Victoria is British Columbia's capital city. I'm not much of a city person but Victoria has a certain charm about it, especially around the Inner Harbour area. It's worth spending some time here - it's a very popular weekend destination but you can fit a lot in a single day as well!

Exploring Victoria's Inner Harbour area is a must while visiting the capital city of British Columbia. It is the focal point of Victoria and a place that has been utilised for thousands of years.

Impressive heritage buildings stand next to the water - the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Both were constructed over 100 years ago, in a very grand architectural style.

In the summer, the harbour area is busy with visitors, festivals and live music. Various tours leave from here, including whale watching excursions.

The BC Parliament buildings are a standout feature of Victoria's Inner Harbour. The main Richardsonian Romanesque style structure was built in the late 19th century and is home to the Legislative Assembly.

Fronted by manicured lawn, statues and fountains, this is a very pretty and grand place to wander around. I'd recommend going inside if you can - access is possible on weekdays only. There are free guided tours, which are helpful as many of the features of the building have specific meaning and heritage.

Fisherman's Wharf is a quirky waterfront community is home to a collection of colourful floating homes, outdoor eateries and ecotourism operators. The latter include Eagle Wing Tours (whale watching) and Kelp Reef Adventures.

My top choice for food is Barb's Fish & Chips, which has been operating for more than 40 years!

If you can, consider walking here from the main harbour area. There is parking but the closest lot has a per hour charge and the surrounding streets are two hours maximum (fine for a quick visit but not for tours).

Get a glimpse of the beautiful scenery surrounding Victoria on the Dallas Road Waterfront Trail. The full length is just over 7km but you can simply choose where you'd like to start and finish. The path is paved, with access to the beach also available in certain areas. Keep in mind it can be pretty windy!

Victoria is known as one of the most liveable cities in Canada and the views from the Breakwater offer a few explanations why.

Take an afternoon or evening walk on the 730m long Breakwater to reach the Lighthouse and enjoy incredible ocean panoramas (though it can be pretty windy, here's a fair warning!)

On clear days, the mountains of Washington's Olympic Peninsula can be seen. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife - seals are relatively common. This is a very popular local sunset viewing area.

A more affordable alternative to the Empress, the James Bay Inn Hotel is just a short walk from the harbour. This cosy and comfortable hotel isn't fancy but has lovely heritage features (note: no elevator).

Tapa Bar is a warm and inviting Spanish small plates restaurant in downtown Victoria. It's the perfect pick when you're not quite sure what you want as it's all about sharing and trying lots of different things. Tapa is also great for vegan travellers as there is a choice of already vegan dishes and those that can be made vegan.