National Geographic Venture docked in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia this morning, under clear blue skies and on calm waters. We had a full day of exploration in this vibrant city, which is both modern and steeped in rich history. These were perfect conditions to witness all Victoria had to offer. The trees and gardens of this city burst with verdant greens and a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers.

Our guests had numerous options for the day’s activities, including history, architecture, and garden tours as well as visiting the museum, biking, and personal exploration. Mixing and matching these outings made for a very active and culturally informative day. Victoria won us over in no time with its seemingly countless charms.

We had a very special cocktail hour where we visited the gallery of world-famous wildlife artist Robert Batemam on the Victoria’s Harbor. We put on our best outfits and rode by coach to the gallery, where we enjoyed drinks, appetizers, and most importantly, the amazing art of Mr. Bateman.

Although the focus of this day was more on culture than the natural world, Victoria bounds with greenery, teems with birds, and is surrounded by the rich waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Nature was never far away. This lovely city was a perfect place to explore as part of our greater journey through the Inside Passage.