Our most recent home exchange adventure, over spring break, was to Victoria, British Columbia. It’s an incredibly beautiful and cosmopolitan city for its relatively small size. It’s also very easy to get around the downtown area whether you’re on a bike, walking or driving. We had our car with us on this home swap (as we drove from our house to Victoria) and on the days we did drive into the downtown area, parking spots were plentiful.
Our home exchange partners, Jack and Brannan, were gracious and welcoming with a “Welcome to Victoria” package for us. Their home was beautiful, centrally located, and minutes from the downtown and inner harbor area as well as the stoic Craigdarroch Castle and Government House Gardens.
We had bicycles which we used to ride from their home to the Galloping Goose trail. It’s a fun, flat ride that we enjoyed with a picnic lunch.
Our big splurge was lunch out at “Red Fish, Blue Fish” which is located on the water in the inner harbor. Go off the menu and ask for the fried pickles. You won’t be sorry. Lunch was so tasty and the fish is all sustainably caught. There is outdoor seating along the water and the restaurant kitchen is in an up-cycled cargo container.
It seems to always happen on our home exchanges that some item accidentally gets broken. Honestly, I wish I could tell you that my kids are responsible for breaking the most items but usually it’s me! I ended up breaking not 1, but 2 glasses. From now on, I’m allowed only “sturdy” glassware and not fancy wine glasses or otherwise.
It was a beautiful week of weather in Victoria and I can’t say enough about the natural beauty surrounding the city or the ease with which we got around. The only downside of the trip? Our car had to be pushed off the ferry. The starter broke while we were there but luckily it’s a stick-shift and we were able to “pop the clutch” and head home!
Did you travel anywhere for spring break? Still wish you had a spring break???
Go Gingham related links:
Getting ready for a home exchange tips and house warming gift ideas
Meal planning while on vacation and meal planning while camping
Our San Francisco home exchange –Part I, Part II and
Part III
Save money on your next trip: before and during
Travel packing tips with a PDF chart are here
Want to keep food costs low while traveling? Try these tips!
Home swapping and eating like a local – foodies will love this!
Go Gingham 
What a beautiful location! Looks like you all had a great time.
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We did, Karen, and I’d love to go back and explore “up island” as they say. That’s anything north of Victoria. The ferry ride was beautiful – the part I stayed awake for! 🙂
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Looks like you had an amazing time! It is absolutely gorgeous there!
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It really is, Martha. I was a concerned that the weather would be more winter like since it’s north of us but it was just lovely.
Thanks, Martha!
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I thought you had forgotten to blog about your trip–always fun for armchair travelers like me! What a fun destination.
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Kris, I had so many pictures to sort through! We had a really great time and my kids would say they LOVED having cable TV, too! If forgot to mention that little fact. 🙂
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Ah yes, the rare times we go to a hotel, my kids are amazed that more than 5 channels exist.
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I loved visiting Victoria many years ago! It looks like it was a great family vacation!
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