Saidia Zaloski, Journalist

Make a different resolution this year and have fun like a 10 year old: go for a bike ride, go sliding, swimming, hopscotch, frisbee, jump rope, blow bubbles, fly a kite and get outside!

It’s time to bring the 90′s back while coasting your city and practising the exercise you loved as a kid, but now you don’t have to go home when the street lights turn on.

Plus, your hometown could still be crazy romantic when dusk rolls over the sky. Cycling dark streets gives you a unique city experience while the lights reflect in your path, articheture towers over you and in luck, you’ll find a star or two.  Everything looks better in dim light, and the roads are vacant in an ominous hum.

When I stumbled into Paris late one night, I rented a bike and explored the inner districts that illuminated and inspired. It was always a goal of mine to experience each city at night, take in the glowing nightlife in a quick whisper.

Find evening bliss in your own city, route yourself through hills and streets you haven’t before and find joy in a view. Aim for places that would be awarding to yourself and at least 2km+ (1.2 mi) away for good measure. Cycling is a great way to burn off dinner and is effortlessly enjoyable.

When we first moved to Victoria, we were quick to buy second hand bicycles and discover the new city by two wheels each night.

This bike friendly city offers destinations that will pair perfectly with a bottle of wine. Everything is quiet once it’s dark, making it easy to coast to gems like Fisherman’s Warf, Inner Harbour, Willows Beach, and the panoramic urban view from Mount Tolmie.

What You’ll Need

Backpack
Dress Warm/ Comfortable
Water
Gloves
Flashlight
Blanket

Optional: Bottle of Wine (Cider or beer works too)
Skyguide app (For optimal star gazing)
Lighter and newspaper (Start a beach bonfire)

Dallas Road Cliffs

Locals know that the path that lines these cliffs is a gem, however, you’ll find the beaches vacant after the sun sets (or even an hour before that.) You may be accompanied by a few other beach fires, but trust someone who has spent many evenings here- Victorians don’t come out at night.

Ross Bay Cemetery Beach

Not thrilled about going out after dark? This beach shares the same beauty as Dallas Cliffs but is lit by streetlights and passed by many cars on a nightly drive.

Mount Tolmie

Victoria’s own Make Out Point peaks at the top of Mount Tolmie which is easily accessible by vehicle, but a great uphill workout on two wheels. Why not reward yourself with this view then coast downhill back into it?

Gonzales Bay

Our personal favourite spot in Victoria is Gonzales Bay. The sandy beach reflects the warm light from homes along the shore.  Stroll low tide and find romance in this hidden gem.

Gonzales Observatory

Follow Denison Road to Walbran Park and find the Gonzales Observatory. The narrow road leads you to a view of distant looming mountains over a blooming city. This one is a beauty.