©2006 Victoria Downtown Bed and Breakfast, Victoria British Columbia
Four ways to discover Victoria
Tours (cost a bit)
Walks (the best way?)
Hikes (for the energetic)
Shopping (what else?)
Tours |
|
 |
Butchart Gardens This is Victoria's most famous attraction. You don't need a green thumb to enjoy this spectacular garden. It's about 30 minutes out of town so prepare to drive yourself, take a bus tour or a regular #75 transit bus. Information about Butchart Gardens is in every hotel and on all the ferries. For an enjoyable half day, arrive about 10 am, stroll, have lunch in the restaurant then poke around the gift shop before you return to town. The outdoor theatre features entertainment throughout the day and at dusk the sunken garden becomes a light display. There is a fantastic fireworks display on Saturday nights. |
 |
Royal B.C. Museum The Royal B.C. Museum has earned an international reputation for its many unique exhibits. Its presentations of traditional native life and natural history should not be missed. Allow at least three hours. |
 |
Chinatown The impressive gates to Victoria's Chinatown are on the corner of Government and Fisgard Streets, eight blocks from the inner harbour. Tours can be arranged. (744-1985) or just head down and browse. The Chinese people have been in Victoria since 1858, establishing the first Chinatown in North America. |
 |
Craigdarroch Castle Craigdarroch Castle was one man's vision of a castle for his "queen." It's an amazing story and a fascinating place. If you like antiques, this is for you. Located a leisurely walk from the downtown harbour, just off Fort Street at 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC, Canada, Craigdarroch Castle is a beautiful historic Victorian-era mansion, built in the 1890s by wealthy BC coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. Rising 87 stairs up through the 4 1/2 stories, there are 39 rooms, most of which are furnished lavishly in the 1890s–1900s period, with over 20,000 square feet of space. |
 |
Hatley Park Historical Site Gardens and Castle |
 |
Whale Watching Tour Victoria has become a centre for whale watching. Several pods of killer whales are permanent residents along the west coast of Vancouver Island. During the summer months grey whales can be sighted as they make their annual migration from Mexico to Alaska. You can join a tour boat in the inner harbour. |
 |
Tour the Gorge in a Kayak The Gorge is a long, narrow channel of water which begins at the inner harbour and winds about 5 kilometres through the city to Portage Inlet. A strong current builds as the tide moves in and out, making the narrowest section behave like a river. On a windless day, an hour and a half each way is usually enough, but take care to set your starting time to take advantage of the tide. It's a peaceful and scenic paddle with an easy beach landing at the Craigflower Bridge for those in the mood for a picnic and snooze. |
 |
Horse and Carriage Victoria is an ideal town to enjoy from a horse drawn carriage. Enjoy the quiet, unhurried ambiance while visiting all the major attractions of the downtown and harbour areas. Several tours are available, from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. |
 |
Victoria Harbour Ferry Victoria's inner harbour is well serviced by a fleet of charming walk-on ferries. They offer an opportunity for an enjoyable but inexpensive way to spend a sunny afternoon. The following quote is from their website. "As we have 10 ferries we are able to service all the stops around Victoria Harbour every 12 to 15 minutes. Our home base is in Esquimalt at the West Bay Marina. The most popular Harbour Ferry stop is the dock located directly in front of the Empress Hotel. We also stop around the Harbour at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, Hyak Air, Songhees near Spinnakers, Coast Harbourside Hotel, Fisherman's Wharf and West Bay Marina. On the Gorge Waterway we stop at the docks in front of the Canoe Club at the foot of Swift Street, Selkirk near the South Bay Pub, Point Ellice House and Tillicum Bridge next to Gorge Park." |
Walks |
|
 |
Beacon Hill Park Beacon Hill Park offers a pleasant half day stroll through lush garden beds and around cool, shaded ponds alive with waterfowl. The pavilion atop Beacon Hill is a great place to have a picnic. To extend your walk, take the coastline path to the Breakwater or Clover Point. |
 |
Victoria's Inner Harbour is tiny and charming. Except for the Port Angeles ferry, no large ships enter, consequently hundreds of pleasure craft move about mixing up with seaplanes, tour boats, sailboats, kayaks and most anything else that floats. Artists, craftsmen and entertainers stake out space near the water on the lower promenade. All this activity will add interest to a walk from the Ocean Pointe Resort on one side of the harbour to the Laurel Point Inn on the other. Allow a couple of hours and enjoy a coffee at both ends. (Inner Harbour virtual tour) |
 |
Dallas Road Waterfront Find your way to the Fairfield Shopping Village and have a coffee and treat at the local deli. Cross the road and take the central path through Ross Bay Cemetery, one of Victoria's oldest, to Dallas Road. Take a right along the ocean's edge past Clover Point where you'll probably see a kite or two flying. Enjoy the views and breezes as you walk the cliffs past Beacon Hill to the deep water dock at Ogden Point and the breakwater. You can have a fine lunch here at the Cafe, or if you'd fancy traditional English fish and chips, continue 10 more minutes to Fisherman's Wharf. |
Hikes |
|
 |
East Sooke Park On a clear day the hike along the Coast Trail in East Sooke Park is stunning. Rocky crags guard innumerable tiny bays and surge channels. You may see seals, eagles and river otters. Do the rigorous walk along the entire coast line in 5-6 hours or shorten your walk by backtracking or cutting across the interior of the park. You will need a car to get to East Sooke Park. It's about 45 minutes southwest of Victoria. Take the Trans Canada Highway (#1) to the Colwood/Sooke turnoff (#1A) and continue out Sooke Road (#14) to Gillespie Road. (18 miles) Look for an old style English road house called the Seventeen Mile House perched on the edge of the road, just before the left turn at Gillespie. Follow Gillespie to East Sooke Road (3 miles) and turn left. Watch for the sign announcing East Sooke Regional Park, Aylard Farm at Becher Bay Road. |
 |
Goldstream Park A short distance (10 miles) from Victoria on the Trans Canada Highway (#1) you can enjoy the many nature trails of Goldstream Provincial Park. It has water falls and old mines to view, plus a variety of forest types including some ancient rain-forest. For a workout, find your way up the trail to the summit of Mount Finlayson (40-60 minutes) for the terrific views. |
 |
Galloping Goose Trail Part of the Trans Canada Trail which traverses the country, the Galloping Goose and Peninsula Trails form one of the most picturesque trail systems in Canada. Dedicated in 1989, the Galloping Goose Trail is named for a gawky and noisy gas rail-car which carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920s. Walk, Hike, Ride the Goose and you can spot bald eagles, or turkey vultures floating on a thermal, or watch a deer in the sword ferns. The scenery flows by in slow motion, from asphalt to rainforest to canyon... the Goose knows every landscape on Southern Vancouver Island. |
 |
Mount Douglas Park Mount Doug is a delightful piece of rocky forest bordered in turn by subdivisions, small farms and the ocean. It's easily reached by catching downtown bus to the University of Victoria exchange and then a #39 to the park. You can walk for hours on its extensive network of trails or take the easy way and drive to the top to enjoy the view. |
Shopping |
|
 |
Downtown The downtown core, especially Government Street, above the Empress Hotel, has a unique collection of shops that are largely responsible for Victoria's image as "a little bit of old England." You'll find many delightful buskers drawing crowds. Stop at Murchies for coffee and pastries. Browse next door in Munro's Books ("Canada's Most Magnificent Bookstore"). Explore Bastion Square and continue on to Johnson Street and Market Square. When you eventually find yourself inside the Empress Hotel, go downstairs to see pictures of the fascinating history of the inner harbour. |
 |
Cook Street Village The Cook Street Village is a quaint, tree-lined enclave of shops and restaurants, located between the neighbourhoods of James Bay and Fairfield, about six blocks north of the Dallas Road Cliffs. Its pedestrian friendly streets, small town atmosphere, and proximity to the downtown, have made The Cook Street Village is one of Victoria's most popular destinations, to live and shop, or just enjoy a cup of coffee. |
 |
Fort Street (Antique Row) Only in Victoria will you find a street devoted to antiques and collectibles. Fort Street, a one-way street leading out of downtown Victoria, is known as Antique Row. Shop after shop (more than 60!) lure the antique collector away from the downtown core and into a world of rare china, silver, toys, furniture and other treasures. |
 |
Market Square |
There's More! |
|
Other links |
|
... Thanks, Joan, for these great links!
Time for Victoria ! |
Victoria Downtown Bed and Breakfast
is not opening until 2009.
In the meantime you may contact us at
Toronto Downtown Bed and Breakfast
57 Chicora Avenue
Toronto ON M5R 1T7
416-921-3533
E-mail us
Or... please visit our colleagues in Victoria already, eager to host your visit:
A B&B A Beautiful Island Away ... Binners' B&B
Arbutus Hill Bed and Breakfast
Evergreen Hideaway Bed and Breakfast
The Yellow House Bed and Breakfast
- Or, our sister just across the Strait: