Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most people first see the city of Victoria from the Inner Harbour as they arrive by boat,
the way people have done for almost 150 years. Ferries, fishing boats, and seaplanes bob
in the harbor, with a backdrop of manicured lawns and flower gardens, quiet residential
suburbs, and striking urban architecture. Despite the pressures that go with city life, easy-
going Victorians still find time for a stroll along the waterfront, a round of golf, or a night
out at a fine-dining restaurant. Discovering Victoria's roots has been a longtime favorite
with visitors, but some locals find the “more English than England” reputation tiring. Yes,
there'satackysidetosometraditions,buthightea,double-deckerbustours,andexploring
formal gardens remain some of the true joys in Victoria.
Victoria(pop.335,000)doesn'thaveasmanyofficialsightsasVancouver,butthisisn't
a bad thing. Once you've visited must-sees like the Royal British Columbia Museum and
Butchart Gardens, you can devote your time to outdoor pursuits such as whale-watching,
a bike ride through Oak Bay, or something as simple as enjoying afternoon tea in an old-
fashioned tearoom. You will be confronted with oodles of ways to trim bulging wallets in
Victoria. Some commercial attractions are worth every cent, whereas others are routine at
best,thoughthelatter maybecrowdpleasers withchildren,whichmakesthemworthcon-
sidering if you have little ones in tow.
