victoria

A small city on Vancouver Island was ranked among the best places to live in the province, and it's not difficult to see why. Set along a sparkling waterfront, with picturesque streets lined with local shops, and access to some of the most magical natural wonders in the country — it's a spot like none other.

Victoria strikes that perfect balance of city life and peaceful nature. After work, adventures here can range from hiking past ancient trees to paddleboarding along the scenic coastline surrounding the town. The downtown has a little bit of everything, with tons of restaurants, eclectic boutiques, and charming heritage buildings.

Wandering through this sprawling garden will make you feel like you've stepping into another world, one full of bright colours and beautiful blooms. It's tucked away just outside of a city though, and is a peaceful oases not far from bustling streets.

This is The Buchart Gardens in Victoria, which just ranked among the most vibrant in North America, in a study conducted by the hotel chain Premier Inn. To craft the ranking, it analyzed gardens from around the world using satellite imagery and colour theory, to get a 'vibrancy score' for each.

This waterfront city has historic streets lined with local shops, gardens bursting with colour, and even some castles that look like they've been plucked from the pages of a storybook. It's known for its British roots, which bring a certain charm to it, and recently, it's gotten some extra praise.

Booking.com, an online travel agency, released its annual Traveller Review Awards, crafted using over 360 million verified customer reviews.The awards included a list of Canada's Most Welcoming Places, based on the number of accommodation options in a place, which received a 2025 Traveller Review Award.