Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Robert Bateman Centre
Alongthewaterfront onBelleville Street, acrosstheroadfromtheparliament buildings, is
the grandly ornate former Canadian Pacific Railway steamship terminal, now the
Robert
Bateman Centre
(470 Belleville St., 250/940-3630,
http://batemancentre.org
,
10am-6pm
Sun.-Wed. and 10am-9pm Thurs.-Fri. in summer, 10am-5pm Tues.-Sun. the rest of the
year,adult$12.50,seniorandstudent$8.50).BatemanresidesonnearbySaltSpringIsland
and is renowned as one of the world's greatest wildlife artists. Each themed gallery is ded-
icated to a different subject—British Columbia and Africa are the highlights. Another gal-
lery is dedicated to children and includes a hand-on nature learning area.
Paciic Undersea Gardens
Onthewaterbesidethewaxmuseum,
Pacific Undersea Gardens
(490BellevilleSt.,250/
382-5717,9am-7pmdailyinsummer,10am-5pmdailytherestoftheyear,adult$12,seni-
or $10.50, child $6) is of dubious value. Local species on display include tasty snapper,
enormous sturgeon, schools of salmon, and scary wolf eels. Scuba divers miced for sound
make regular appearances at the far end.
Laurel Point
Foranenjoyableshortwalkfromdowntown,continuealongBellevilleStreetfromthepar-
liament buildings, passing a conglomeration of modern hotels, ferry terminals, and some
intriguing architecture dating back to the late 19th century. A path leads down through
a shady park to Laurel Point, hugging the waterfront and providing good views of the
InnerHarbourenroute.Ifyou'refeelingreallyenergetic,continueto
Fisherman's Wharf,
where an eclectic array of floating homes are tied up to floating wharves.
The oldest section of Victoria lies immediately north of the Inner Harbour between Wharf
and Government Streets. Start by walking north from the Inner Harbour along historic-
al Wharf Street, where Hudson's Bay Company furs were loaded onto ships bound for
England, gold seekers arrived in search of fortune, and shopkeepers first established busi-
nesses. Cross the road to cobblestoned
Bastion Square,
lined with old gas lamps and dec-
orative architecture dating from the 1860s to 1890s. This was the original site chosen by
James Douglas in 1843 for Fort Victoria, the Hudson's Bay Company trading post. At
one time the square held a courthouse, jail, and gallows. Today restored buildings house
touristy restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, and fashionable offices.
