A small BC city that looks like it belongs in a storybook ranked among Canada's most livable
Seaside strolls and wandering through castle halls.🏰
Hatley Castle BC. Right: Colwood BC.
Tucked away on Vancouver Island, just outside of Victoria, sits a smaller city that looks like it's been plucked from the pages of a fairytale. A historical castle with sprawling gardens to roam, seaside walks, and lush forests make up Colwood.
The small city was put under the spotlight recently by The Globe and Mail on the ranking of Canada's Most Livable Cities. Colwood came in at 50th place, recognized for its strong sense of community, low crime rates and temperate weather. The ranking as a whole considered various factors, all aimed at helping Canadians discover the cities that they can thrive in.
As a city on Vancouver Island, it's easy to see what helps make it a great place to live, with some of the most beautiful nature peppered around the island.
The small community has a slower pace than the nearby city of Victoria, but you're still close enough to enjoy all of the amenities, being just 20 minutes away. Perhaps even better is the fact that you're within reach of breathtaking beaches, thick rainforests, cozy small towns to get away in, and little islands you can grab a ferry over to.
Colwood itself has over 5 kilometres of oceanfront to explore and is "set amongst some of the most beautiful parks and trails on Southern Vancouver Island," the Vancouver Island tourism website says.
Within the limits of the city, there are stunning beaches to enjoy, lots of parks, and even a historical castle that will make you feel like you're stepping back in time. A leisurely walk at Lagoon Beach or Latoria Creek Park after work is in the cards while living here, or a bike ride along the Galloping Goose trail. Soaking up nature is one of the biggest intrigues about life in Colwood, and there's no shortage of it.
The area is also famous for Hatley Castle, the museum and gardens built in 1908.
The sparkling estate is especially beautiful in the summer months when it's exploding with colour, and you can spend the day wandering around the Rose Garden, the formal Italian Garden, or the Japanese garden here.
The castle was actually featured in a few movies thanks to its picturesque setting, including the X-Men films and Deadpool.
Paired with the dreamy ocean views and forest strolls, life here really does seem a bit more magical.