Victoria, BC, Canada : Oak Bay

The seaside community has managed to achieve a traditional "English" image by consistently respecting it's environment when building. The street boulevards are sometimes atrium-like creating tunnels under the trees. Many arching Garry Oak Trees forming shaded roads for the traffic.

The seaside community has managed to achieve a traditional "English" image by consistently respecting it's environment when building. The street boulevards are sometimes atrium-like creating tunnels under the trees. Many arching Garry Oak Trees forming shaded roads for the traffic.

Some of the large gardens, especially in the Uplands Estate area and Beach Drive area, are planted with beautiful gardens filled with rainbow colors. In the spring and summer, a drive through the streets can be treated with reds, greens and yellows. The gardens brighten up the streets which is lined with old century architecture homes.

There are so many older trees, evenly laid out lining the streets. There are sandy beaches in the area that draw a large crowd year round. Willows Beach is one of the more popular sandy beaches of the Oak Bay area in Victoria, BC ... always busy with roller bladers, bikers, beach combers and sun bathers.

Also one of Victoria's better known marina's, Oak Bay Marina, is located on the shores of the bay with many large recreational boats and yachts tied up to the docks.

Oak Bay is a great starting point for a good cruise and "drive around" because it leads to the runners, joggers, sightseers and walkers on the Dallas Road Sea Wall located on the back end of Beacon Hill Park in downtown Victoria BC Canada. The whole area is a great view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Some do the trip in reverse and Oak Bay is the destination. Start on Dallas Road which turns into Beach Drive thus entering the Oak Bay area where homes are stationed high on rocks peering down on you. There are traditional smaller boutiques in the community adding to the comfortable feel of the area with no sight of massive malls anywhere.