If you’re looking for outdoor activities, there are plenty of options in Seattle, but a short and scenic ferry ride on the FRS Clipper can bring you to experience the ultimate outdoor adventurer’s getaway in Victoria, B.C. It’s an opportunity to go international, immerse yourself in rich British heritage, and enjoy a wealth of adventures among spectacular views. Not to mention, it’s always nice enjoy a change of scenery!
From gentle pursuits to more heart-pounding options, an outdoor adventurer’s getaway in Victoria can include everything from kayaking, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding to whale watching, hiking, biking, and much more. There are so many ways to get outdoors and get active in and around the city! Get your gear together for an epic day trip, or even better, pack that suitcase for an overnight escape.
Either way, Clipper Vacations can help you enjoy a smooth, stress-free getaway.
Plus, with our suggestions for special packages that combine your scenic ride to Victoria with some of the city’s top activities and attractions, you can save big too!
Experience the Thrills & the Views at Malahat Skywalk
Take in the west coast from a whole new perspective with an easy spiral walk leading to an awe-inspiring 360-degree view. From the 10-story Malahat Skywalk, you’ll be gazing out at the Salish Sea, multiple islands, fjords, and even the craggy peaks of the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. Simply stroll back down the ramp when you’re done, or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, whiz down the over 65-foot-long spiral slide. Furthermore, you can do it as often as you’d like! Believe us when we say it’s just as amazing as that view from the top.
INSIDER TIP: The Malahat Skywalk is just over a 30-minute drive from downtown Victoria but if you book through Clipper Vacations, the Malahat Shuttle is included so there’s no need to get behind the wheel. Even better, book a package as part of a day trip or overnight stay for the best possible value.
BOOK NOW:
Seattle to Victoria Day Trip with Malahat Skywalk Tour
Malahat Skywalk Overnight Package from Seattle to Victoria, BC
Paddle Through the Epic Scenery
With Ocean River Sports, you can get a stunning perspective of the city from the water. Experienced paddlers can rent single and tandem kayaks, or paddleboards. But we recommend a guided tour for the best experience with great local insight. You might explore the beautiful Inner Harbour right downtown. Or, head out from the Oak Bay Area into the Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve to paddle through the Chain Islands. The wildlife in this region is incredible! Watch for river otters, hang out with the local seals, and spot the many bald eagles and herons as you discover the islets and paddle along the intertidal coastline.
INSIDER TIP: Add this tour when booking your Seattle to Victoria Ferry through Clipper Vacations for convenience and savings.
Add this tour to your reservation during booking:
Clipper Vacations | Victoria Harbour Kayak Tour
Get an AdrenaLINE Rush While Zipping Through Epic Scenery
Enjoy a thrilling adventure while taking in panoramic views of the Sooke Basin and the lush temperature rainforest on an AdrenaLINE Zipline Adventure tour. You’ll soar over the treetops immersed in the beauty that awaits just minutes from the B.C. capital. The fully-guided zipline tour includes a short ATV ride, eight ziplines, and a suspension bridge.
INSIDER TIP: You can add this tour when you book you Clipper Vacations package. You’ll not only get a free second ride, but round-trip shuttle service from downtown Victoria to Sooke, about a 24-mile journey.
Add this tour to your reservation during booking:
Clipper Vacations | Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours
Take a Stroll Through Butchart Gardens
If you’re in the mood for some easy active exploring during your outdoor adventurer’s getaway in Victoria, The Butchart Gardens is hard to beat. Yes, there are some lush gardens in Seattle, but Butchart is consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful. That includes publications like CNN Travel, USA Today, and National Geographic, among a host of others.
A National Historic Site of Canada, there are 55 acres and over 300,000 blooms with winding paths that will bring you to marvel at the kaleidoscope of color. Plus, you can stop to enjoy Jennie Butchart’s award-winning afternoon tea experience too. It’s the perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts and flower lovers.
INSIDER TIP: Of course, the best way to experience Butchart Gardens is to book the tour as part of your trip to Victoria. Upon arrival you can hop on the double-decker motorcoach at our terminal and enjoy the scenery, passing Victoria’s landmarks during the 25-minute journey.
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Butchart Gardens Tour and Ferry | Day Trip Packages | Clipper Vacations
Butchart Gardens Tour & Ferry | Hotel Package | Clipper Vacations
Go Whale Watching
Victoria is one of the best places on the planet for whale sightings. The Salish Sea is teeming with humpback whales and transient orcas – it’s the ultimate playground for an outdoor adventurer’s getaway in Victoria, especially for cetacean lovers! The humpback population has boomed over the past decade, something that researchers have called the “humpback comeback.”
If you’re lucky, you might spot whales from the shore, but your best bet is to take a whale watching excursion. Eagle Wing Tours offers trips in semi-covered catamarans and high-performance speed boats for a fun adventure that also showcases sea, island, and mountain views.
INSIDER TIP: This is another great excursion to book as part of your Clipper Vacations package. The best time to enjoy it is when the whales are more active, from May through September. Of course, it coincides the period when the weather is at its best too. While the whales take center stage, you should also keep an eye out for sea lions, seals, dolphins, and porpoises, which often swim alongside them.
Book Now:
Seattle to Victoria Whale Watching Package | Clipper Vacations
The Pedaler
If you like to pedal, The Pedaler offers bicycle tours that will bring you to some of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks, from the world’s tallest freestanding totem pole to North America’s narrowest streets, and some of the locals favorite spots. Or take a food and drink tour on two wheels where you can sample some of the city’s tastiest eats and enjoy spectacular views. You might dig into everything from pizza in historic Fernwood to decadent cookies in a popular bakery.
INSIDER TIP: Yes, you guessed it. You can add this tour during your Clipper Vacations booking too! If you aren’t looking to put in too much effort, you can upgrade the experience to an e-bike, which will give you the power you need without the hard work.
Add this tour to your reservation during booking:
Clipper Vacations | Pedaler Biking Tour
Trails for Indepedent Exploring On Your Outdoor Adventurer’s Getaway in Victoria
While we’ve suggested some unforgettable, active tours, there are many ways to enjoy an outdoor adventurer’s getaway in Victoria. You can easily hit the trails on your own whether on foot or two wheels. Victoria may be the capital of British Columbia, but it’s also a gateway to a wealth of natural beauty. Surrounded by massive waterfalls, dense forests and pristine waterways, the city is just steps from some of the most scenic hiking and cycling spots in the province. In fact, there you’ll find nearly an endless list of options whether you want to stick closer to downtown or venture further into Vancouver Island’s stunning wilderness. And, of course, even if you don’t book a tour, you can still take advantage of the day trip and overnight packages that Clipper Vacations offers for savings and convenience.
Lone Tree Hill
It’s a moderately challenging but short hike to the top of Lone Tree Hill, but you’ll enjoy some of the most impressive views of the region from here. As you ascend the trail with its rocky landscape and Arbutus trees, watch for ravens and bald eagles that often soar overhead. At the summit, you’ll find a 360-degree viewpoint looking out toward Victoria’s Highlands, The Butchart Gardens, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park and Malahat.
Galloping Goose Trail
The Galloping Goose Trail covers nearly 40 miles, winding from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in North Saanich all the way to downtown Victoria. It then continues west through Langford and Sooke, finally ending in Leechtown.
The Galloping Goose has both paved and unpaved sections, and welcomes walkers, hikers and bikers alike. The wide path allows cyclists to ride comfortably side-by-side, and the wide range of scenery means you can enjoy a little bit of everything the region has to offer. Plus, as you can see, it also showcases magnificent fall foliage during the season.
The West Coast Trail
For more experienced, adventurous hikers who want to venture well beyond Victoria, the West Coast Trail is a must. Located in Pacific Rim National Park, it’s Vancouver Island’s most well-known and expansive trail, tucked between steep cliffs on one side with the Pacific Ocean on the other.
It’s part of the ancestral home of the Ditidaht, Pacheedaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations people, and was created by these peoples as they traveled the land. Comprised of a constantly changing and winding path that takes six to eight days to complete, the West Coast Trail is not for the faint of heart. However, the stunning vistas of Canada’s West Coast make the trek well worth it.
Goldstream Railway Trestle
Want to stay closer to the city? One of the most popular hikes in the immediate Victoria area is the Goldstream Railway Trestle. This trail starts in Goldstream Provincial Park and ends with an unparalleled view of the pristine forest from atop a train bridge high above Niagara Creek. Be ready to venture deep into the Pacific Northwest rainforest before arriving at your final destination.
Mount Work Regional Park Summit Trail
One of the largest parks in the region, Mount Work Regional Park is home to the 1,473-foot-high Mount Work, which can be seen from all over Saanich and Victoria. The trail runs for seven miles through the forest to the summit of Mount Work. Multi-use trails lie on the east slope of the mountain, welcoming mountain bikers with terrain that includes rolling hills and difficult grades for the more advanced. For an easier jaunt, wander around Durrance Lake, the park’s most accessible lake and one of our favorite spots for a picnic.