Victoria is the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Iceland and has its origins in a 1843 established trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The name goes back to the British Queen Victoria.
Under the name Fort Victoria, the city became the center of the fur trade in western areas of Canada. It originated in an area inhabited by Coastal Salish, a large group of Native American ethnic groups living in the Northwestern United States and British Columbia. The city stands, apart from the parliament building, whose reason was bought 2006 by the city, to today in Indian area.
From the central trading post developed the capital of the British crown colony Vancouver Island, then the United Colonies of Vancouver Iceland and British Columbia and finally the same named Canadian province. Their economic base was initially the trade, which was followed by administration, military and police, then the navy. The exploitation of natural resources, especially of wood, coal and the fish-rich waters, but especially the gold discoveries on the mainland made the settlement a comparatively large city. However, it was outstripped by Vancouver. Strong immigration from Britain and political dominance gave her a decidedly “English” character.
Access : Coordinates: 48.422, -123.365 / Get around : The actual city of Victoria is limited to a relatively small area around the harbor. Therefore, many of the sights of Victoria are within walking distance. There is also a relatively well-developed local public transport in the inner-city area.
Highlights :
- Royal BC Museum , 675 Belleville St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1A1, Open : 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM , a world-class museum of natural and human history.
- Beacon Hill Park , 100 Cook St, Victoria, British Columbia V8V, at over 200 acres of land , Nature and History Meet.
- British Columbia Parliament Buildings , 501 Belleville St, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4, open: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
- Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada , 721 Government St | Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5.
- Abkhazi Garden , 1964 Fairfield Rd, Victoria, British Columbia V8S 1H4, Open : 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM , Created by the Georgian Prince and Princess Abkhazi, this lovely garden spans just over an acre and features native Garry oaks, Japanese Maples and splendid rhododendrons.
- Victoria Bug Zoo , 631 Courtney St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1B8, Open : 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- Government Street , Victoria, British Columbia, Busy street lined with some of Victoria’s biggest tourist attractions.
- Government House , 1401 Rockland Ave, Victoria, British Columbia V8S 1V9, Open : 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
- Craigdarroch Castle , 1050 Joan Cres, Victoria, British Columbia V8S 3L5, Open : 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
- Fisherman’s Wharf , 1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 0B2, Open : 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ,very close Victoria’s Inner Harbour, kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures.
- Victoria Pier , 815 Wharf St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1T2, interesting buildings with great stores and wonderful restaurants
- Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature , 470 Belleville Street | Third Floor, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1W9, Open : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm , Robert Bateman’s work this is a beautiful little gallery.
- Chinatown , Fisgard St., Victoria, British Columbia, small area of Victoria but is representative of the history of the Chinese community , lots of good places to eat and see.
- Fan Tan Alley , Chinatown, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1R4, unique alley located in Chinatown with shops & stores located along this narrow alley.
- Christ Church Cathedral , 930 Burdett Ave, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 3G8, Cathedral build was started in 1929 and completed in 1991.
- Mount Tolmie Park , 1900 Mayfair Dr, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 1P9, A central point with Amazing views.
- Clover Point Park , Dallas Road, Victoria, British Columbia, starting point for the Dallas road walking path towards Ogden point and Great view and out to the seawall.
- Oak Bay Marina , 1327 Beach Dr, Victoria, British Columbia V8S 2N4, Oak Bay Marina is a full-service marina located just ten minutes from downtown Victoria.
- Bastion Square , the historical Fort Victoria is now a lively gathering place filled with galleries and sidewalk restaurants.
- Royal Theatre , 805 Broughton St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1E5, Open : 9:30 am
- 5:30 pm , Fabulous theatre with excellent shows.
- Thunderbird Park , 638 Douglas St, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 2P8, impressive display of totem poles located at the bottom end of Downtown Victoria, close to the Parliament Building.
- The Maritime Museum of British Columbia , 634 Humboldt St | Bc, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1A4, Open : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm , Great collection of older maritime equipment and Interesting exhibition about garbage in the oceans.
- University of Victoria , 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Nice to visit campus to traverse on a summer’s day.
- Art Gallery of Greater Victoria , 1040 Moss St | (90-minute ferry trip to Vancouver Island), Victoria, British Columbia V8V 4P1, Open : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm ,
- Old Town , This historic part of town, once the center of Victoria’s shipping and fur trading businesses,
- Destination Greater Victoria Visitor Centre , 812 Wharf St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1T3, Open : 8:30 am – 8:30 pm , Victoria’s official visitor resource.
- St. Andrew’s Cathedral , 740 View St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1J8, Victorian Cathedral very close of the center of Victoria
- Miniature World, 649 Humboldt St , Open :Mid May – late Sept 9AM-9PM, 9AM-5PM at other times of the year,
- Dallas Road Beach , Dallas Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Beautiful Views and great walk along the wild coast.
- Wharf Street , nice place to walk lots of restaurants and shops.
- Cattle Point Urban Star Park , Beach Drive, Victoria, British Columbia, a great place to visit with Great Ocean View .There’s lots of historic markers about the history of Cattle Point, lot of parking and numerous benches.
- Ross Bay Cemetery , Dallas Rd., Victoria, British Columbia, A Victorian-style cemetery containing the earthly remains of Vancouver’s most prominent families.
- Finnerty Gardens , 3800 Finnerty Rd | University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, 6 Acres of Gardens filled with Rhododendrons.
- Fort Street , Street lined with antique shops, restored old houses and lots of cafes.
- Victoria Public Market at the Hudson ,1701 Douglas Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 0C1, Open : 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
- Belfry Theatre , 1291 Gladstone Ave, Victoria, British Columbia V8T 1G5, / Mount Douglas Park / Mount Tolmie Park / Lone Tree Hill Regional Park /
- Gonzales Hill Observatory (Walbran Park) / Millennium Peace Sculpture / St. Ann’s Academy National Historic Site of Canada / St. Ann’s Schoolhouse It was a small log cabin, which served as the Sisters of St. Ann’s first convent, school, hospital and orphanage.
- Fisherman’s Wharf Park , woden cute and colorful houses with plenty of eating options./ Elk-Beaver Lake Regional Park, Hwy 17 / Mount Douglas Park / Goldstream Provincial Park.
- Matheson Lake Regional Park / Mount Wells Regional Park / Jordan River Regional Park / Bear Hill Regional Park / Mill Hill Regional Park.
- Cadboro-Gyro Park / Gordon’s Beach is located just past Sooke on West Coast Road / Kemp Lake is a fresh water lake, perfect for canoes and rowboats.
- Gonzales Beach is located off Crescent Road, near the South end of Foul Bay Road / French Beach Provincial Park / Matheson Lake Regional Park.
- Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park / Prospect Lake , Located twenty minutes northwest of Victoria / Thetis Lake Regional Park.
- Botanical Beach Provincial Park, part of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail / Sooke Potholes Regional Park.
- Roche Cove Regional Park , named for Richard Roche, 3rd Lieutenant on HMS Satellite, a British naval vessel stationed in Victoria from 1857-1860. / Willows Beach.
- Cordova Bay Beach / Esquimalt Lagoon / Durrance Lake Regional Park / Sombrio Beach
- Ella Beach, at the end of Ella Road in Sooke / Muir Creek Beach / Sidney Spit – Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
- Sandcut Beach / Island View Beach Regional Park / Uplands Park/Cattle Point / China Beach-China Beach Campground , two of four main areas of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park on the west coast of southern Vancouver Island.
- McMicking Park / Confederation Garden Court / Emily Carr Statue / Mile zero , The Mile 0 marker is the start of the over 8,000 km Trans-Canada Highway that spans the entire length of Canada. / Grace Lutheran Church. Hatley Park National Historic Site.
- Naval & Military museum, archives and library , Building 20 – Naden at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Victoria, BC V9A 7N2 / The Butchart Gardens.
- Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada , coastal gun batteries built over 100 years ago , Canada’s oldest west coast lighthouse , 603 Fort Rodd Hill RD Victoria, BC V9C 2W8.
- Hatley Park National Historic Site / Church of Saint John the Divine / Grace Lutheran Church / Church of Our Lord / St Jean Baptiste Paroisse Francaise / Anglican Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Oak Bay / James Bay United Church.
- Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Ukrainian Catholic Church / Saint Andrew’s Cathedral / Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church / First Baptist Church / Oak Bay United Church / Saint Andrew’s Cathedral / Chinese Presbyterian Church / Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue / First Metropolitan United Church.
- Hatley Park National Historic Site / Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature / Out of the Mist Gallery / Langham Court Theatre / Arts Centre @ Cedar Hill Recreation Centre / West End Gallery / Winchester Galleries / Wentworth Villa Architecture Heritage Museum
- Coast Collective Art Centre / Atomique Productions / The Avenue Gallery / Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre / Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.Activities :
- Scenic Marine Route , Scenic running and hiking trail along the Pacific- The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail / Ogden Point Terminal & Breakwater , Dallas Rd, Victoria, British Columbia, Wonderful walk on the breakwater / Westsong Walkway , walk along the Inner Harbor.
- Whale Watching / Galloping Goose Regional Trail / Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park / Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary (Swan Lake Park) / Harbour tours , / Kayak / Wine tasting There are five wineries within a 45-minute drive of Victoria, on the Saanich Peninsula.
- Lochside Regional Trail / Galloping Goose Regional Trail / walk along the water / stroll in the parks / Golf , Victoria is the gateway to the Vancouver Island Golf Trail—a 250-kilometre-long network of 11 scenic courses.Victoria offers golf experiences with some of the best vistas on earth , For beginners and experts.
- beaches and lakes—plus breathtaking views of the rugged coast / Nightlife , Enjoy bars, clubs, pubs and brewpubs / Casino / over 100 annual festivals , performing arts, live theatre, opera, dance, live music, films.
- South Island SUP / Mountain Bike Tours / scuba, snorkeling and boat charters / Rainforest Tours / shopping.
events : Victoria Beer Week – March 1-9 / Capital City Comic Con – March 22-24 / Cherry Blossoms – March-April / Victoria Day Parade – May 20.
Go next : Comox / Courtenay / Shawnigan Lake / Hornby / Denman / Salt Spring Island / Vancouver / Seattle
