Have you ever wanted to travel to the enchanting city of Victoria BC? Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia. The city was named in honour of Queen Victoria. The cities British colonial past has left Victorian architecture. The nickname of Victoria is “the Garden City.” With its rich history, luscious gardens and calming presence Victoria BC is a must visit.
The Butchart Gardens
If you are traveling to Victoria the Butchart gardens is a must see. The gardens spans 55 acres. It is accessible all year round. It was all started by a woman’s vision. Jennie Butchart dreamed of having a sunken garden on her property which was once a limestone quarry. From a vision it eventually turned into a 55 acre garden filled with millions of plants. You can get lost in its beauty as you wander the gardens. The different parts of the gardens have themes and everywhere you turn there is something new to see. The themed gardens include:
- The Sunken Garden
- The Rose Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Italian Garden
- Mediterranean Garden
You can enjoy afternoon tea or a gelato in the gardens for an extra price of course.
Summer 2023 Prices for a vist are:
Adult (18+) – $39.50 (CAD)
Youth (13–17) – $19.75 (CAD)
Child (5–12) – $3.00 (CAD)
Parliament Buildings
As soon as you enter downtown the Parliament Buildings are a dominant feature. Sitting along side of the water in the core of downtown the Parliament buildings are a must see! It is still active and is the home to the British Columbia Parliament to pass laws and where the Provincial Legislative Assembly gather and discuss the province. They do offer public tours of the inside of the building. It is definitely a must visit. You can really get a feel for British Columbia’s culture and history as soon as you walk in. The tours are free and are pretty consistent during the summer months. For more information on when the public tours are you can click here.
Specialty Shops – Government Street
Murchie’s Fine Tea & Coffee
If you are walking downtown Victoria make sure you visit Murchie’s Fine Tea & Coffee shop! It was started by John Murchie. It has been said that John used to deliver tea to Queen Victoria when she was living in Balmoral Castle in Scotland. John’s tea knowledge grew while this was happening and he started experimenting with tea. Murchie’s is now considered one of Canada’s oldest brands. They have been proudly Canadian since 1894. By walking into this shop you instantly feel the history. They offer over 130 blends of teas. You are sure to find one you love. We cannot forget to mention the Tea Grannys. As soon as you walk into the retail store side of Murchie’s you will see the Tea Grannies. The Tea Grannys are a very old animatronic scene of grannies having tea. It is over 120 years old and a fascinating piece of history. It still moves to this day.
Rogers Chocolates
Famous for its “Victoria Cream.” Rogers chocolates was started by a couple named Charles and Leah Rogers. The chocolate shop was once a grocery store. Charles noticed his sweets sold very fast in the shop and decided to make his own chocolates. His first original created was the Victoria Cream. You can still buy and try the original Victoria Cream today. The Victoria cream has many variations but if you are trying their chocolates for the first time you must try the original vanilla. It will not disappoint. Make sure you have some water nearby because the treat is quite decadent. Charles Rogers is considered Canada’s first chocolatier! Inside the shop it will bring you back to a time in history.
Munro’s Books
If you are book worm or just a lover of old historic architecture you should walk into Munro’s Books. Munro’s books is independently owned and the building it is located in has been around since 1909. It was previously constructed as a Royal Bank of Canada. Since 1963 it has been a book store started by Jim & Alice Munro. You are sure to spend a lot of time in this bookstore and it is definitely worth the visit.
Victoria’s Chinatown
Did you know the oldest Chinatown in Canada is located in Victoria? It is the second oldest Chinatown in North America. The first Chinatown is located in San Fransisco. It is a popular tourist destination and is very close to other tourist sites in the city. When visiting make sure to take advantage and visit the local restaurants with traditional dishes. Within Chinatown is Fan Tan Alley. It is a shopping alley with locally owned shops. It is known for its narrow street and buildings with brick exterior.
Victoria Harbour
When you are in Victoria, make sure you walk along the harbour. It is a seaport and has absolutely beautiful views. You can walk along the water and it is still very close to the main streets. Make sure to walk over to the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, they have a stunning view from the water.
Whale Watching
There are several different Whale Watching tours in Victoria BC. If you are lucky you can see whales but if not you can view other sea creatures while on your adventure. The tours vary between 2- 3 hours. The price of the tours vary as well. On average each tour costs around $200 CAD. You will be swept into Canada’s stellar marine wildlife.
Craigdarroch Castle
A castle on a hill. Craigdarroch Castle overlooks the city. This is the type of place that you think “if walls could talk.” It is enriched with history. The castle is a Victorian mansion. It was built between 1887 and 1890. The original owners were very wealthy and made their wealth from Vancouver Island coal. Robert Dunsmuir had the original vision for his future family home but died before completion. It was then left to his wife Joan. You will step into the Victorian time period. The castle consists of exquisite stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and fabulous Victorian-era furnishings. Once Joan passed away it turned into a Military hospital in 1919. The castle has had many lifetimes and transformations since its original construction. If you appreciate history you will love to visit Craigdarroch Castle.
