5 Things I Loved About Victoria, British Columbia

Hello, and welcome back to The Leslie Life!

I recently returned from a trip to Victoria, B.C. This was my and my friend Jenny’s first time traveling to Canada.

Naturally, I wanted to share my thoughts on the city and my experience. So, let’s get into my top 5 things I loved about Victoria and Vancouver Island!

• The Greenery

One of the reasons I chose Victoria and Vancouver Island as my destination was its beauty. As you may or may not know from my previous blog posts, I adore the Pacific Northwest. The forest and the ethereal beaches make my heart swoon.

Like Oregon and Washington, Vancouver Island has a mystical aura. If you're a nature lover like me, China Beach, which is about an hour from Victoria (pictured above), is a must-visit. As are Victoria's Butchart Gardens (seen below).

@lesliestefv The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC 🩷💚🩷. #victoriabc #canada #victoriacanada #cottagecore #butchartgardens ♬ orange hues - Aqualina

• The People

@lesliestefv A small glimpse of our vacation in Victoria, BC! @Jenny #victoriabc #canada #victoriacanada ♬ Lavender Cappuccino - Muspace Lofi

Living in California and Los Angeles, you’ll likely have your fair share of encounters with a Karen or a social climber. This was not the case in Victoria and Vancouver Island. Everyone was extremely friendly and excited for Jenny and me to be visiting their home. One woman told us to “enjoy the magic,” which I found to be an endearing sentiment.

• Small Businesses Are King

@lesliestefv A small haul of the cottagecore goodies I got while I was in Victoria, BC. Everything was purchased at Shop Makers Victoria on Goverment st! #victoriabc #canada #cottagecore #haul #cottagecoreaesthetic #victoriacanal #vancouverisland ♬ Aesthetic - Audiolist Productions

In Victoria, retail stores are few and far between. There’s a strong emphasis on shopping and purchasing locally-made goods. I’m all about supporting the economy. Thus, I bought several items on my trip (seen in the TikTok above), many cottagecore-inspired.

• Everything Is Cheaper Compared to the United States

Nowadays, everything is expensive AF. I’ve nearly bankrupted myself by buying myself iced coffee on the weekends as a little treat, but I digress. In Canada, the prices are significantly lower. For example, gas was under $2. Yes, you read that right. The price came out much lower than I expected whenever I purchased anything. This, of course, was a win for me and my wallet.

• Slow Living Is Prioritized

In Los Angeles and perhaps the United States, people are always in a rush, and mindfulness is nearly non-existent. However, I found everyone in Victoria to be incredibly relaxed and filled with gratitude. No one was in survival mode. In other words, everyone was living.

I want this type of life for myself, and I find it inspiring that others are living it and making it happen. This is all to say that we can all use Victoria's magic in our lives.

If you’ve stuck around this long, thank you for reading. Here’s to a glorious summer and more adventures.

XOXO

-Leslie V