Vancouver Island, British Columbia is well worth a visit! The beauty and charm of Victoria spill over into other picturesque Vancouver Island communities making the entire island worth exploring – especially Bear Mountain. Only here will you experience scenery that changes from rolling farmland to long sandy beaches and from snow-capped mountains to dense old-growth forests.
Vancouver Island
Voted #1 for the fifth year in a row as the "top North American island" by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, Vancouver Island truly has something for everyone.
From the Cowichan Valley to the Pacific Rim - half the fun of going anywhere on Vancouver Island is getting there and experiencing the Island atmosphere along the way.
With a total population of 700,593, Vancouver Island holds the title as the largest island off the west coast of North America. Occupying an area about the size of Holland, Vancouver Island stretches 500 kilometers (320 miles) southeast to northwest with an area of 3,175,000 hectares (9,493,171 acres) and 3,460.0896 kilometers (2,150 miles) of coastline. It is separated from Vancouver, BC by the Strait of Georgia to the east and from Washington State, by the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the south and southeast, and is actually closer to the United States than to the mainland of west coast Canada.
West Shore Community
Langford, Colwood, and the District of Highlands are some of the municipalities of the West Shore community in the Capital Regional District. The climate is influenced by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, topography and latitude. This area enjoys warm and dry summers, and mild, wet winters resulting in a frost-free season of approximately 202 days. Lying in the rain-shadow of the Olympic Mountains, this area receives less precipitation than Vancouver, and enjoys a high annual average of 2185 sunshine hours.
This wonderful area boasts a wide range of attractions and activities. Well worth a visit, the West Shore community features pristine parks, crystal-clear lakes, and a wealth of recreational choices.
Victoria
Ranked the #2 "top city" in the Americas by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, on the Saanich Peninsula. Greater Victoria covers an area of 540.4 square kilometers (335 square miles), has the mildest climate in Canada, and is a place so green all year that flowers fall out of the sky and even the lamp posts bloom. It is no wonder that it is called The Garden City! The wild beauty of the Pacific coast and the adventure of the great outdoors are within the city limits and ocean and mountain vistas will follow you wherever you go. There are 48 regional, provincial and federal parks in Greater Victoria, totaling more than 7,600 hectares (22,724 acres), and in parts of Victoria's north and west shorelines, waves cut deeply into layers of glacial till and delta material to produce cliffs, spits and lagoons.
The Garden City is a year-round tourism destination that offers a friendly, safe haven for all visitors. Getting here is very easy, and, once here, you will feel a million miles away. With a clean environment and charming ambience, it is no surprise that Victoria, BC is one of the world's favourite destinations.