Helm's
Inn - Information About Victoria BC Canada
 Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and consists
of the municipalities of Oak Bay, Saanich, View Royal and
Esquimalt with an overall population of 326,000. Passenger
and vehicle ferries sailing between Victoria, Seattle, Bellingham
and Port Angeles dock in Victoria's Inner Harbour as well
as many float planes and visiting boaters. Moorage can be
found near the Canada Customs wharf. Also located in the
Inner Harbour is the Tourism InfoCentre where hundreds of
brochures, maps, etc. can be found as well as regularly scheduled
whale watching or fishing charters, harbour cruises and nature
safaris.
For those who prefer sightseeing on land, there is the Royal British Columbia
Museum tracing the natural history of the province of British Columbia from pre-Ice
Age to the present day. Also located at the Royal B.C. Museum is the National
Geographic Theatre where you can experience the incredible world of IMAX.
Maritime history
of the area is preserved in the Maritime Museum in Bastion
Square. A great family attraction complete with pirates,
shipwrecks, treasure maps and three floors of nautical
exhibits.
Visit
the Legislative Buildings and be sure to see them at night
when they are outlined by thousands of tiny lights. Many
specialty shops can be found along Government Street and
Antique Row on Fort Street and several interesting and unusual
shops are located in Victoria's Chinatown along Fan Tan Alley,
the narrowest street in Canada. Market Square features over
40 different shops and restaurants on two levels around an
inner courtyard.
Visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and other galleries
displaying the works of local and internationally renowned
artists. Government House on Rockland Avenue, east of downtown,
is closed to the public; however, you may tour the gardens
which have been maintained for over a hundred years. Also
of interest are the many elegant mansions along Rockland
Avenue, built in the 1880's and 1890's. Craigdarroch Castle,
the 39-room mansion built by B.C.'s first millionaire, is
open to the public for tours.
A
short drive over the Johnson Street bridge leads to Esquimalt.
This area features a naval museum, several historic military
sites and a number of scenic walking paths. Originally established
as a British Naval Base in 1865, modern Esquimalt has the
second largest Canadian Forces Base in the country after
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
James Bay, just south of downtown is bordered by water on
three sides with Beacon Hill Park on the fourth. A short
walk from Government Street, the park consists of acres of
gardens, paths to wander and picnic areas, lakes ducks and
a petting farm for children.
From here, take a scenic drive along Dallas
Road to Beach Drive, through the Upland Estates, stopping
at Cattle Point, and then on to Ten Mile Point.
Oak
Bay, east of downtown, has a distinctly British personality
with Tudor-style homes, impeccable landscaping, parks and
a shopping sector known for its fine shops and tearooms.
Willows Beach and the Oak Bay Marina are popular stops.
The District of Saanich, north of downtown encompasses several
residential areas and recreational parks. One of the most
popular is Mount Douglas Park which offers a birds eye view
of the city from its drive-to summit. Swan Lake/Christmas
Hill Nature Sancturary has two distinct ecological areas,
walking trails and a floating boardwalk allowing visitors
a close-up look at the lake's ecosystem. To enjoy excellent
public recreation facilities, visit the Saanich Commonwealth
Place which offers a variety of programmes and services for
all ages. The Olympic-sized pool has water slides, a wave
pool, a dive tank, steam rooms and sauna.
Saanich is also the location of The University of Victoria
and of the Centre Auditorium where the Greater Victoria Youth
Orchestra and Victoria Symphony Orchestra frequently perform.
The Phoenix Theatres, are found here as well.
West of Victoria along the Island Highway you'll find the
West Shore Communities of View Royal, Colwood, Langford,
Metchosin and Sooke. One of the best ways to explore this
area is by cycling or hiking on the Galloping Goose Trail.
Named after an old 1920's passenger train and built along
the former rail bed, this 70 kilometre (43 mile) linear park
stretches from the Selkirk Trestle in downtown Victoria all
the way to Leechtown, an abandoned mining town north of the
Village of Sooke. The trail is accessible at numerous points
along the route with two sections being the most popular.
The first is the short distance between Roche Cove Regional
Park, off Gillespie Road in Metchosin, and Matheson Lake
Regional Park; the other, a section which leads to the Sooke
Potholes, a series of rock pools along the Sooke River that
are perfect for swimming.
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse are National Historic
sites on 44 acres of wildflower meadows, wooded glens, and
stretches of beach. Fort Rodd Hill frequently hosts weekend
afternoon concerts by local and visiting military bands.
Visit the gardens and castle at Hatley Park, now the location
of Royal Roads University.
See the spawning salmon during the fall months at Goldstream
Provincial Park, a truly spectacular sight which can be viewed
from bridges and pathways along the river. Eagles make an annual
stop in the park to feed on the salmon and can also be seen
at this location. The biggest run of salmon is generally between
late October and the end of November. A great place for the
whole family any season, the Nature Hut at Goldstream features
exhibits on salmon, eagles, and other area inhabitants. Often
they offer guided hikes and nature walks. Visit Mill Hill Park
for a spectacular view of Victoria and Esquimalt Harbours and
Thetis Lake Regional Park, a family favourite with beaches,
hiking trails and a playground area.
Metchosin is a predominantly rural area, crisscrossed by
winding country roads and lovely parks such as Albert Head
Lagoon Park and Devonian Regional Park. Both parks are nature
sanctuaries with beaches and gentle trails. Witty's Lagoon
Regional Park is a beautiful lagoon ideally suited for picnics
and bird watching. Matheson Lake Regional Park is a favorite
for canoeing, swimming and hiking.
|
