Saanich

With its rolling green hills and small family farms, the Saanich Peninsular is also home to the BC and Washington State ferry terminals as well as the Victoria International Airport; its southernmost community is called, simply, Saanich. This is the first part of Vancouver Island that most visitors see. Although it's tempting to head straight for downtown Victoria, 25 minutes to the south, there are many reasons to linger here, including Mt. Douglas, which offers magnificent views of Victoria and the rest of the peninsula on a clear day.