Hello again fellow travelers,

So you’re planning to visit British Columbia this summer or fall? Lovely!

Beautiful Victoria

Of course, you’ll want to include Victoria (where we live) in your itinerary. Visit world-famous Butchart Gardens, stroll around the colorful Inner Harbor, indulge in afternoon tea...

🐋 And go whale watching!

We finally did it — twice — it was that good!

We’d previously seen whales in Cabo and Hawaii, but didn’t think Victoria could compete. Wrong. The waters around our city are actually among the best in the world for spotting marine wildlife, with a 95% chance of watching whales.

The first time, we saw loads of humpbacks, including a blink-and-you-miss-it breach! The second time, orcas (killer whales) were the stars — one even swam right under our boat.

We went in an open speedboat both times, which made it more thrilling. But choices include Zodiacs and larger catamarans with a heated inside cabin.

Less touristy Victoria

Visiting Victoria a second time? Or want to skip the obvious?

We just rounded up some fun local favorites in our guide to more unusual activities that many visitors miss.

Kayaking with moon jellies? A spooky ghost walk? Watching salmon spawn (in autumn)? It’s all here.

Staying in Victoria

Okay, sorry, we can’t offer you our guest room. But we can point you to some lovely hotels where we’ve personally stayed!

• ​Fairmont Empress — A gracious 5-star icon right downtown
• ​Abigail’s Hotel — A romantic adults-only B&B
• ​Oak Bay Beach Hotel — A beachy seaside stay (just 10 minutes from downtown)

Maybe we’ll see you out and about when you come!
​

👀 Travel news from around the world

Here’s what’s caught our attention lately:

• ​Flight cancellations from jet fuel shortages — Things could get messy for summer travel, with more flight cancellations and rising airfares as fuel supply issues drag on, reports BBC News.
  ​
• ​30 Most welcoming places in the world in 2026 — Mexico’s small town of Hidalgo takes the top spot for standout hospitality in the world, according to Booking.com reviews. In second place? Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada (our home country!). The #1 most welcoming city in the U.S. is Fredericksburg, Texas.
  ​
• ​Economy-Class bunk beds on Air New Zealand — Cool! Economy passengers can soon pay to stretch out for 4 hours in bunk beds on long-haul flights. The airline already has its “Sky Couch” where three Economy seats convert into a flat surface. Friends of ours tried it recently — great for her (as she’s shorter and could curl up), not so much for him.

🌎 See some of our other travel guides

• ​20 Best Luxury Hotels in Mallorca (Beach to Boutique)​
  ​
• ​Chic Stays on French St. Martin​
  ​
• ​9 Tips We Swear By to Avoid the Crowds in Porto​
• ​Why We Adored Rayavadee in Railay, Thailand​
  ​
• ​Hottest Caribbean Resorts With Private Pools​

Share this 😎

Thanks for reading.

We hope this newsletter is full of things you’d like to send to a friend. If you pass it along, here’s the link to subscribe.

Bye for now. And we’ll talk again soon!