Victoria, British Columbia's Capital, Downtown & Butchart Gardens
Why Go: Victoria is a beautiful, tourist friendly city on the southern edge of Vancouver Island, which offers both old-world, British charm and the sophistication of the 12st Century. Beyond being the capital of British Columbia, the Harbor, Downtown and the beautiful gardens are pleasing to all guests. If you have a chance to visit, Victoria is not to be missed.
What you can do: Victoria is perfect for leisurely or active visitors. You can gingerly stroll the area, relax in a spa and/or sit in the parks or gardens all day. Alternatively, you can come to stroll, hike or cycle on trails and nature walks; or hybrid of the two. Milder weather and significantly more sun than Vancouver afford you many options. Restaurants, shops and boutiques are also an attraction.
The most famous place to visit is the
Butchart Gardens (outside the city). Walk the waterfront by the
Hotel Grand Pacific and on to the
Fisherman's Warf area. With the world class museums which include the
Royal British Columbia Museum and the
Maritime Museum of British Columbia. An art gallery of note is the
Art Gallery of Great Victoria.
Travel portion: You can travel from Vancouver to Victoria by ferry but this would make your time in Victoria short. Ferries take just over 95 minutes to reach Victoria. Ferries are launched from locations not directly accessible by either downtown area. We suggest traveling from harbor to harbor via float plane via Harbor Air (www.harbor-air.com).
Specific Directions: Harbour Air Seaplane Terminal access is available by foot from Cordova and Thurlow, several blocks west of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in the Burrard Inlet. Take the foot path on the west side of the Shaw Tower directly down to the terminal.
For the Ferry, you will need to drive to Tsawwassen following the HWY-99 south, through Vancouver, past the airport. Staying on HWY-99/BC-99 south, take Exit 28, HWY-17 to the Ferries. The drive is about an hour or so depending on traffic.
Food options: An early breakfast in Vancouver or brunch in Victoria. For brunch/breakfast in Victoria, consider the Blue Fox or
Mole. We recommend tea at the
Fairmont Empress Hotel. Depending on your scheduled ride back to Vancouver, consider dinner at
John's Place or
Camille's Fine West Coast Dining. Otherwise it will be late-night dining in Vancouver.
