Victoria - British Columbia's Scenic Capital

Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island,gourmet and unique, visit Sooke Harbor House.
Victoria is a beautiful coastal city of more thanSet against a spectacular backdrop of the
300,000 people. The capital city of BritishOlympic Mountains and Juan de Fuca Strait, this is
Columbia, It boasts many historic buildings andthe original and most authentic of west coast
some of the most fascinating museums incuisine restaurants. Sooke Harbour House uses
Western Canada. The city benefits from one ofonly BC ingredients in its dishes, sourced as locally
Canada's mildest climates, which allows itsas possible. Savour seafood unique to Pacific
residents to pursue outdoor pleasures all yearNorthwest waters, tender meats from nearby
round. Often called the "Garden City" Victoria alsofarms, local berries as well as fresh herbs,
enjoys some of the country's most exhilaratingvegetables and flowers grown on the grounds. Sip
scenery: there's an ocean or mountain vistawine from one of the most magnificent wine
around every corner, while the city's flowercellars in the world, recipient of Wine Spectator
gardens are famous the world over. WhetherMagazine's Grand Award in 2003. Sooke Harbour
your taste runs to hiking, biking and fishingHouse is 40 minutes by car north of downtown
(appropriate license(s) required) or you're moreVictoria via Highways 1 and 14. We can't leave
the shopping, dining and theatre type, there areVictoria without mentioning the custom of
no end of delights for you and your family inafternoon tea in Victoria, introduced by the British
Victoria.If, as the late Victorians believed,in the 19th century. Tearooms all over the city
gardening is physically, morally and psychologicallyserve afternoon tea in quaint, intimate
uplifting, then Victoria must have the world'senvironments. For a grand experience in the most
healthiest population! Mild temperatures, occasionalBritish of traditions, nothing surpasses the
rain in summer and frequent sunshine create idealFairmont Empress Hotel's exquisite, silver-service
growing conditions for a vast variety of flowers,afternoon tea.Never experienced the delights of
shrubs and trees. You'll find flowers in bloom hereafternoon tea? It's a dainty and delicious
year-round: lilacs and rhododendrons in spring,between-meals repast, generally served with china
alyssum and heliotrope in summer, roses andcups and plates. Some of the most popular menu
goldenrod in fall, as well as cherry blossoms,items are tea that is often an exclusive "house"
daffodils and pansies in winter.More than a millionblend, fresh berries, finger sandwiches and scones
people visit Butchart Gardens each year to enjoytopped with preserves and thick cream.After
floral displays and themed gardens on a scalesampling all that good food, there's still time to
seen in only a handful of places in the world.visit one or more of Victoria's museums. The
Seven hundred varieties of bedding plants provideRoyal British Columbia Museum, Helmcken House
continuous bloom over 22 ha (55 acres) fromand the Maritime Museum of British Columbia are
March through October. In summer, multi-huedall within walking distance of the city's downtown
"Night Illuminations" make strolling through thecore. They cut a wide swathe through the history
gardens a magical experience. The Gardens are aof the province, from prehistoric times to the
30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria viapresent day. Outside the city, but still within easy
Highway 17.Butchart Gardens has grown in sizereach, are the Sooke Region Museum and BC
gradually over 100 years. It is still operated byAviation Museum. There's something to interest
descendents of Jennie Butchart, who started it alleveryone in Victoria's engaging museums.And
when she attempted to beautify a worked-outfinally, if you don't like flowers, food, or museums,
cement quarry near her home with a few blooms.how about whale watching? Few experiences
There is an admission fee in effect and youcompare to witnessing a 5,000-kg (12,000-lb)
should allow 1-3 hours minimum for yourOrca arcing out of the water and landing with a
tour.Victoria's oldest municipal park with 200 acres,splash that can be heard for several kilometres.
Beacon Hill, handily accommodates both natureNo wonder, then, that whale watching has
lovers and sports enthusiasts. The park's pavedbecome such a popular activity in Victoria. Tours
and cedar-chip walking trails wind past manicuredleave from the Inner Harbour, the community of
lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and pondsOak Bay, Sooke and Sidney. You may also spot
as well as themed gardens that are in full bloomseals, porpoises, eagles, sea lions and marine birds
from mid-May through October. The recreationalalong the way. Get ready for a real adventure!
venues at Beacon Hill Park are many: soccerMost tours take about three hours. The best time
fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, puttingfor whale watching is during the feeding season,
green, 100-year-old cricket pitch, petting zoo,May through November.Victoria, British Columbia is
spray pools and playgrounds.If you have workeda truly blessed city. Great views are just a happy
up an appetite after all that walking, with overfact of life in Greater Victoria. Mountains, sweeps
600 restaurants in the Victoria area, there's aof island-dotted ocean and beautiful gardens are
dining experience to suit everyone's tastes.just par for the course on urban, waterfront
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and bordered bywalkways. And you needn't travel far for
the farms of the Saanich Peninsula, Victoria chefssweeping vistas of the whole region: a number of
specialize in using local ingredients, with worldlytrails to mountain summit viewpoints are less than
results.For a dining experience that is botha half-hour's drive from city centre.