40 Beautiful College Campuses that Double as Travel Destinations

Lisette Marie

March 11, 2026

34. Royal Roads University, Victoria, Canada: Castle in the Coastal Forest

Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Smably at English Wikipedia

Nestled within Hatley Park National Historic Site in British Columbia, Royal Roads University offers a fairytale setting. Its centerpiece, Hatley Castle – an early 20th-century Edwardian mansion – has graced screens in films like X-Men. Surrounding the castle are exquisite formal gardens (Italian, Japanese, Rose) and extensive walking trails through old-growth coastal rainforest leading to the Salish Sea. This campus provides a stunning blend of architectural majesty, meticulously landscaped beauty, and wild Pacific Northwest nature, making it a truly enchanting visit.

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40 Beautiful College Campuses that Double as Travel Destinations

34. Royal Roads University, Victoria, Canada: Castle in the Coastal Forest

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