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Attractions in Victoria,

British Columbia, Canada

Victoria

Attractions

The Inner Harbor

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Victoria’s Inner Harbor is in the hub of tourist attractions. Within a six-block walk of the Inner Harbor you can visit most of Victoria’s downtown area on foot. From this area there are bus tours, horse carriage rides, street musicians, visitors docks for yachts, an aquarium, street vendors, Miniature World, ferries, hotels, and restaurants just to name a few of the activities.

Victoria Tourist Information

At the northeast corner of the Inner Harbor there is a Visitor Information Center that has loads of information about Victoria and “up-island” communities and attractions.

Visit the Tourism Victoria web site for further information. http://www.tourismvictoria.com/

The Royal British Columbia Museum

Of all the museums we have visited, the Royal British Columbia Museum ranks as world-class with us. You need to set aside a full day to visit this facility and if you miss the wonderful “First Nation” , historical, and nature exhibits plus the I-Max presentation by National Geographic you will have missed one of the finest exhibits in North America. An if that isn’t enough, they even serve high tea.

It is located at the corner of Belleville and Government Streets right on the southeast corner of the Inner Harbor and across Government Street from the Parliament Buildings.

Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum web site.

http://rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/

Crystal Garden

This unique building, located behind the Empress Hotel, once was the largest indoor salt water pool in the world. It operated from 1925 to 1967 and in 1980 it re-opened as a conservation center. Recently it closed to be remodeled and in 2006 it opened as BC Experience.

BC Experience

The centerpiece of BC Experience is a huge 3-dimensional map of British Columbia. The map was carved using satellite imagery and you can see the curvature of the earth on the map. The Gallery Promenade runs along both sides of the map with displays of BC’s past and present. There are over 20 small galleries depicting life in British Columbia. This is a wonderful exhibit

http://www.bcexperience.info

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

This is a world-class art gallery with a world-class collection. It has many of Emily Carr’s works. Visit the web page of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

To get to the gallery go north on Government Street from the inner harbor, turn right (east) on Fort Street, go east for 8 blocks to Moss Street, turn right (south) the gallery will be on the right.

Visit their web site: http://aggv.bc.ca/index.html

Beacon Hill Park

This park is located at the south end of Douglas Street and fronts the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The park is 183 acres of flower gardens, small lakes, lawns, paths, places for a picnic, and a totem pole by Chief Mungo Martin that faces the Strait. This is a great place to take a quiet respite from your busy vacation

City of Victoria’s Park Page

http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/residents/prksrc_prks.shtml

Regional Parks: http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens is another can’t miss attraction on Vancouver Island. The Buchart Family made this beautiful 50 acre garden in an old limestone quarry. You should allocate the better part of a day for your visit here. In July and August they have live entertainment every evening with fireworks shows on the weekends.

The Gardens are located at 800 Benvenuto Avenue on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria. Take Highway 17 or 17A north from Victoria to the Keating Cross Road, Turn left (west) (if on Hwy 17 travel west to Hwy 17A then go straight), west of Highway 17A the Keating Cross Road turns into Benvenuto Avenue. If on 17A turn left (west) of on the Keating Cross Road coming from Hwy 17 go straight. Immediately on the left you will see the Victoria Butterfly Gardens, continue to the west end of Benvenuto Avenue and you will be at Buchart Gardens.

Visit their Web Site. http://www.butchartgardens.com/

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Victoria Butterfly Gardens

This 12,000 square foot indoor tropical garden was designed and built to house and display over 35 varieties of exotic butterflies. The gardens are located at 1461 Benvenuto Avenue on the way to Butchart Gardens, see above for directions. Visit their web site. http://butterflygardens.com/

Pacific Undersea Gardens

This undersea aquarium is located in the Inner Harbor at 490 Belleville Street. It is hard to miss as it floats in the harbor with an entry from street level and stairs down below water level to view the aquatic life through large windows. Visit their web site. http://butterflygardens.com/

Visit their web site. http://www.pacificunderseagardens.com/

Craigdarroch Castle

Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish born local coal-mining magnate built this magnificent sandstone and wood castle in the 1880’s for his private residence. He died before its completion. After his widow died in 1908 the castle was used to house war veterans from WWI, Victoria College, the offices for the Victoria School Board, and the Victoria Music Conservatory until it was restored by the Historic Society and furnished with turn of the century furnishings and made open to the public.

It is located at 1050 Joan Crescent. To get there go north from the Inner Harbor on Government Street to Fort Street, turn right (east), go east for about 9 blocks to Joan Crescent and turn right.

Visit their web site. http://www.craigdarrochcastle.com/

Helmcken House

This home is the oldest home still on its original site in British Columbia being built in 1852 by John S. Helmcken when he married Governor Douglas’ daughter. Dr. Helmcken was a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company who later became a politician who helped negotiate British Columbia’s entry into Canada as a Province.

The house is located east of the main building of the Royal British Columbia Museum. Visit the website for the house http://www.heritage.gov.bc.ca/helm/helm.htm

Royal London Wax Museum

The Royal London Wax Museum houses many life-like manikins depicting historic occasions. It is located at 470 Bellevue Street on the Inner Harbor.

Visit their web site. http://www.waxworld.com/

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The Emily Carr House

The Carr family home and birthplace of the famous artist and writer has been restored to its original 1870’s elegance. Housed inside are some of Emily Carr’s early pottery and sculpture. The house is open to the public and there is an admission charge. There is also a gift shop located here.

The home is located at 207 Government Street. Head south on Government Street from the Inner Harbor, the House will be on the left in 5 blocks.

Visit their web site. http://www.emilycarr.com

http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/heritage_branch/heritage_sites/emily_carr.htm

Point Ellice House

This house was built in 1861 and contains many of its original furnishings. The beautiful gardens around the house have also been restored. They have self-guiding audiotapes available and serve high tea in the garden from noon to 4 PM.

It is located at 2616 Pleasant Street. Take Government Street north from the Inner Harbor to Bay Street, turn left (west), travel west until you approach the Point Ellice Bridge and turn right onto Pleasant Street, the house will be on the left in ½ block. The Victoria Harbour Ferries in the inner harbor makes a stop at the Point Ellice House.

Visit their web site.

http://www.pointellicehouse.ca/

Victoria Harbour Ferry

The Victoria Harbour Ferries are small tourist shuttle boats that give tours of the inner harbor. They have a terminal located on the visitor yacht floats in the inner harbor right across the street from the Empress Hotels. http://www.harbourferry.com/

Fort Rodd Hill &

Fisgard Lighthouse

National Historical Sites

Fort Rodd Hill is located on Highway 1A 9 miles (15 Km) west of Victoria on the southern coast of Vancouver Island. This was a coastal artillery fort guarding the San Juan de Fuca Strait from 1895 to 1956. There are artillery emplacements with underground magazines, command posts, search light stations, barracks, and rooms decorated with period displays open to the public.

The lighthouse was built in 1860 and has been restored to its 1873 appearance. This was the first lighthouse built on this area of the west coast. The lighthouse is still operational.

Visit their web site. http://www.fortroddhill.com/index.html

Saanich Historical Artifacts Society

This group is dedicated to saving the artifacts of the areas rural past. The park is 29 acres with museum exhibits of farm equipment, household furnishings, and household items. There is a period blacksmith shop, Log cabin, and sawmill. Donations are accepted for admittance.

They are located at 7321 Lochside Drive. Take Highway 17 north one road past the turnoff to Butchart Gardens, turn right on Island View Road, go east for ½ block, turn left (north) on Lochside Drive.

Visit their web site. http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~shas/

CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum

This museum is located at the main gate to Naden. The museum concentrates on the Royal Canadian Navy’s west coast history, The Canadian Women’s Army Corps, the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, and The West Coast Defenses.

Visit their web site. http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/index.asp

Royal Roads University

Hatley Castle Museum

This museum was opened in 1999. It houses artifacts from the time the site was a Coastal Salish Indian Burial Site through the times the Dunsmuirs built the home and the years it was a military officers school to today when it is on the campus of Royal Roads University.

The museum is located at 2002 Sooke Road. From the Inner Harbor take any street east to Douglas Street, turn left (north) on Douglas which is Highway 1. Take Highway 1 northbound to Exit 10 – Colwood / Sooke onto the Island Highway 14 (also Hwy 1A, also Sooke Rd.). Travel southwest for 2 miles (3 Km) and turn left at the University entrance.

Visit the Museum’s web site. http://www.hatleypark.ca/visit-us/hatley-park-museum.htm

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