| Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, | | | | gourmet and unique, visit Sooke Harbor House. |
| Victoria is a beautiful coastal city of more than | | | | Set against a spectacular backdrop of the |
| 300,000 people. The capital city of British | | | | Olympic Mountains and Juan de Fuca Strait, this is |
| Columbia, It boasts many historic buildings and | | | | the original and most authentic of west coast |
| some of the most fascinating museums in | | | | cuisine restaurants. Sooke Harbour House uses |
| Western Canada. The city benefits from one of | | | | only BC ingredients in its dishes, sourced as locally |
| Canada's mildest climates, which allows its | | | | as possible. Savour seafood unique to Pacific |
| residents to pursue outdoor pleasures all year | | | | Northwest waters, tender meats from nearby |
| round. Often called the "Garden City" Victoria also | | | | farms, local berries as well as fresh herbs, |
| enjoys some of the country's most exhilarating | | | | vegetables and flowers grown on the grounds. Sip |
| scenery: there's an ocean or mountain vista | | | | wine from one of the most magnificent wine |
| around every corner, while the city's flower | | | | cellars in the world, recipient of Wine Spectator |
| gardens are famous the world over. Whether | | | | Magazine's Grand Award in 2003. Sooke Harbour |
| your taste runs to hiking, biking and fishing | | | | House is 40 minutes by car north of downtown |
| (appropriate license(s) required) or you're more | | | | Victoria via Highways 1 and 14. We can't leave |
| the shopping, dining and theatre type, there are | | | | Victoria without mentioning the custom of |
| no end of delights for you and your family in | | | | afternoon 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 psychologically | | | | serve afternoon tea in quaint, intimate |
| uplifting, then Victoria must have the world's | | | | environments. For a grand experience in the most |
| healthiest population! Mild temperatures, occasional | | | | British of traditions, nothing surpasses the |
| rain in summer and frequent sunshine create ideal | | | | Fairmont 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 here | | | | afternoon 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 and | | | | cups 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 million | | | | blend, fresh berries, finger sandwiches and scones |
| people visit Butchart Gardens each year to enjoy | | | | topped with preserves and thick cream.After |
| floral displays and themed gardens on a scale | | | | sampling 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 provide | | | | Royal British Columbia Museum, Helmcken House |
| continuous bloom over 22 ha (55 acres) from | | | | and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia are |
| March through October. In summer, multi-hued | | | | all within walking distance of the city's downtown |
| "Night Illuminations" make strolling through the | | | | core. They cut a wide swathe through the history |
| gardens a magical experience. The Gardens are a | | | | of the province, from prehistoric times to the |
| 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria via | | | | present day. Outside the city, but still within easy |
| Highway 17.Butchart Gardens has grown in size | | | | reach, are the Sooke Region Museum and BC |
| gradually over 100 years. It is still operated by | | | | Aviation Museum. There's something to interest |
| descendents of Jennie Butchart, who started it all | | | | everyone in Victoria's engaging museums.And |
| when she attempted to beautify a worked-out | | | | finally, 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 you | | | | compare to witnessing a 5,000-kg (12,000-lb) |
| should allow 1-3 hours minimum for your | | | | Orca 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 nature | | | | No wonder, then, that whale watching has |
| lovers and sports enthusiasts. The park's paved | | | | become such a popular activity in Victoria. Tours |
| and cedar-chip walking trails wind past manicured | | | | leave from the Inner Harbour, the community of |
| lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and ponds | | | | Oak Bay, Sooke and Sidney. You may also spot |
| as well as themed gardens that are in full bloom | | | | seals, porpoises, eagles, sea lions and marine birds |
| from mid-May through October. The recreational | | | | along the way. Get ready for a real adventure! |
| venues at Beacon Hill Park are many: soccer | | | | Most tours take about three hours. The best time |
| fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, putting | | | | for 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 worked | | | | a truly blessed city. Great views are just a happy |
| up an appetite after all that walking, with over | | | | fact of life in Greater Victoria. Mountains, sweeps |
| 600 restaurants in the Victoria area, there's a | | | | of 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 by | | | | walkways. And you needn't travel far for |
| the farms of the Saanich Peninsula, Victoria chefs | | | | sweeping vistas of the whole region: a number of |
| specialize in using local ingredients, with worldly | | | | trails to mountain summit viewpoints are less than |
| results.For a dining experience that is both | | | | a half-hour's drive from city centre. |