One of Canada's 'most livable cities' is this dreamy BC spot nestled on an enchanting island

It's like living in a fairytale. 🏰🧚

Person standing on a balcony with greenery all around. Right: A castle.

A small town in BC with fairytale vibes.

Editor

This dreamy little community nestled on the beautiful Vancouver Island was ranked among the "most livable" in the country. It feels like stepping into a storybook when you visit, with its own castle that you can roam around and everything.

The small city is just outside of Victoria, within reach of the bustling hub of the island, but still removed enough to have a small-town appeal.

Colwood is a picturesque place to call home, and landed a spot on The Globe and Mail ranking of Canada's Most Livable Cities. With a tight-knit community vibe and temperate weather, this little gem of a city will have you wanting to pack up and move.

The most fairytale-like place to visit here is the famous Hatley Castle, a garden and museum from 1908 that you can still tour around today. The sprawling estate makes for a dreamy weekend afternoon, spent wandering the pretty gardens, like the Rose or the formal Italian one.

This place is picture perfect, but the dreaminess of Colwood doesn't stop there.

The small community has a slow pace ot it, but still with everything you need.

Then there are the kilometres of waterfront, with beautiful parks and trails to take in the ocean views from. City beaches and spots like Esquimalt Lagoon make after-dinner strolls next-level stunning.

Then there are idyllic parks like Latoria Creek Park and trails like the Galloping Goose. The blend of nature and city makes a balanced lifestyle here that much more achievable.

Of course, being tucked away on Vancouver Island also means that Colwood has endless remarkable nature within reach. Lush rainforests set alongside sandy beaches and adorable little towns are all a drive away from this little city.

This seaside community has a little bit of everything.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. After working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, she joined Narcity with a move to B.C., drawn to the beauty of Western Canada. Since then, she's documented her experience moving to Vancouver, covering everything from local events to bucket-list travel destinations across Canada's West Coast.

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