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.

Cool to view but tours are closed in the winter, so we were able to wander the grounds only. Not…read morethe size expected for a castle, it's part of the university and classes are held in the winter which is why there weren't any tours available.

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.

This is a fun place to visit on a Sunday morning around 10:15am when the water taxis do their boat…read moreballet. It last about 20 minutes and the little boats dance around the inner Harbour to music while the crowds gather along to dock area to watch. There is a nice marina too where there are big and small boats as well as a whale watching boat. On some days, there are vendors that setup along the harbour to sell there arts and crafts. There is no elevator to the lower level but there is plenty to see from to upper area too.

I was here for Upstairs Downstairs a production from a local improv theater company. It was lovely…read more A whole bunch of fun in a beautiful castle!! Wow! This place is cool! I recommend a visit here if you can swing it. So nice! Lots of history of course. When it was built, the tower was the highest place anyone could stand in Victoria.

Wonderful experience! If you're in Victoria this is a MUST DO! Very cool castle in the middle of…read moretown!

Free guided or self guided tours in the first and second floor of the building. Pretty neat and…read moreshows the British Empire's pomp and circumstance mixed with the traditional culture of the First Nations

Really cool capital building right off the dock area. Lots of great artwork and other items that…read moredraw the attention to a very important looking building fair governmental looking, but also has been around for a long time. It shows the importance of this building and their connection to the government. There is a great totem pole in the front as well assome statues to recognize important leaders. Built for Queen Victoria, however, she never made it there.

Beautiful exhibits and such a fun way to spend an afternoon. We were lucky and got to see felting…read moreart being completed. All the various exhibits were different and the staff was warm and welcoming.

A very great art gallery and fantastic displays. Have visited many times…read more Hope they get their new location. Very strange people that work there !

Wonderful place! Learn and grow experience…read more Staff is very nice. Kids and adults liked it as did I. Steve

Imagination activated the moment you step in. There's so much that grabs even an adult's attention…read morewhen you walk into the doors that it is hard to focus on paying admission to get in. We lots of discipline, we got our tickets and entered the incredible children's museum. You walk into a woodland wonderland and it only gets better from there. We are pretty partial to our home museum in Cincinnati and haven't found a better one but this comes very close. Theres so many interactive areas. There is a treehouse down toward the right when you walk in along with a small town. A walk on airplane that allows kids to work with parcels, a train engine you can walk into with model train set behind. A water station as well as stairs to the outdoor portion with an extensive jungle gym, musical instruments, mini golf, and an excavation site with dinosaurs! They had science exhibits for older kids and younger kids alike. A toddler area as well. You could keep any kid toddler to about 10 years of age entertained for hours. Parking isn't free unless you can snag a coveted spot in front but it's not too pricey. Admission is $22 a person. They have last half hour free during summer which is nice. Staff are dressed in purple and nothing but kind and friendly. There is a cafe at the top (well, a "food truck" theme) and tables and benches to eat. Looked like you could pack your own food. Also looked like you could host birthday parties and field trips. All in all, impressive children's museum. We can't wait to come back!

The staff member at the front desk was incredibly kind! The interactive art was so fun and…read morecreative. We had such a fun time

Wowow such a fun and unique place. My partner and I loved the art installations and how interactive…read moreand different everything was. I didn't catch the man who was workings name (maybe he was the owner?) but he was SO nice, friendly, inviting. Just topped off the experience. I would def recommend everyone to go here and give them your money

Fun stop to breakup the drive Free activity Enjoy A little…read morestretch and enjoy the fresh air

We thought this place was going to be cheesy and dumb. But we were MISTAKEN, it was cool. You can…read morepick trails, you can walk it all, you can find birds, you can sit and talk, you have tons of photo ops. We loved it!!! We walked and talked. Enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Mark the owner of this fine art gallery is very competent and honest…read more I purchased some items and he ensured they were shipped perfectly packed and followed up regularly to make sure everything went well. And it did! I feel good about his opinions and passion and the quality of his available artwork. Just a great local business to support as he educates everyone on local history and allows you to purchase some of it! Now that's a win-win

What an amazing gallery. I always find the perfect gifts for family and myself here. The best place…read moreI've found for Indigenous Art in Victoria. The owner is so knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to friends.