How to avoid the "tourist" look?

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wwjd

It's not a matter of what to wear but where to avoid. If you hang out down by the Emabassy Hotel then you'll be a tourist. Just dress casually and you'll do fine. Wear your sunglasses.

Victoria is a great place to visit. If you have a car, get someone to drive with you to the "Sooke Potholes". They're huge holes you can swim in.

You could hangout on the pier or the marina as some of the locals do.

MEDICAL DOG

don't wear a hawaiian shirt, don't take TOO many pictures, and leave that Frommer's book at the hotel.

that should do it.

Raspberry Loaf

Ooo, you'll love it!

We are here living near Victoria for a year from the UK and keen not to be mistaken for "tourists" too....they have arrived already with a vengeance!

They are to be identified by their baby pink "Victoria" branded fleeces, the furry moose under the arm, shorts with long socks and sandals and HUGE cameras. (I of course have my camera for arty shots, not touristy ones which is, as you know, completely different.)

Dress is very casual for the locals and pretty much everyone looks like they're on vacation so you'll fit in whatever. Seriously, it's so laid back that no one will NOTICE what you're wearing. (I suppose some restaurants etc would warrant smarter clothes but that depends where you want to go..)

The tourists don't seem to make it much further than the inner harbour/Government St tourist hotspot and walk around this area VERY SLOWLY taking very boring videos of their kids in prams beside the Parliament Buildings.

Therefore, I'd say see everything you want in this area early in the morning or late at night (when the Parliament Buildings are lit up very prettily). Work out where you want to go in advance so you are not wandering aimlessly, map in hand ..don't miss a walk along the beach at Dallas Road to Ogden Point, eat a fab takeaway at Pig BBQ in 700 block of View Street or visit Union Pacific Coffee Shop in 500 block of Herald St nr Chinatown for the best carrot cake ever. The Canoe Brewpub on Swift has a great patio overlooking the water and serves an ice cream beer float - what a combination. Avoid Pandora and Cormorant Streets as they can be a bit rough but look out for nice shops/restaurants and a kind of villagey feel up Fort St and also down Johnson near the blue bridge. Don't miss the Titanic Artifacts exhibition at the BC Museum if you have a rainy day..although I would hope not in July.

Have a great time!

Bluelady...

Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Victoria is like anywhere else. Best to take along a raincoat as we get lots of rain. Lots of the ladies are wearing Capri/ clam digger pants, tee shirts with sandals. Whatever you wear will be just fine. Victoria is a fun, safe place to visit.
Have a good one.
Edit: For the record I reported you Stop Canada as you are a lier and low life with such talk.

happy happy

it is not neccesarily what you wear, but what you act like. tourists walk slower and look at everything, you cannot help it when you are on a holiday. don't worry about looking touristy, just have fun

ioki.geo

Wear what everybody else is wearing. Hip hop stuff is still in for young boys, and you can still find a lot of girls sporting lululemons. In the summer, people don't wear much. On the beach, bikinis. Downtown, Ts, short sleeve shirts, shorts, and for ladies, tank tops and hot pants!
Footwear, different kinds of sandels or sneakers.
Formal events, same as in the US.
Just don't wear tourist stuff that says "Victoria" on the front. Don't carry too much bags or purses. Don't hang out on Government St. and around the Inner Harbour too much.

Tony BinEye

Victoria in BC, Canada? Then wear a lumberjack shirt and carry an axe over your shoulder. Everyone will think you are taking a break from Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Victoria in Australia? Then wear a hat with corks all round the rim and everyone willl think you just came in from the Outback.
Victoria in London? Then just look around vacantly as you step of the train. Everyone willl think you are an illegal immigrant, and ignore the hell out of you!

Rachel

don't vacation.

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