Once renowned for its British Heritage and still packed with olde country charm, Oak Bay has evolved into a zesty, increasingly cosmopolitan oceanfront neighbourhood on Victoria’s beautiful southeast side. Step behind the famous “tweed curtain” to explore a high street lined with restaurants, cafes, shops, galleries, fashion boutiques and book stores. Then strike off on walkabouts around one of Canada’s most desirable places to live. The trip will take you along narrow lanes and down leafy boulevards that wind past exquisite gardens and Edwardian-era residences. The tradition of afternoon tea remains popular yet a new generation of chefs, charcuteries, cakemakers and bakers have arrived to wow taste buds here in nearby Estevan Village. Main street (aka The Avenue) is packed with vendors for the open-air Oak Bay Night Market (on the third Wednesday of the month during the summer), and crowds turn out for such annual festivals as the Oak Bay Tea Party (early June), the Collector Car Festival (August) and the Christmas Light-up (last Sunday in November).

