The view from Nathanael’s bed and breakfast on Vancouver Island.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Why I went to Vancouver Island<\/strong>
\nI was completing some research on Vancouver Island for one of my writing projects with World Words, and I was enchanted by the idea of the place from the first moment I read about it. Mountains rolling into forests that then cascade into seas… as an outdoors enthusiast, I knew I had to visit. Conveniently, two of my close friends then moved out to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia located in the south of the island, so I booked my tickets.<\/p>\n

My highlight of the trip<\/strong>
\nI spent three days by myself \u2013 I\u2019m a big fan of solo travel \u2013 in a delightful bed-and-breakfast hotel facing the Georgia Strait, with views of Vancouver in the distance. I hired a kayak and spent hours just drifting through the serene landscape, circumnavigating De Courcy Island and Link Island. The scenery was quintessentially British Columbian, with trees covering the near landscape and mountains piercing the horizon in the distance. Best of all, the area is teeming with extraordinary wildlife. I got an up-close view of two bald eagles basking in the sunlight, not long after following an otter who was enjoying a particularly successful fishing trip. <\/p>\n

What else I love about Vancouver Island<\/strong>
\nVictoria is a laid-back, welcoming city that doesn\u2019t really feel like the capital of a major Canadian region. I spent my time here exploring on foot \u2013 always a bonus for a city, in my opinion \u2013 wandering along the charming waterfront and drinking quality coffee. There aren\u2019t too many big-hitting attractions (although the gardens of Beacon Hill Park are definitely worth a visit) but the atmosphere invites you to simply explore or relax at your own pace. I particularly enjoyed snacking on street food and stopping in one of the finest independent bookshops I\u2019ve ever visited. Oh, and all the stereotypes you\u2019ve heard about the friendliness of Canadians are actually true. <\/p>\n