Yay!! A whirlwind visit from our daughters was such a nice Father’s Day present. We packed as much as we could into their first visit, all tourist stuff of course, and enjoyed every minute.
Having coordinated their flights to connect in Calgary and get on the same plane for the second half of the journey they enjoyed views of the Rockies, the Strait of Georgia, and Vancouver Island before landing at Nanaimo airport (a short, easy 40 minute drive for us). After a quick stop at home to refresh and pack a picnic, we headed out to show them our new home.
First up, Parksville Community Park to walk the beach, then off to Rathtrevor Beach for a picnic lunch, followed by a walk through Qualicum Beach village before heading back home for a homemade pasta dinner – YUM. 2 full days preparing meals before they arrived was well worth it to have more free time for their visit.
A trip to the island, of course, has to include Victoria. We booked an Airbnb for a night so that we could have a couple days to explore properly. Early up, and off to the city (2.5 hours drive). A nice clear day provided good views of the mountains and glimpses of ocean as we drove. Although we were too early to check in, we parked the truck on the street across from our rental (free parking for residents) because we would be walking around the rest of the day.
Victoria Legislature 
Fisherman’s Wharf, Floating Village
Starting at Fisherman’s Wharf, we checked out the colourful float homes and restaurants before walking downtown. A stop at the Legislative Assembly grounds for a photo op, then across the road we popped into the Empress Hotel to do a walkthrough of the gorgeous lobby and corridor of shops.
Exiting onto Douglas Street, one of the main streets through the city, we walked along to the Public Market at the Hudson, and admired some buildings with older architecture. From there a short walk led us into China Town through the dragon arches and along streets lined with shops. The famous FanTan Alley is always fun to walk through. It is the narrowest street in Canada and has some unique shops. One street over is The Market Square, another fun shopping spot – three story buildings surround a sheltered square terrazza with gardens and tables. In the buildings are restaurants, shops, and apartments.
Along the waterfront we walked to our favorite food truck Red Fish, Blue Fish to get a bite of the best taco’s, awesome deep fried pickles, and fresh crispy fries. They never dissapoint. Located beside the Harbour Air terminal, it is entertaining to watch the planes, boats, and water taxi’s jockey for position in the harbour while eating.
Next we walked along the harbourfront, and then to Beacon Hill Park to walk among the many flower beds, ponds, and birds. We got treated to a great display of feathers by a couple resident male peacocks. Sitting by the water for a while to rest up, we watched the boats go by, and then slowly made our way to the Airbnb, stopping briefly to get the iconic picture at Mile 0 marker.