Victoria, British Columbia ranks among Canada’s top destinations for good reason, appealing to everyone from history and culture buffs to nature lovers, adrenaline junkies, foodies, golfers, or those who simply like to wander around the stunning setting.
Two of the city’s most iconic buildings face the central Inner Harbour. Appropriately, a statue of Queen Victoria guards the ornate British Columbia Legislative Assembly. Practically next door is the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel, built in 1904-08 as part of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s string of classic chateau-style hotels across the country. For years, the hotel, with its strong English heritage, has been famous as the top spot for afternoon tea.
It’s easy walking distance to the Royal B.C. Museum, the Robert Bateman Centre, and Old Town with its historic buildings and clusters of restaurants. Just beyond is the oldest Chinatown in Canada.
An essential part of visiting Victoria is exploring the surrounding mountain and seaside setting. Hiking trails abound, everything from easy strolls to demanding treks. One we especially enjoyed was the hike up Mount Wells, located in a regional park just west of Victoria. It’s fairly steep, with a bit of huffing and puffing, but with spectacular views from the summit. While you can walk the trail on your own, we went on a guided hike led by Ryan LeBlanc of The Natural Connection, whose intimate knowledge of this special area brought everything to life.
If you like more adrenaline in your outdoor adventures, WildPlay Elements Park is an obstacle course that goes from tree to tree, and gets progressively higher and more challenging. Visitors follow a course that includes ziplines and walking on a narrow cable and across swinging logs and ropes. It sounds scary, and it is in places. But you wear a safety harness, are tethered at all times, and are supervised by guides. So even if you slip, you won’t fall far. Ever fancied swinging on a rope from tree to tree, Tarzan-style? This is the place to do it safely.
Those who prefer their feet firmly on the ground can head to Victoria’s famous golf courses. High on the list for avid golfers are the two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at Bear Mountain Resort. One spreads along the valley while the other stretches higher into the mountains with fabulous views over Victoria. But golf is not the only draw at Bear Mountain. The resort is situated in a beautiful area surrounded by nature, and is known for its sumptuous meals and wine tastings in The Cellar – an exclusive dining room surrounded by over 2,000 bottles of many of the world’s top wines.
No trip to Victoria is complete without getting out on the water. Whale watching is especially popular, since the area has both resident whales and others that migrate through. Sometimes whales are spotted nearby, but the day we took a trip with Prince of Whales it was necessary to go a bit farther, which was fine because it was also a chance to travel around some nearby islands. We eventually caught up to a group of five migrating killer whales. No matter how many pictures or videos you see, nothing compares with the thrill of finding these magnificent creatures in the wild.
For further information on Victoria’s many attractions, visit Tourism Victoria
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