Have you ever imagined finding happiness in a place you never thought you'd like? I never pictured myself enjoying small-city life – I was a big-city person through and through. But then, life threw a curveball, and I ended up on a Canadian island.
In 2021, my partner and I made the leap and moved to Victoria, a charming city nestled on Vancouver Island. To our surprise, we absolutely fell in love with it. It wasn't the grand metropolis I'd always dreamed of, but it offered something genuinely special.
While I do occasionally yearn for the perks of a major urban center, the walkability, manageable size, and relaxed pace of Victoria have completely won me over.
Growing up in the mid-sized city of Vancouver, I was constantly drawn to the idea of living in a bustling metropolis – a vibrant hub overflowing with culture and endless opportunities for exploration. I envisioned a place where something exciting was always happening just around the corner.
For a time, that's exactly what I experienced. When I started dating someone from the UK, I packed my bags and moved to his hometown of Birmingham, England. Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK, boasting a population of over a million people. It was a far cry from Vancouver!
After calling Birmingham home for five years, a familiar longing began to creep in. I found myself missing the vastness of the ocean, the majestic mountains, and the laid-back atmosphere that defines my home province of British Columbia. So, we decided to head back to Canada.
After some deliberation, we settled on Victoria, the capital city of Vancouver Island. My family had relocated there while I was living in the UK, and it seemed like a logical choice for us to start anew in Canada, where we had the invaluable support of family.
To be honest, I wasn't sure if we'd stay in Victoria permanently. But now, two years later, we're thoroughly enjoying our life on the island.
Victoria's unexpected charms: Walkability and a laid-back vibe.
I always enjoyed visiting Victoria during my childhood. It was a convenient 1.5-hour ferry ride from the mainland. However, I had my reservations about actually living there. I worried that I'd find it boring. After all, I'd always gravitated towards larger, more dynamic cities.
Thankfully, after immersing myself in the hustle and bustle of Birmingham for several years, I found myself appreciating Victoria's tranquil pace even more. It seems that I needed a large dose of the big city to realize what I really wanted!
With a population of under 100,000, Victoria rarely feels overcrowded. The city is surrounded by the serene shorelines and beaches of Vancouver Island, which contributes to its overall sense of calm and tranquility. It's a place where you can truly breathe.
It didn't take long for me to appreciate Victoria's compact size, either. No matter where we need to go, it never feels too far from our apartment in our incredibly walkable, centrally located neighborhood.
Every essential amenity we could possibly need is within a 15-minute walk – including grocery stores, a hospital and medical clinics, a drugstore, and even a post office. Even my hair salon is less than 20 minutes away on foot! Imagine that!
Beyond that, we can easily reach stunning beaches, lush parks, and the vibrant downtown area within 30 minutes. And even if we need to drive across town for something, the journey is never excessively long – we can get almost anywhere in under an hour.
I no longer have to endure the frustration of watching UK buses and trains get delayed, only to then be crammed onto them like sardines with hundreds of other commuters when they finally arrive. Nor do I have to navigate through massive crowds on busy boulevards or in bustling shops.
Here in Victoria, I feel like I always have room to breathe and move freely.
Despite its relatively small size, Victoria also boasts a diverse array of cafés, restaurants, shops, and cultural establishments. Even after two years of living here, I'm still discovering hidden gems, so I definitely don't feel bored.
But here's where it gets controversial... Sometimes I do miss aspects of living in a big city.
If there's one universal truth I've learned from all my moves, it's that no place is perfect. As much as I adore my new life in Victoria, I occasionally miss some of the perks that larger cities offer.
Having grown up in a city with an international airport, I find that traveling is now more challenging and less convenient. Victoria does have a local airport, but its international flight options are generally limited to a handful of US cities and Mexican resort towns.
I frequently travel to Asia and Europe, which means I typically need to depart from Vancouver to get more direct flights. Traveling to Vancouver can add anywhere from a few hours to an entire day to my travel time. I often spend the night in Vancouver if I have an early morning flight or a late-night arrival.
I also miss having a wider range of entertainment options. I've attended some fantastic events in Victoria, from intimate concerts to hilarious comedy shows. However, as a smaller city, Victoria is frequently bypassed by the larger artists and performers that I love.
While I appreciate having the option of traveling to Vancouver to see these acts, I have to carefully consider whether an event is worth all the additional travel expenses, from ferry tickets to a hotel room for the night.
My husband and I usually pick one or two gigs per year that we really want to see and make a trip out of it. But I'd undoubtedly attend many more shows if I were still living in Vancouver and only had to worry about the cost of the tickets.
Finally, I miss the diversity of bigger cities. Victoria is relatively diverse for its size, but it still cannot compare to larger cities like Vancouver or Birmingham, let alone global metropolises like Paris and London.
As an immigrant with a mixed ethnic background, I miss the larger cultural communities of Vancouver, where I was able to connect more easily with people who shared similar backgrounds and experiences.
And this is the part most people miss... The convenience of a large city can be hard to give up, even when trading it for peace and quiet.
Despite these drawbacks, the positives of living in Victoria far outweigh the negatives, and I'm genuinely surprised by how much I'm enjoying small-city life after dreaming of big cities for so long.
Sometimes, as I stroll among the free-roaming deer and colorful heritage houses, I feel like I'm living in a fairy tale (or at least a quaint rom-com). It's a feeling I never expected to have.
I love the walkability, the compact infrastructure, the absence of oppressive crowds, and the invigorating fresh ocean air. My husband and I can easily envision ourselves staying here for the long haul.
Plus, whenever I find myself craving those bigger city vibes, I can always make a trip to Vancouver when needed – even if it does put a slight dent in my wallet.
So, what do you think? Could you trade the hustle and bustle of a big city for the tranquility of a smaller one? What are your non-negotiable big-city perks? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
