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Victoria: Perfection in Canada's Garden City!

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada is tucked neatly at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. A mixture of old and new, Victoria blends an atmosphere of Merry Old England with the 21st century. The city's interior is lined with cobblestone streets, gas lanterns, and enough Victorian atmosphere to make Charles Dickens envious. Victoria boasts Canada's warmest climate, and entertains visitors all year long. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of hiking, biking, boating, and even sun bathing opportunities. Victoria is home to hundreds of restaurants, serving a wide bounty of international cuisine. History buffs and art aficionados will find plenty to keep them busy as well. Whether your idea of a great vacation is shopping in quaint boutiques, adventures in the great outdoors, or visiting historical attractions, Victoria has the game plan for every vacationer.

Be sure to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum, located on Victoria's Inner Harbour. This is Canada's most visited museum, and one of the finest in all of North America. The First People's Gallery contains a comprehensive collection of artifacts from the area's first inhabitants, the Nootka Indigens. The National History Gallery contains surprisingly life-like representations. Stand face to face with a woolly mammoth. Stroll through coastal marshland and see running deer, and hear the twittering of local avian life. Or you could take a submarine ride through the Open Ocean Exhibit.

Victoria is filled with enough sights and sounds to please every vacationer. Take a scenic boat ride along the Inner Harbour, and watch the lights of the city's government buildings twinkle in the moonlight. Ride a horse drawn carriage through Old Town, and hear the clip-clop of the horse hooves along the cobblestone streets as you take in the scenery. Walk or shop the streets of Bastion Square. You will feel like you stepped right into a postcard of the 1860s! Continue your tour of the coastline with a scenic drive from the Inner Harbour to the University of Victoria.

Much of Victoria's historic downtown is easily accessible by foot. Centennial Square in Old Town is noted for its refurbished buildings from the 1880s and '90s, including the 1878 City Hall. Visit the Maritime Museum of British Columbia to get a better understanding of the area's relationship with the sea. Stroll the streets of Chinatown to sample authentic Asian cuisine, architecture, and shops. Enjoy afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, a Victoria landmark. Tour the Gothic style Christ Church Cathedral, the four-story Craigdarroch Castle, and the re-creation of the Stratford-upon-Avon thatched cottage of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife. Enjoy beautiful views at Beacon Hill Park as hang gliders, windsurfers, and kite-fliers enjoy the ocean breezes.

Blessed with Canada's most moderate climate, Victoria offers plenty for those whose particular fancy is visiting Mother Nature. Hikers and mountain bikers will love the trails that meander through East Sooke Park, 3500 acres bordering the Pacific Ocean. There are tiny pocket beaches that offer great private tanning areas. This is also a great place for viewing whales, sea lions, and harbour seals. More outdoor fun can be had at Thetis Lake Municipal Park. This 1600 acre park is awash with hiking and biking trails. The lake is one of the region's most popular swimming holes in the summer. Anglers will appreciate the trout and bass fishing that can be found in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, on the Saanich Peninsula near Victoria. The lake is also a favorite for swimming and boating enthusiasts. Birding enthusiasts will want to jump in a boat and check out the Gulf Islands. Cormorants, bald eagles, turkey vultures, and ravens are just a few of the frequently seen avian species. Whatever your vacation plans include, Victoria has everything you need to complete them!