Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 795

tower's 87 steps (check out the stained glass en route) for views of the snowcapped
Olympic Mountains.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria GALLERY
( www.aggv.bc.ca ; 1040 Moss St; adult/child $13/2.50; 10am-5pm Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, to 9pm
Thu, noon-5pm Sun) Head east of downtown on Fort St and follow the gallery street signs
to one of Canada's best Emily Carr collections. Aside from Carr's swirling nature
canvases, you'll find an ever-changing array of temporary exhibitions. Check online for
events, including lectures, presentations and monthly late-night Urbanite socials when
artsy coolsters roll in to mingle. Admission by donation on the first Tuesday of every
month.

VICTORIA'S STROLLABLE CHINATOWN

Start your exploration of Canada's oldest (and possibly smallest) Chinatown at the
handsome gate near the corner of Government and Fisgard Sts. From here, Fisgard
is studded with neon signs and traditional grocery stores, while Fan Tan Alley - a
narrow passageway between Fisgard St and Pandora Ave - is a miniwarren of tradi-
tional and trendy stores hawking cheap and cheerful trinkets, cool used records
and funky artworks. If you crave company, consider a guided Chinatown amble
with Discover the Past ( www.discoverthepast.com ; adult/child $15/13;

10:30am Tue, Thu &

Sat) .

Activities

Whale-Watching
Raincoat-clad tourists head out by the boatload from Victoria throughout the May-to-
October viewing season. The whales don't always show, so most excursions also visit the
local haunts of lolling sea lions and portly elephant seals.

Prince of Whales BOAT TOUR
MAP GOOGLE MAP
( 888-383-4884, 250-383-4884; www.princeofwhales.com ; 812 Wharf St; adult/child from $110/
85) Long-established local operator.

Springtide Charters BOAT TOUR
MAP GOOGLE MAP