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