Hi!
I’m Alyssa, a 31 year old hospitality grad, serial itinerary over planner, and late bloomer travel addict based in Victoria, BC.
For four years, I lived on bagels and case studies while studying Hospitality and Tourism Management with a marketing focus at McGill University in Montreal.
I spent more time analyzing customer journeys than taking my own, and by the time graduation rolled around, my passport was almost empty. After that, I booked a one way ticket to Southeast Asia and promised myself I would stop waiting for the “perfect time” to travel.
Six weeks in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia turned into a quiet but undeniable life reset.
Somewhere between a crowded sunrise at a temple in Chiang Mai and getting lost in Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a backpack two sizes too big, I realized I did not just want to take trips. I wanted to build a life where travel, curiosity, and hospitality were part of every day, even when I was at home.
Before I chased bigger bucket list countries, I decided to do something I had never really done. I chose to fall in love with home first.
That is how this blog started, with a decision to treat Victoria, the city I grew up in, like my newest destination instead of my default backdrop. I began spending my Saturdays like a tourist, getting up early for a flat white, lingering in cozy cafes with a book, and rating pastries like it was my job.
I became the friend who will drag you out to a local market on a drizzly Saturday just for fresh sourdough, live music, and the people watching.
In 2019, during a “quick” post grad trip to Europe that was supposed to be three weeks and somehow became three months, I met my boyfriend Sam at a hostel paella night in Madrid.
He is the calm to my colour coded chaos.
We bonded over badly timed budget flights, a shared obsession with old train stations, and a mutual willingness to walk an extra twenty minutes for a better viewpoint.
On this blog, you will find Victoria through my slightly obsessive lens.
You will see third wave coffee shops where baristas know your name and your order, historic streets and architecture that most people rush past on their way to the Inner Harbour, and small neighbourhood markets, bakeries, and quiet viewpoints that make this city feel like one big, walkable secret.
My approach is simple….
Start where you are, use what you have, and treat your hometown like it is worth flying across the world for, because it is. If you feel like you arrived “late” to the travel game, you are in the right place.
Together we will chase big adventures far away one day, but for now, we are practising on the streets of Victoria, one local latte, seaside sunset, and hidden alleyway at a time.
Welcome to my journey. Pull up a chair, preferably near a window, and let us explore.
My little life philosophies:
- “Late” is a myth – you’re always right on time for your own story.
- The best trips are 40% planning, 60% leaving room for things to go chaotically right.
- A city’s soul is measured by its coffee, its markets, and how easy it is to walk everywhere.
- Say yes to anything that involves sunsets, boardwalks, or live music in a park.
- My three non‑negotiables: a camera, a notebook, and a willingness to look slightly ridiculous for the sake of a good view.
Quirky habits and hobbies
- I keep an absurdly detailed Google Maps of Victoria with categories like “Rainy Day Cafés,” “First Date Spots,” and “Places I Go to Pretend I am in Europe.”
- I collect vintage hotel keychains and “Do Not Disturb” signs from everywhere I stay.
- I have one strict rule: never waste a good outfit on mediocre coffee.
- I write postcards to myself from every trip and tape them to my wall as a “travel timeline.”
- My secret talent is finding the coziest corner seat in any café in under 30 seconds.
- I love doing 6 a.m. harbour walks just to see what the city looks like before it puts on its makeup.
- I choose restaurants based on vibes first, menu second, and lighting for photos third.
Very specific Victoria things I love
- On Saturday mornings you will usually find me wandering Moss Street Market for fresh bread, handmade ceramics, and live music, then detouring through the nearby streets lined with character homes.
- I love slow mornings with a cortado at a favourite local coffee shop, people watching and pretending Oak Bay is a tiny European village.
- I like getting lost in historic neighbourhoods and imagining who lived there a hundred years ago, especially on self guided strolls past Victoria’s heritage buildings and old stone facades.
- I duck into local markets around the city to hunt for artisan soaps, small batch jams, and handmade goods that feel like little pieces of Victoria I can take home.
- On clear days, I grab last minute picnic supplies from neighbourhood grocers and head straight to the nearest patch of grass with an ocean view.
