|
Victoria: The city of Victoria's beginnings date back to 1843, when the Hudson's Bay Company established a fort. Surrounding the fort where thousands of friendly First Nations people, whose culture in recent years has been relived. With water on three sides, an annual rain fall of only 68cm (27in) and flowers blooming almost all year round, Victoria is one of the prettiest and most livable cities in Canada. |
B.C. Parliament Buildings: Opened in
1897, The B.C. Parliament Buildings stand above Victoria Harbour on Belleville Street.
Standing atop the highest dome, is a gilded statue of Captain George Vancouver. He was the
first European to circum-navigate the island we now know as Vancouver Island.
Empress Hotel: Since 1908, the
Empress has been over seeing the harbour. With its classic design, shops and high teas The
Empress shows visitors Victoria's "touch of England".
Royal B.C. Museum: Located at 675 Belleville Street, its
famous for its displays of First Nations artifacts. There is also a fish cannery, a
sawmill, a coal mine, a pioneer town, Captain George Vancouver's ship the Discovery, and
much more. Its one of Canada's finest museums.
Maritime Museum of B.C.: It
features nautical artifacts from Victoria's early history and is housed in the city's
first courthouse, built in 1889 at 28 Bastion Square.
Emily Carr Gallery: Emily Carr's
paintings are on exhibit here. There are other works on display. The Gallery is at 1107
Wharf Street.
Helmcken House: Located next to
the Royal B.C. Museum. Built in 1852, it's B.C.'s oldest standing home.
Bastion Square: This is the site
of the original Fort Victoria and is the centre of Old Town, with many unique and
historical buildings.
Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley:
Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest on the west coast of North America, and is now the
centre of commerce and culture for many Chinese Canadians.
Beacon Hill Park: Located in
downtown Victoria, this park is left wild (but tended) with paths, streams, ponds and
playgrounds. But mostly it's flowers and still more flowers.
Thunderbird Park:
See northwest coast's native culture on display. Carvers are often seen at work here. This
park is at the corner of Belleville and Douglas streets.
Strategic Esquimalt: Just west of
Victoria Harbour entrance, is Esquimalt Harbour, home to Canada's Pacific naval fleet.
This being an older section of Greater Victoria there are several heritage buildings worth
seeing The beaches offer a great view of Victoria Harbour and Juan de Fuca Strait.
