Vancouver Island sometimes gets overlooked, with tourists choosing to focus on Vancouver City, but it is a little gem and well worth a visit. Hiring a cottage in Victoria is a great way to set up base to explore the many delights of the surrounding area.

Sometimes it’s good to get away from the hurly burly of city life and a walk along one of Vancouver Island’s beaches is a perfect way to relax into your holiday. Stroll hand in hand with your spouse or build sandcastles and explore rock pools with your kids. The scent of the sea and the combination on sun and breeze will leave you feeling refreshed and extremely happy with life.

For those who are into fishing, Victoria offers a brilliant opportunity to experience some of the best fishing in North America. Charter boats operate from Victoria’s Inner Harbour and offer the opportunity for anglers of all experience levels to enjoy some exhilarating fishing. The waters around Victoria are particularly noted for salmon and halibut but there are many other species that make regular appearances on the catch list. As well as the fishing action, there’s also the possibility of spying exciting ocean wildlife such as porpoises, bald eagles, seals, and killer whales!

For families with small kids, why not take a stroll around the Victoria Butterfly Gardens and then follow this up with a visit to the Bug Zoo. The Butterfly Gardens exhibit hundreds of species of butterflies, all of which fly free above and around your head. There’s much more to see than just butterflies, however, as the Gardens also feature a variety of bird species, including flamingos and parrots, whilst Koi fish lazily swim amongst the ponds and streams.

Having opened your child’s eyes to the wonderful world of butterflies, the perfect accompaniment is to then take in a trip to the Victoria Bug Zoo. Here you’ll find a huge array of insects, from scorpions and Tarantula spiders, to crickets, ants, and Giant Stag Beetles. Great fun but maybe not for any squeamish mums or dads!

For the adventurous, why not explore the wilds of Vancouver Island by canoe. A day trip provides the opportunity to get close to Canada’s wildlife, and amongst the species that you may see are Black Bear, elk, deer, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and Kingfishers. Experienced river guides will pilot you along the nine miles of the San Juan River and no prior canoeing experience is required. There’s even an option to camp out in a log cabin, with a meal provided.