Bellingham, Washington; Victoria, Canada - August 2025
Posted August 30, 2025 - 45 Photos. We visited our daughter Allison and son-in-law Steve, who live in Bellingham, Washington. We spent a couple days in Bellingham, and then made our way to Vancouver, Island, Canada, which is the home of Victoria. Vancouver Island is Canada's largest Pacific island, and is known for its dramatic landscapes and mild climate. With a population of about 100,000, Victoria stands out as a premier destination in Canada that offers visitors historic sites, beautiful gardens, and and an active lifestyle.
01 - We flew to Seattle, Washington, boarded a train, and Steve and Allison picked us up at a station north of Seattle. On this map, you can see Vancouver Island to the west of Bellingham. Victoria is marked with the red pin, and is (surprisingly) south of Bellingham.
02 - Julie snapped this crazy cool photo of Mt Rainier as our flight approached Seattle.
03 - Allison and Steve, as we enjoy dining at one of Bellingham's Mexican restaurants.
04 - Allison and Steve had recently finished remodeling their kitchen - it looks beautiful and very functional.
05 - Can you identify this plant? It's a blueberry bush, and Washington blueberries were in season.
06 - Julie loves fresh blueberries from Washington!
07 - And, boy, does she love those blueberries.
08 - Allison and Steve bought a new sailboat -- what a beauty! Unfortunately, we didn't get to ride on it this trip, but we'll hopefully have a chance next time.
09 - The boat's cabin is comfy and spacious.
10 - Enjoying lunch near Blaine Harbor...
11 - ... and drinks at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.
12 - On a chilly, rainy day, Steve drove us all to Canada, and we took a British Columbia Ferry from the mainland to Vancouver Island.
13 - Bright and early the next day, we hit the mean streets of Victoria for a bike tour.
14 - Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. The Parliament Buildings are in the background of this shot of the marina.
15 - There were beautiful flowers all over downtown Victoria.
16 - At the entrance to Victoria's Chinatown.
17 - Fan Tan Alley -- the narrowest commercial street in North America, 35 inches wide at its tightest.
18 - At Beacon Hill Park -- pretty sure that's the USA off in the distance.
19 - Hanging-out at Big Bad John's Lounge, an odd bar with bras hanging from the ceiling and peanut shells all over the floor.
20 - Glad someone can joke about those ridiculous tariffs.
21 - Enjoying elaborate cocktails at a fancy bar.
22 - Visiting THE Buchart Gardens, a national historic site and a triumph of early-20th-century gardening aesthetics.
23 - The gardens were the brainchild of Jennie Butchart, whose husband founded a limestone quarry at the site. She began planting and landscaping over the quarry in 1912.
24 - Expanded and manicured for a century, the site has over one million blooms enjoyed by one million annual visitors.
25 - Steve pretends to be interested in looking at the flowers.
26 - So many pretty flowers.
27 - The Japanese garden is a landscape using elements like rocks, water, moss, and carefully pruned evergreens and maples to evoke natural scenery, symbolize time, and aid meditation.
28 - Check-out this evergreen -- it's a Monkey Puzzle tree, native to Chile and Argentina. Because of the prevalence of similar species in ancient prehistory, it is sometimes called a "living fossil."
29 - Cool view looking-up from the Japanese Garden.
30 - Julie and Allison, just outside the Japanese Garden.
31 - Dazzling dahlias!
32 - Luminous lilies!
33 - A parting shot of Steve and Allison, as we prepare to return to Victoria for a pub crawl.
34 - Back to the hustle and bustle of Victoria.
35 - Flowers in the shape of two orcas atop a massive grass wave.
36 - We came across a draw bridge -- hope no one ever sticks a hand in those gears!
37 - We even saw the bridge in-action. Not something you see every day!
38 - Another thing you don't see every day -- a pigeon lover!
39 - After our first stop on the pub crawl, our guide took us on a water taxi to get to another area of the harbor.
40 - On the briny, and Rick didn't even get sick!
41 - Approaching Fisherman's Wharf, a colorful, vibrant floating village, known for its unique float homes, shops, and food kiosks.
42 - Hanging-out on Fisherman's Wharf with our pub-master, Torin.
43 - Later, Torin took us to a cool pinball pub.
44 - Rick and Allison on our last day together.
45 - Rick and Julie flew from Vancouver Island to Seattle and then on home. This is rather interesting view of the San Juan Islands with Mt. Baker in the background.