Hey Victorians -

My husband and I are taking the ferry from Seattle into Victoria Sunday and we've got all day to explore and eat. We like things that are unique/cool and I'm a photographer so I appreciate the quirky and beautiful (so no bus tours or super touristy things) and we love to eat. We've got from about 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., so I guess standout places for lunch would be best. Bonus points for a full days' itinerary of cool things to check out, too! Thanks a million!

HMMM.... since you're taking the ferry, I assume you'll want things within walking distance of the ferry terminal. my suggestions for places to eat depending on what you want to eat and what i suggest to get :)

hernande'z (Yates Shopping Arcade) - for central american food... beef tacos, pollo huarache
daidoco (Nootka Court)- for japanese food.... salmon don stuff from their cold table like their salads like poke tuna
ayo eat (2nd level of Market Square) - for indonesian food... beef rendang mixed rice plate or nasi goreng
red fish blue fish (Wharf Street by seaplanes) - for seafood....halibut fish and chips, tuna tacones

Places to go? I think Victoria's got a lot of interesting alleys and corners where you'll find some cool graffiti :)  
Chinatown might be a nice place to take pics, though it can feel kind of touristy.   I love walking around Beacon Hill Park and then walking down toward the water and climbing all over the big rocks at the bottom of the cliffs.  You can get from Ogden Point breakwater all the way across to Clover Point and beyond walking down at the bottom of the cliffs if you don't mind clambering over some rocks.  If you want to take a bus or cab to Mount Douglas Park, you'll get a fantastic view of Victoria, the bays around the park and the islands and the mountains in Washington State.  You might see some wildlife...pileated woodpeckers, garter snakes, barred owl,... there are lots of bald eagles flying around at this time of year too..

This is great, thank you so much!

I'd say Ferris' and ask for a table near the back. The food is delicious. And the staff there could probably help pointyou in the direction for some interesting locations to photograph.

My wife and I just returned from Victoria a few days ago and we absolutely loved Butchart Gardens.  I know you are trying to avoid "touristy" locations, but for beautiful photography opportunities this place is ripe with them.  If you're bringing your car across, it's about a 15 minutes drive from the harbor.  Another idea for photos might be to visit some of the numerous neighborhoods with classica Victorian architecture and English gardens in and around Victoria (if you don't feel like you're imposing by taking pictures of people's homes).  

We wanted to try the Red Fish Blue Fish, but it appears to be over the counter for outdoor dining only, and weather was a bit cool for us so we ate indoors somewhere else.

Breakfast: Blue Fox, Ferris', or Rebar

Ferris' best for lunch or dinner, in my opinion - their breakfast menu is pretty limited. The Reef does a good brunch.

Best book stores - Munro's on Government, Bolen's in Hillside Shopping Centre (yes, it's in a mall, but it's giant and great and has heart).

Best music stores - Ditch Records and Lyle's Place

Great tea: Silk Road

Chinatown is great. Whomever mentioned that Victoria has good alleys and graffiti (for photographing) is right (though less so, since Hans Fear died). Beacon Hill Park, as well as other regional parks - Bear Hill, Thetis Lake, etcetera. Oak Bay Marina, including the fat lazy seals that live in the harbor.

The architecture of lower Johnson street is gorgeous, but it's pretty much just an expensive trendy shopping district now. Parts of James Bay and Fairfield are really lovely. Cook Street Village is bustling on weekends - great coffee shops, lots of cute dogs and kids.

Oh Stage is great.