City of Victoria

Old English charm meets Canadian west coast flair

Victoria's moderate Pacific climate ensures that British Columbia's Provincial capital is in season all year round — with daffodils that bloom in February and hanging flower baskets in abundance for the larger part of the rest of the year.

The city is as unlike a North American city as it is possible to be. Much of its architecture is painstakingly restored 19th century vintage, its Inner Harbour dominated by Victoria's 'Grand Old Lady' — Canadian Pacific's magnificent Empress Hotel — and a short distance away, the sweeping lawns and dome of the city's illuminated, Victorian Parliament Buildings. Tradition calls for afternoon tea to be taken at The Empress — though more modest and perhaps quainter tearooms abound throughout the city.

Capital or not, the city of Victoria is relaxed, safe and picturesque, well-served by ferry, scheduled helicopters and floatplanes that operate directly into the city's Inner Harbour from Vancouver's downtown. As well as fine restaurants, casual dining and brew-pubs, Victoria's downtown hub and turn of the century shops are a shopping Mecca, with specialty stores offering — among a variety of other, hard-to-find mementos — authentic tartans, rare native art, exquisite bone china and handmade chocolates. Whale-watching is a boat trip away from the harbour, the city's famed Butchart Gardens a short bus ride, with the British Columbia Museum, Crystal Gardens and most other 'must-see' visitor attractions within a few minutes walking distance.