VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 154

ROBERT BATEMAN CENTRE
Along the waterfront on Belleville Street, across the road from the parliament buildings, is
the grandly ornate former Canadian Pacific Railway steamship terminal, now the Robert
Bateman Centre (470 Belleville St., 250/940-3630, 10am-6pm Sun.-Wed. and 10am-9pm
Thurs.-Fri. in summer, 10am-5pm Tues.-Sun. the rest of the year, adult $12.50, senior and
student $8.50). Batemen resides on nearby Salt Spring Island and is renowned as one of
the world's greatest wildlife artists. Each themed gallery is dedicated to a different subject;
British Columbia, and Africa are the highlights. Another gallery is dedicated to children,
and includes a hand-on nature learning area.
PACIFIC UNDERSEA GARDENS
On the water beside the wax museum, Pacific Undersea Gardens (490 Belleville St., 250/
382-5717, 9am-7pm daily in summer, 10am-5pm daily the rest of the year, 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 miked for sound
make regular appearances at the far end.
LAUREL POINT
For an enjoyable short walk from downtown, continue along Belleville Street from the par-
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 Inner
Harbour en route. If you're feeling really energetic, continue to Fisherman's Wharf, where
an eclectic array of floating homes are tied up to floating wharves.
Old Town
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 historical
Wharf Street, where Hudson's Bay Company furs were loaded onto ships bound for Eng-
land, gold seekers arrived in search of fortune, and shopkeepers first established businesses.
Cross the road to cobblestoned Bastion Square, lined with old gas lamps and decorative
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 trendy res-
taurants, cafés, nightclubs, and fashionable offices.