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The Garden City – Victoria British Columbia Canada
Canada’s west coast lures millions of tourists from around the world to see its natural beauty. Canada’s warmest climate year round is in Victoria BC, a city that sets the standard in most ways for Canadian travel destinations. The Oceanside climate here allows flower to bloom all year round and the city is safe and accessible by foot.
The garden city is known for its flowers and moderate climate yet because Victoria sits on the south end of Vancouver Island isolated from British Columbia and the rest of Canada, the city still remains a mystery to many people. Visitors to Vancouver may not make the trip to Victoria because of the distance, but if you have time for a day trip while visiting Vancouver, it will be time well spent.
A Brief History of Victoria BC
The city of Victoria began only 170 years ago as Fort Victoria established by James Douglas of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Douglas leased the region from the British government and was responsible for ensuring Victoria didn’t fall into the hands of Americans. The British and Americans were in dispute over the boundary between Canada and the US and Douglas knew they would choose the 49th parallel as the dividing line. Victoria is below the 49th parallel. By setting up operations in Victoria, the land would remain the possession of British Columbia.
The Goldrush of the late 1850’s created an influx of 25,000 gold seekers into the Victoria area. The Victoria Goldrush quickly dissipated and soon the newly named Free Port of Victoria would become the seat of trade in mining, lumber, fishing,brewing, and shipbuilding. By 1900, its population soared to 20,000 residents. During this period, several of Victoria’s most prized buildings were constructed including the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and The Empress Hotel.
To get to Victoria, you can fly into the International airport, use the BC ferry service from Vancouver and Tsawwassen or the Coho Ferry from Port Angeles in Washington State. The ferries typically take about an hour to cross the Straight of Georgia.
Tourist Sites
To see all the tourist sites of Victoria you can walk, take horse drawn carriage rides or get on a double decker tour bus. There are microbreweries, galleries, museums, and plenty of bistros and restaurants to give you several full days of touring. The major tourist draws are the Inner Harbour, Empress Hotel, Parliament Buildings, Butchart Gardens, The Royal British Columbia Museum, Chinatown, Craigdarroch Castle, Thunderbird Park, Emily Carr House, the Village of Oak Bay, and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. The presence of native art is another key attraction on Vancouver Island. The Royal British Columbia Museum has an impressive collection but you’ll find much more at shops throughout Victoria.
Victoria’s Harbour
The inner harbour and Fisherman’s Wharf are popular gathering spots for tourists. Here you’ll see Buskers and artisans offering entertainment and art creations. The dock has plenty of boats moored including at times, sailing ships and restored historic ships. There is no shortage of fresh fish as a commercial fishing dock is very nearby.
China Town
Victoria’s Chinatown, the first Chinatown in Canada is small enough to make an enjoyable stroll. It’s only two blocks in size but has plenty of interesting shops, artist studios, and restaurants. To enter, you’ll pass through the Gate of Harmonious Interest, a red and gold tiled archway that also incorporates two hand-carved stone lions.
The Royal British Columbia Museum is adjacent to the Parliament Buildings. Its collection is a total of 7 million items in four featured galleries. The natural history gallery shows and explains the features of BC’s forests and oceans. This is an excellent way to learn more about native BC art including totems, masks, and other artefacts and see Giant Woolly Mammoths.
Butchart Gardens
The flowers of Butchart Gardens are world famous and one of the biggest draws of tourists, in particular seniors. Butchart Gardens are located only 13 miles north of Victoria accessible by highway. Via Rail and several tour companies offer seniors discounts for admission to Butchart Gardens. Contained in an abandoned rock quarry almost 40 feet deep, this sunken garden took 9 years for Jeanette Butchart to create. 60 full time gardeners plant 250,000 flower and plant bulbs every year. The gardens are also lit by miles of electric cord which also power a water fountain.
Victoria Hotels
If you’re coming to Victoria for a day trip, weekend, or a full week or longer, you’ll need accommodations. Several exceptional resorts offer luxury accommodations including Fairmont Empress Hotel, Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa, The Westin Bear Mountain Resort, and the Inn at Laurel Point. Numerous bed and breakfast inns exist as well. You can find more hotels via Travel BC’s accommodation guide on their web site. There are plenty of low priced hotels in the city as well.
Whether you’re visiting Victoria in Summer or winter, you’ll enjoy exceptional weather and experience an unusual geography and culture, unique to Canada.
Gord Collins is an avid Canadian travel writer for Bay Street SEO contributing articles about Canadian travel destinations and where to find the best Hotels, activities, leisure activities in Canada’s major cities. Gord contributes to travel Web sites such as Terrific Toronto. The services and amenities of Victoria Hotels and hotels in other Canadian cities is a key part of the Canadian vacation experience. See Gord’s other articles on Canadian travel destinations.
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