bunch of alpaca wool stuff like scarf, socks, hoodie, cardigan, etc. and even wool for you to make your own stuff. The products inside the store may come from the alpaca here or from Peru, so look for the tag to check. They sometimes have a day of shaving all their alpacas and let the public join, so watch out for those fun activities. There are some parking lots right outside the store but not a tons.

Looks long and it is a long walk. Just a little over a mile in length but feels longer when the…read morewind is swirling. Hoodie good, hat not good. Did not make it to the lighthouse in fear of missing the ferry. Beautiful views.

This is a great place to visit if you are at the Victoria, British Columbia, Canada cruise port…read more It's walking distance from the ships to see the water and lighthouse. This is a great walking activity. Approximately 1 mile walk round-trip from the cruise terminal.