I visited Victoria, Canada, for the first time, and it felt like stepping into a real-life fairy tale without having to leave North America

I explored Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, for the first time this summer. Molly O’Brien I’m a Los Angeles resident who visited Victoria, Canada, for the first time this summer. In the capital of British Columbia, the locals seemed very happy and friendly.

Victoria felt like a unique mixture of the UK and Portland, and I’d love to return in the future. I went to Victoria, Canada for the first time this summer. I took a carbon-neutral seaplane from Whistler to Victoria.

Molly O’BrienPhotographs of Victoria make the city look like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. And I, a Los Angeles resident, wasn’t disappointed when I visited the capital of British Columbia for the first time this summer. I flew into Victoria from Whistler on one of Harbour Air’s carbon-neutral seaplanes, which takes off and lands on water.

My ticket cost the same as a seat on a standard aircraft routed between Whistler and Victoria, so I decided to arrive by seaplane for the unique experience. It was immediately clear to me that Victoria was special. From its historic architecture to its well-manicured gardens, there were charming sites everywhere I looked.

 Here’s what my summertime visit to Victoria was like. I learned about the city’s history by visiting different architectural sites and landmarks. Visiting different buildings and landmarks was a great way to learn about Victoria’s past.

Molly O’BrienBritish Columbia was a royal colony under British rule before it became the sixth province of Canada in 1871. Today, the region’s ties to the UK are reflected in Victoria’s impressive, stately architecture. But the city’s history stretches much further back than the British settlers’ arrival in 1778.

The Lekwungen people had already been living there for thousands of years. I learned about the indigenous groups’ cultures and histories by visiting some of the city’s longstanding landmarks, like the totem poles and the Signs of Lekwungen. Elements of Victoria reminded me of two very different places: the UK and Portland, Oregon.

There was an impressive mixture of cultures and landscapes in Victoria. Molly O’BrienMy first impression of Victoria was that it felt like a combination of the UK and Portland, Oregon.  I picked up on the British influence on the city throughout my trip, particularly during a “Castles, ‘Hoods, & Legends” bike tour that took me to landmarks including Craigdarroch Castle and Beacon Hill Park.

I also went to Hotel Fairmont Empress to enjoy afternoon tea, one of the UK’s centuries-old traditions. Other parts of Victoria, such as its inclusive and progressive community, reminded me of Portland. My tour guide informed me that British Columbia is historically one of Canada’s more liberal provinces, and during my trip, I saw a lot of pride flags hanging around town.

 I also noticed many environmentally focused initiatives led by community members and local businesses, like a carbon-neutral whale-watching company called Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours. The locals seemed more upbeat and outgoing than the people I’ve met in Los Angeles. Hotel Fairmont Empress offered a lavish spread for afternoon tea.

Molly O’BrienVictoria’s atmosphere felt similarly progressive to where I live in Los Angeles, but people in the capital city seemed so much nicer and happier. Everyone in town was genuinely friendly, which immediately stuck out to me. Downtown Victoria was very accessible by bike and on foot.

I felt safe walking and biking through Victoria’s downtown area. Molly O’BrienStrolling through Victoria, which is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, was a breeze. The streets were extremely accessible by foot or by bike, and there were wide bike lanes everywhere I went.

The city celebrated the arrival of summer by hanging hundreds of flower baskets around town. The flower baskets marked the start of summer. Molly O’BrienIt seemed like there were flowers blooming everywhere I looked in Victoria.

 Each June, the city marks the start of summer by hanging hundreds of flower baskets around town. The tradition dates all the way back to 1937.  Though I didn’t make it to the iconic Butchart Gardens on this trip, I’ve heard its beautiful blossoms are legendary.

The logistics of traveling between the US and Canada were more straightforward than I expected. I went whale watching during my trip to Victoria. Molly O’BrienIn terms of logistics, traveling from the US to Canada wasn’t too challenging.

 My cell phone still worked since my Verizon unlimited data plan carried over to Canada and Mexico. My credit card also worked, although I had to pay a small international service fee when I used it in Canada. However, these additional fees vary by credit card.

I recommend withdrawing Canadian dollars out of the ATM for smaller purchases rather than using a credit card to pay for taxis (Uber and Lyft weren’t available in Victoria) or items at the market. Victoria’s restaurant and bar scene blew me away, and the prices were similar to what I would pay in Los Angeles. I ordered a pizza at Spinnakers, Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub.

Molly O’BrienThe food I ate in Victoria was fantastic, and the prices were on par with what I would pay in Los Angeles.  Victoria had a ton of restaurants, bars, and breweries — including Spinnakers, Canada’s oldest licensed brewpub. I’m used to bars in the US being strict about only allowing people 21 and older inside.

So, I thought it was funny that Spinnakers had a sign saying patrons had to be at least 19, the legal drinking age in Canada, to enter. I had to get used to using the international metric system during my trip. Victoria is an adventure traveler’s dream since there are so many outdoor activities.

Molly O’BrienAs someone who grew up in the US, I’ve always used the imperial system. However, Canada uses the international metric system. When I was in Victoria, it wasn’t hard to figure out conversions (like calculating how many kilometers I kayaked), but it took me a moment to get used to the system.

 Knowing how to jump between the imperial system and the international metric system is important since the latter is used in many places outside the US. Overall, I really enjoyed my first visit to Victoria and would love to return. Victoria is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

Molly O’BrienBecause of Victoria’s friendly locals, tasty food, and abundance of outdoor activities, it’s definitely a place that I’ll return to explore more in the future. Read the original article on Insider.