If you're looking for a little getaway, Victoria's annual food and wine festival is a good excuse to hop over to Vancouver Island.

Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine takes places from July 16 to 19. This is the festival's seventh year highlighting local food and wine.

On the opening Thursday evening (July 16), the Taste the Difference event shines a spotlight on Vancouver Island's local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients as well as wine made from B.C. grapes. Over 30 B.C. wineries will be pouring over 100 wines, with bites from Victoria restaurants such as the Fairmont Empress and Veneto Tapa Lounge. 

Other food-focused highlights include Swine and the Vine on Saturday afternoon, July 18. Right across from the Inner Harbour, a whole suckling pig will be roasted on a spit on the patio of the Hotel Grand Pacific. 

On the same patio on Sunday night (July 19), the focus will be on seafood. The Big Catch is a casual event that features a seafood boil; the goodies are poured out onto a long table, and bib-clad guests dig in. A DJ and a selection of B.C. wines, teas, and ciders keep the atmosphere upbeat.

For more events and tickets, see Taste Victoria's website.