Victoria, BC: Little England!

[Melanie Cox Chable]

The provincial capital has a reputation for being a sleepy town. It certainly can't compete with Vancouver (or even Nanaimo, up island) for shopping, but there are still local boutiques that allow you to enjoy a bit of a small town feel. With a very temperate climate, the summers and winters (lasting snow is uncommon) tend to be mild, nights can be chilly and there is a fair amount of wet weather, so be prepared!


Located 25 mins flight (gate to gate) or about 1.5 hrs (port to port) from Vancouver, it is home to the provincial capital and a great base when visiting Vancouver Island or any of the Gulf Islands (including Saltspring). Though there are a few shopping centres in the area, great boutiques/shops can be found in Oak Bay (the most British, with a few tea houses that offer alternatives to the Empress), Cook Street Village and downtown. Within the downtown area, you will find the majority of the hotels, major chains, Inner Harbour and tourist attractions. There are quaint B&B's throughout the area.


Some cruise itineraries offer a port call in Victoria (at Ogden Point) a few minutes from downtown. Direct flights are available to many Canadian cities as well as Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas. You can take ferries to either Vancouver, Port Angeles or Seattle on the mainland and there are services to some of the Gulf Islands as well.


Whether your are visiting from faraway, or are a local wanting to get to you know your town a little better “Be a Tourist in your own Hometown” is a great promotion that Victoria offers every spring (generally late February to Earl March) for more than a decade! The pass book has discount coupons for many favourite local attractions and activities such as:


Beacon Hill Park: you can stroll around the ponds (filled with ducks, geese and even herons), through the gardens/parks and even run into wandering peacocks from the childrens' petting zoo. The zoo, well-known for encounters with African pygmy goats, also has miniature ponies, llamas. Sheep, potbellied pigs, and exotic foul. Spring is a great time to visit as there are many baby goats and miniature donkey (Toffee was born in MAY 09).
Butchart Gardens: located between the airport/ferry terminal and Victoria, this 55 acre garden offers a wonderful floral display throughout the year (though the best time would be in spring and summer when most flowers are in bloom). This last winter, along with their regular Christmas display, there was a small skating area!
Craigdarroch Castle: an old mansion perched atop a hill minutes from downtown and near the lieutenant-governor's residence -the gardens of which can be visited during the day when they are away. This allows you a great chance to see how people lived in true “Victorian” times, built in the 1890s with period furniture, with the house and gardens restored to their original condition. “Step back in time and experience the life and times of the very rich and famous.”
High Tea at the Empress: located in Inner Harbour, this grand hotel was part of the Canadian Pacific Rail chain and just celebrated her centennial! High Tea is a great tradition -and you can even make time if only visiting Victoria for the day on a cruise- with white glove service in an authentic setting! Stroll around the public areas to see the history of the Empress.
Legislature (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Parliament) Buildings: you make recognize this site more at night as many postcards show the buildings lit up! This gives you a chance to see where provincial politics take place and gives you a look into history. During the summer, events are held on the lawn (the recent 150th anniversary of the province was a recent celebration).
Miniature World: you can find miniature dioramas of major events throughout history (battle scenes) as well as Canada's colonial times (you can walk past the entire country) and
Royal BC Museum & IMAX: Did you ever want to walk up to a mammoth? Wander through Canadian landscapes among cougars, bull elephants and more? How about talking a historical journey through Canada's evolution? With numerous artifacts and creative full-size recreations, this can be fun for the whole family. From May 5-September 30, 2009 the Museum will be showcasing “Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum”. Attached to the Museum is the IMAX theatre showing National Geographic as well as the occasional Hollywood hit on a screen 6 stories high!
Royal London Wax Museum: stroll past royal family members (the current monarch and a few from the past), celebrities and historical figures
Whale watching/Harbour tours: there are a few companies based in Inner Harbour that offer you the opportunity to go out and see whales breaching.


If you are a nature lover, there are many parks in the area to explore (Mt. Doug allows you 360 degree view of the area, and on a good day, you can see Washington peaks across the Juan de Fuca Strait!), hike and wander into some wildlife. Up island from Victoria is Goldstream Park -where you can see salmon swim upstream to spawn in the spring. If you are into kayaking, you can take day trips around the island or even overnight trips to other islands.