Victoria, Canada is absolutely spectacular when covered in fresh snow! I ought to have realized when I boarded the Victoria ferry on my way to my Victoria Inn that visibility was going to be low and I would be arriving in a snow-filled wonderland. The weather forecast called for record breaking snow accumulation in Seattle; I definitely should have anticipated a decent amount of snow in Vancouver Island, but little did I know how much snowfall they would receive! Victoria BC is an exceptionally beautiful city and it was great to have experienced it in the winter.

Visiting Chinatown
I was walking around downtown and had completely forgotten that I had read about Victoria's Chinatown beforehand and came across the awesome gate at the entrance of Chinatown! Behold, the Gate of Harmonious Interest; what a beautiful site. The businesses in the Chinatown district included a diverse array of products and services such as grocer markets, tea shops, Chinese schools, Asian restaurants, and Chinese medicine shops. I also really enjoyed the Chinese and Asian accents on simple things such as the street trash cans and street signs.

Victoria BC's Parliament Buildings
Victoria's Parliament Buildings are located downtown and facing the beautiful harbor. When I arrived in Victoria, the outer grounds of the government buildings had about three inches of snow; it was so pretty! Since the layers of snow were so new there were only a few footprints in the snow so it made some very pretty pictures. The Parliament Buildings are distinctly baroque and very elegant; they were finished in 1898. The buildings host the Speaker, Bill Barisoff, and BC's Legislative Assembly.

The Beautiful Inner Harbour
Victoria's Inner Harbour is a very active marine and metro area that feeds into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The elegant buildings in the harbor district create a very pleasing panorama particularly when covered in snow! When I was there, there was even a flock of Canadian geese foraging in a snowy embankment on the shore; it was an appropriate scene! I also got to watch some seaplanes landing, which is an interesting thing to watch. While walking around I also stumbled upon the Royal Canadian Navy monument which had some really nice bronze statues; worth taking a look.

Exploring the City
The people I talked to in Victoria was quite welcoming! There is a social thoughtfulness and patient mind-set in this vacationer city that really enhances the welcoming feel as you explore the area.

I was staying at a pet friendly hotel and didn't even bring my dog! The next trip I am taking is to Vancouver and it turns out this BC hotel chain has accommodations near Vancouver Airport so I will be able to bring my pup next time!