The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria boasts many historic buildings and some of the best museums in Western Canada.
The area is also home to some of the country's most exhilarating scenery: there's an ocean or mountain (or both!) vista around every corner, and the city's flower gardens are famous the world over.
Whether your taste runs to golfing, hiking, biking and fishing, or you're more the shopping, dining and theatre type, Victoria has you covered. And bring the kids - the city was included in the Top 10 Family Vacations in Canada in TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice awards.
Established in 1843 as a fort for the Hudson's Bay Company, Victoria's British ancestry is apparent in the double-decker buses, horse-drawn carriages, formal gardens and tearooms. The city is now a cosmopolitan centre with a lively entertainment scene and a wonderful array of attractions.
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Highlights
Inner Harbour
Savour the sights of Victoria's downtown Inner Harbour, which includes the historic Legislative Buildings, home of the provincial government; the Royal BC Museum; and Thunderbird Park, with its display of 15 impressive totem poles. Take a break from exploring with a traditional high tea at the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel.
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The Butchart Gardens
Victoria is famous for its gardens, and none more than the stunning Butchart Gardens. More than one million people visit this botanical wonderland each year for the dramatic and colourful displays.
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Royal BC Museum
The history of BC is on display here, with exhibits covering human and natural history from pre-Ice Age to the present day. Included is the First Peoples Gallery, which focuses on BC's First Nations cultures.
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Chinatown
Enter through the Gate of Harmonious Interest to North America's second oldest Chinatown. While you're there, stroll along the narrowest street in Canada.
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Fisherman's Wharf
Take a Victoria Harbour Ferry to Fisherman's Wharf for some fresh fish and chips and an ice cream treat. After lunch, rent a kayak and explore from the water.
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Galloping Goose Trail
Walk, run or bike along an old railway line past farmland, a hidden lake, rocky outcrops, a Douglas-fir forest, marshland and more. This 55-km/34-mi route is quite flat and very scenic.
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Explore the City
Explore the city in a variety of unique ways: by horse-drawn carriage, double-decker bus, rickshaw, scooter, bicycle, water taxi, canoe or kayak.
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Whale Watching
Take a boat tour to catch the thrilling sight of Orcas; three pods make their home in these Pacific waters. Watch from the comfort of an enclosed, heated vessel, or zip along in an open-air zodiac.
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Fisgard Lighthouse
Visit this national historic site to see the first permanent lighthouse on Canada's west coast, and discover why Vancouver Island's west coast was called the "graveyard of the Pacific."
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