My partner and I are travelling to Canada for the first time for 3 weeks in August / September. The first part of our holiday will be in British Columbia, we are spending 3 nights in Victoria then getting the bus up to Port Hardy, staying one night there and then doing the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert where we are staying for 3 nights.

What are the things which we should do in Victoria and Prince Rupert that absolutely shouldn't be missed ? We want to go Whale watching - should we do this from Victoria or Prince Rupert ? We want to have some adventures on this holiday so are open to suggestions.

Thanks

Prince Rupert isn't a particularly attractive place and most people just leave the morning after arriving.
While the full panoply of wildlife watching is on offer with tourism numbers being down it may be hard to book a larger boat.
You are more likely to see Orcas out of Victoria the PR but there's more raw wilderness/wildlife near PR.
Renting a car and travelling inland along Highway 16 will take you through some beautiful country and into the traditional territories of the Tshimshian, Nisga'a, Gitxan and Haisla peoples depending which turnoff you take.
A good guidebook to the area is 'A Travellers Guide to Aboriginal BC' available from www.bcbooks.com also on sale in many book stores here in BC.
No visit to PR is complete without a Fish and Chip dinner @ Smiley's.
I'm a little pressed for time right now-if I think of anything else I'll post again.

Take some rain gear. I have a friend who lived in Prince Rupert for five months and she said it only rained twice while she was there - once for 2 months and the other time for three months.

I enjoyed my one visit there but I agree with another poster, you'll see more scenic areas by renting a car and driving into the wilderness. You may also enjoy a floatplane ride. You are into some magnificent country within 2-3 minutes of departing the harbor.

If you have the time and can get reservations, I heartily recommend a round trip train ride on ViaRail's Skeena between Prince Rupert and Jasper. I've ridden scenic trains all over the world and this is by far my favorite for scenery and wildlife. For rail buff's, it has the added benefit of being on beautifully restored 1950's stainless steel rail cars with observation domes and first class dining cars.

OK Back again-
Day One Salmon/Halibut fishing-Charters are ubiquitous and success-I mean LOTS of fish it's been a fabulous year-is the norm.
Also you'll see Eagles, Whales, Seals Sea Lions, Birds galore and who knows what else out fishing.

Day Two rent a car for an all-day trip to wherever.

Day Three rent a Kayak or do a one day Kayak trip with a group for a completely diferent kind of experience.

A quick check with the Local Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Bureau is where to find current info on local Charter/Tour/Car Rental and Kayaking operators.

Thanks for your suggestions.

1. We are going on the Skeena to Jasper after our stay in Prince Rupert.

2. Do the fishing trips cater for people who have never fished before ? Also, this is probably a daft question but what do you do with any fish you catch ?

Thanks again

"Do the fishing trips cater for people who have never fished before?"
Certainly-the Guides are accustomed to newbies and often find that they are quicker to learn/easier to please.

"but what do you do with any fish you catch ?"
Eat them!
If you're travelling you can ask the guide to filet them, buy yourself a styrofoam cooler and put the fish in your hotel's freezer-most hotels do this free of charge.
Then you can take the frozen fish home with you on the train.
If the logistics don't add up (I have no idea where you're from) tell the Guide you only want one fish for Dinner and he'll do his best to see the rest are released as carefully as possible.