vancouver + victoria: a pacific northwest weekend

Back in June, Seb and I flew up to British Columbia for a quick trip to see some old friends (well, Seb’s old friends, my new-ish friends). We spend two nights in Vancouver, visiting the Granville Island Public Market, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver Aquarium and downtown waterfront area. It was cloudy and chilly and drizzly, but we tried to ignore it and enjoy what we could. We succeeded for the most part and had a good time discovering the city’s modern features and cute neighborhoods set against the super green, lush background of the Pacific coastal mountains.

Then it was on to Victoria by seaplane, a truly awesome experience. Take-off was smooth, and flying low over the Strait of Georgia, we had fabulous aerial views of the Gulf Islands. However, the skies became darker and stormier as we neared Victoria, and landing was most definitely not smooth. Nerve-wracking, more like it. But, all was well as we disembarked and stepped back onto solid ground, getting our first glimpse of the historical city of Victoria, vastly different from Vancouver. Where Vancouver is bustling, Victoria is more relaxed; where Vancouver is contemporary, Victoria is steeped in British charm – and architecture. We spent just about 24 hours in the British Columbian capital city, but it was full of scenic walks and fantastic eating (it’s a bit of a foodie paradise!).

The next day, we boarded the Victoria Clipper, a high-speed ferry, for the trip to Seattle. Zooming across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and into Puget Sound, we arrived in Seattle in just three hours, and had a few hours to walk around before heading to the airport. We explored Pike Place Market, of course, as well as the trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood. Another great weekend in the West!

A few photo highlights below; click here for a full photo gallery