VICTORIA
Area: British Columbia
Country: Canada


Location:
In SW corner of Canada, at S tip of Vancouver Island. 55 mls SW of Vancouver on mainland. 85 mls by sea NW of Seattle, USA. 15 mls S of Victoria international airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 250

Website:
http://www.travel.victoria.bc.ca/

Position:
Central (downtown) part of city surrounds beautiful inner harbour at S end of Saanich Peninsula. Terrain is fairly flat, but snow-capped mountains are visible in distance.

Description:
Named in honour of Britain's longest-ruling monarch, Victoria was founded in 1843 as Fort Victoria on the site of the present Bastion Square. Its sheltered harbour and proximity to the US border gave it great strategic importance during the late 19th century. Now its scenic beauty, history and attractive parks and gardens assure it touristic popularity. True to its name, it is full of typically Victorian colonial buildings, many now restored for modern use and interspersed with fairly plain modern blocks. The finest of these is undoubtedly the ornate grey granite Parliament Buildings. The central area is compact, occupying less than 1 ml sq, and easily explored on foot. Although largely laid out on the typical N American grid plan, there are no skyscrapers here. In fact, the whole place has a very British feel to it, especially out in the suburbs, where neatly tended gardens are the norm. Although the provincial capital of British Columbia, it is no more than a small town with a population of less than 100,000, tiny by comparison with its bigger neighbour and commercial capital, Vancouver. The locals are polite, friendly and easy-going and it has plenty of things to occupy the visitor; British tourists may find it rather like a home from home.

Suitability:
Popular destination for Canadians _ attracted by mildest climate in country _ as well as Japanese and Americans. Essential port of call on any tour of British Columbia, probably appealing to more mature types.

Accommodation:
From luxury hotels, both historic and modern, through plethora of mid-range properties offering very similar amenities, to B&B guesthouses; very few self-catering options in city; motor inns on outskirts. All clean and friendly.

Shopping:
Government Street has lots of touristy boutiques in converted heritage buildings, culminating in Market Square, a courtyard conversion with 40 speciality shops. Eaton Centre is a 4-storey mall headed up by Eaton's Department Store, again in Victorian style. Antique shops as well as a few begging vagrants. Many items on sale will already be familiar to British visitors (tweeds, fine china etc). Of more exotic interest will be hand-knitted Cowichan Indian sweaters, Eskimo sculptures in jade and Native Indian masks or prints.

Entertainments:
Daytime: Royal British Columbia Museum's spectacular displays of province's native peoples and natural habitats; Art Gallery of Greater Victoria; Parliament Buildings' splendidly ornate Victorian architecture; Gothic-style Christchurch Cathedral; Royal London Wax Museum; Empress Hotel for afternoon tea; Undersea Gardens; totem poles in Thunderbird Park; double-decker bus tour; horse-drawn carriage rides; Crystal Garden conservatory of tropical plants; Miniature World; whale-watching; fishing; golf; cricket and bowls at Beacon Hill Park. Nightlife: theatres, comedy revues, music hall, opera and concerts.

Eating:
Plenty of restaurants, both expensive and cheap. Fish (and chips) and other seafood is a speciality. Most foreign cuisines can be found, especially Asian in colourful Chinatown area.

Public-transport:
Bus service to most central points. Taxis readily available outside most hotels. Ferries and seaplanes to various places including Vancouver and Seattle.

Local-excursions:
Half day: Butchart Gardens (established 1904), area's most famous attraction featuring 50 acres of formally laid-out landscaping; Butterfly Gardens with live butterflies; Anne Hathaway's Cottage (reproduction); Craigdarroch Castle (1880s version of Scottish baronial hall). Full day: scenic drive to view totem poles at Duncan in Cowichan Valley and island's coastal beauty spots; Gulf Island cruises. Two days: Vancouver, Seattle (USA).