by
Muguette Goufrani
One
never gets tired of a trip to Victoria any time of year,
whether it's by jet aircraft, a Helijet
whirlybird,
a Harbour Air seaplane, a BC ferry or charter cruise
ship. We took our close friend and Travel Writer Karen
Hoffman from New York and her mom there by ferry and they
were blown away with the charm, and the trip from
Tsawwassen itself became a highlight. As we say at BC
Scene Magazine, getting there is a big part of the fun,
with plenty of options in terms of transportation,
accommodation, services, tours and connections. To those
familiar with vacation gateways, Victoria is world class,
earning Conde Nast Magazine's prestigious ranking as best
city in the world for environment /ambiance, ahead of
Paris, Florence, Salzburg and San Francisco.
Thanks to
Captain Cook, Captain
George Vancouver
and others who followed, the area retains an Old English
character even today. Here is some official information
from Tourism Victoria:
Victoria (pop.
322,000 ) is Canada's westernmost city and capital of
British Columbia. Having the mildest climate in Canada,
(some call it our Banana Belt) the area is a Mecca for
outdoor enthusiasts any time of the year. Golfers on the
prairies and points east become green with envy and ready
to take flight by the time February rolls around. That's
why we produced our “Golf Vacations Supermap”
for distribution at eastern airports and travel shows.
A
sophisticated seaside resort city, Victoria is the
commercial hub for most of Vancouver Island and is the
political centre for the province (see BC
Government Profile).
The city combines the formality of afternoon tea with the
exhilaration of an ocean whale watching adventure; the
exquisite and delicate beauty of its many fragrant and
colourful gardens with the awe-inspiring untouched beauty
of its wilderness.
Located on the
Southern tip of Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria
averages over 2,000 hours of sunshine and an annual
precipitation average of only 25 cm. Here, flowers bloom
year-round, as witnessed by the world famous Butchart
Gardens, and hanging flower baskets on downtown street
corners. Most Victoria and area attractions are open year
round and an entrance fee may be applicable. Groups are
welcome and motorcoach parking is available at most
sites. Advanced reservations may be required. Themes
include Heritage Attractions, British Tours, Garden
Tours, Oriental Tours, Christmas Lights and Scenic
Coastline Tours.
Victoria's
attractions are surprisingly easy to get to and are
generally no farther than 20 minutes from downtown, which
allows you to include plenty of attractions on a tour
with minimal time spent in transit. Close proximity to
Seattle and Vancouver also make Victoria easy to include
as part of a larger tour.
Parliament
Buildings, Victoria: The Parliament Buildings, site
of the provincial government were constructed in 1897.
From the time the buildings were first opened, the
facade's outline was illuminated by more than 3,300 small
light bulbs fixed along the corners of the walls, a
feature that has contributed to its landmark status. In
1973, restoration work began that would extend from the
foundations to the statue of George Vancouver on top of
the central dome. Stained glass windows were repaired.
Moldings, light fixtures, and door knobs were made to
replicate the originals, and mosaic tiles and ornate
plaster work were restored. After 10 years of work, the
buildings were restored to their earlier magnificence.
Guided tours of the buildings are in groups and without
charge. Large groups must phone ahead.
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria: Location:
675 Belleville Street This museum is probably like few
others you have ever seen. `Walk through' exhibits take
you to the streets of a pioneer town, to an old working
Gold Rush waterwheel, aboard Capt. Vancouver's ship
"Discovery", into a native Indian longhouse, to the
bottom of the ocean, through a coastal rain forest or
along a seashore.
Exhibits focus on the natural and human history of
British Columbia. There are lectures, films and special
event days. In the summer, native carvers are at work.
Outside, there is a garden of BC's native wildflowers.
The museum was founded in 1896. It was housed in the
Parliament Buildings across Government Street from 1898
to 1968 when it moved into its present quarters,
specifically designed for museum
activities.
The museum has
more than ten million artifacts in its anthropological,
biological and historical collections, though only a
fraction are on public display.
Craigdarroch
Castle, Victoria: Location: 1050 Joan Crescent. Coal
baron Robert Dunsmuir must have truly felt a man's home
is his castle when he built this lavish house in the
1880s. He died before the castle was finished and his
widow Joan moved into Craigdarroch in 1890. She lived
there until she died in 1908. Craigdarroch is now a
museum furnished in turn-of-the-century style: many of
the pieces are the originals. The castle has been
restored and features magnificent stained glass windows,
intricately carved oak paneling on the walls and ceiling
of the main hall, walnut, mahogany, cedar and spruce
paneling in many of the rooms and complex designs in the
parquet floor throughout the castle's 39 rooms, executed
in exotic wood.
Squares and Old
Town, Victoria:
Location:
Bastion Square, Market Square, Chinatown, Centennial
Square.
These squares
and small streets all have a history and atmosphere that
make a walk in downtown Victoria pleasant and
historically inspiring. Bastion Square was originally the
site of Fort Victoria, established by James Douglas in
1843. The Maritime Museum, prominent on the square, the
Courthouse and several other buildings from the turn of
the century have been restored and currently house shops
and offices. Two blocks over is Market Square, a pack
house and busy warehouse at the time gold was discovered
in BC's interior. Now a collection of interesting
boutiques opens onto a central courtyard, a unique mix of
old and new. Another block over is Chinatown, once
covering several city blocks but now mainly Fisgard
Street. Off to the side is Fan Tan Alley, a narrow
passage with shops tucked away. On Fisgard is the ornate
Gate of Harmonious Interest. Shops here offer merchandise
and meals straight from the Orient. A block away is
Centennial Square, a relative newcomer where history
nonetheless blooms in a restored City Hall, vintage 1878,
and an old theatre restored as the McPherson
Playhouse.
One of Victoria's
strengths as a tourist destination is that visitors can
mix and match their holiday - take short day trips or use
the city as a convenient base for longer explorations.
Guided
Tours: Various technical tours throughout Victoria
can be arranged for groups. Contact the organization
directly or the Tour & Travel Department at Tourism
Victoria at (250) 414-6999 for details. Advanced
arrangements required.
Canadian Forces
Base Esquimalt: Free guided tours of Canada's
historic West Coast naval base. Contact (250) 363-5583.
City Hall:
Victoria City Hall will assist with various technical
tours. Minimal cost. Contact (250) 385-5711
Forestry
Tours: Complimentary forestry and mill tours are
available in Port Alberni. Contact the Alberni Forest
Information Centre at (250) 724-7890.
Health Industry
Educational Tours: Contact BC Health Industry
Development Office at (250) 370-8691
Roger's
Chocolate Factory: Complimentary tours on how these
world famous chocolates are made. Contact (250) 727-6851
Esquimalt
Graving Dock in Victoria is the largest non-military
graving dock on the west coast of the Americas. The
facility is a large, solid foundation graving dock 361.5
m OAL, 358.6 m maximum clear inside length by 38.4 m
wide. It is a monolithic concrete structure with granite
blocks used at the cope, quoins, and three levels of the
altars. The dock can handle most vessels up to 100,000
deadweight tons and can accommodate and service more than
90% of all vessels operating on the west coast of North
America.
Dining in Victoria traditionally has been derived
largely from its British ancestry. However, close
proximity to the ocean and a new appreciation for
international influences have resulted in an exciting
fusion of flavours known as West Coast cuisine- you'll
find the influences of Chinese, French, Italian,
Vietnamese, German, Japanese and East Indian dining. And,
of course, salmon and shellfish fresh from the Pacific
Ocean are always a Victoria specialty.
Vancouver
Island Golf Tours (3 to 5 days)
Victoria is one of the premier golf destinations in
Canada and, with the mildest climate in the country, you
can golf year round. There are 15 public and private golf
courses located in Victoria and the surrounding areas
including Sooke, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sidney. Prices
start at $45 Canadian for 18 holes. Contact the golf
courses directly or one of Victoria's golf booking
agencies for tee-off times in Greater Victoria. Mini bus
transportation to golf courses is available. Motorcoach
parking is available at all facilities. A drive north
from Victoria along Highway 1 brings you to the beautiful
Cowichan Valley and a number of scenic and challenging
golf courses.(Victoria/Duncan 60 km)
Farther up island,
the Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach area is
renowned for wonderful beaches, magnificent views, and
great golf. There are more than 20 golf courses in this
region of the island. (Duncan/Qualicum Beach 97 km)
Continuing north,
Highway 19 leads to Courtenay and the Comox Valley. Tee
off on any of several spectacular courses in the area and
enjoy the views of Mt. Washington and the Comox Glacier.
(Qualicum Beach/Courtenay 62 km) Local accommodation is
available near all golf courses listed and most courses
offer full pro-shop services and restaurant
facilities.
Victoria, BC:
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For more
information on touring in and around Victoria and the
Islands, visit Tourism Victoria's Visitor Info Centre
(open seven days a week): 812 Wharf Street, Victoria, BC
V8W 1T3 (located at the Inner Harbour)
Tel: (250)
953-2033 , Fax: (250) 382-6539 for general
information.
Call 1-800-663-3883 for accommodation reservations.
Details: http://www.tourismvictoria.com/
Victoria:
BC's Capital, Gateway to