If you have a car and a few days to spend

Someone who is visiting Victoria on a two-day trip recently asked: Should I rent a car to visit other parts of Vancouver Island, or simply explore the area on foot (and public transport)?
My answer: If you're only here for two days, you don't really need a car. You can walk from downtown to most of the popular attractions, and you can find public transportation or tour buses to the others (Butchart Gardens, Oak Bay Marina).
If you have more than a couple of days, however, there is plenty to see in the Greater Victoria area and beyond.
First, a basic fact of life here is that we are on an island. That means that every road out of Victoria comes to a dead end sooner or later, some sooner than others. There are basically three roads out of Victoria, and each has its own particular charms. I'll give you the essentials, and you can explore further on your own.
The first road out is the Island Highway, which eventually will take you to Sooke, Jordan River and Port Renfrew (the end of the road). Along the way you can stop for swimming and scenery at the Sooke Potholes, take a walk along French Beach (in the photo), and check out the interesting historical museum. This area also has some of the region's best restaurants, particularly the Sooke Harbour House (rated one of the best in Canada) and Point No Point, both of which are attached to lodgings. By the way, I've never made it as far as Port Renfrew; the road there is reported to be quite rugged and one-lane at times.
The second road out of town is the Patricia Bay Highway, or Pat Bay. You will have already been on this road if you came in on the ferry from Vancouver. This is where you'll find Butchart Gardens, the Butterfly Gardens and several wineries. If you're out this way, you should plan on spending some time in Sidney, which has a lovely waterfront and several good restaurants and pubs. It's also known for its bookstores.
Finally, the main road out of town is the Trans-Canada Highway, which leads to the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo. North of Nanaimo are Courtenay and Comox, and to the west are Tofino and Ucluelet. (If you make the Tofino loop, be sure to check out the goats on the roof in Coombs!) The Cowichan Valley is known for its local food and wine and is the subject of an article in the August 2009 issue of Gourmet magazine. The article singles out the Aerie Resort and Spa, the Masthead, True Grain Bread and Hilary's Cheese Company among others.