At the edge of the Sea of Japan, where waves kiss a turquoise shoreline and a sweeping bridge links the mainland to a quiet island, something strange happens when the nights are just cold enough. From the ocean's surface, columns of light rise into the sky—silent, vertical beams that look like gateways to another dimension.

There’s something undeniably magical about arriving in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Maybe it’s the way flowers spill from every hanging basket downtown, or how the harbor always seems to hold a parade of seaplanes, ferries, and sailboats. Or maybe it’s the quiet British charm that lingers in the tea rooms, bookstores, and gardens. Whatever it is—Victoria feels like a story you’ve walked into.