We had a decision to make when we planned on going to British Columbia -- Vancouver or Victoria. We chose Victoria because we felt it had significant small-city charm and goofiness that aligned with our own sense of adventure. So we took a ferry from Seattle through the Puget Sound and up along the Haro Strait to this city of 100,000. We weren't disappointed!

Victoria sits on the south end of Vancouver Island, and looks across the Salish Sea to Port Angeles, Washington.

A lot of activity centers around the city's bustling harbor, which teems with myriad boats, seaplanes, and water taxies.

Victoria Harbor is famous for these little taxies which, besides taking you to your destination . . .

. . . perform a quite lovely water ballet every Saturday morning.

Victoria is one of the most bike friendly cities we've visited. Knowing we were in the city for three months, we purchased some bikes within a few days of arrival . . .

. . . and spent most days tooling around the city.

Besides bicycling, we found our way onto the water, paddle boarding, kayaking . . .

. . . and sailing, here on the schooner Duen, taking an evening sail out into the Puget Sound.

One of the places we biked around was Cragdarroch Castle

Despite the name, it's a mansion, built in the late 1800's by a Scottish coal baron.

The city is proud of its association with local native tribes, in particular the Songhees, a Salish tribe occupying the southeast of Vancouver Island.

Native artwork and totems are rife around the city, particularly in the harbor area.

Victoria's also a great walking city, with a multitude of pretty outlooks, like Fisherman's Wharf . . .

. . . and the myriad alleyways of Chinatown.

Butchart Gardens are about a half hour drive north of Victoria, in Brentwood Bay.

This stunningly gorgeous set of gardens is privately owned by the Butchart family.

The gardens were originally created 120 years ago by Jennie Butchart.

Jennie's husband, Robert, made his fortune in the Portland cement trade and moved to Vancouver Island because of the availability of limestone in the area.