VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 157

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
On the corner of Quadra and Courtney Streets, Christ Church Cathedral (250/383-2714)
is the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia. Built in 1896 in 13th-
century Gothic style, it's one of Canada's largest churches. Self-guided tours are possible
(8:30am-5pm Mon.-Fri. and 7:30am-8:30pm Sun., free). In summer, the cathedral sponsors
free choral recitals each Saturday at 4pm. The park next to the cathedral is a shady haven to
rest weary feet, and the gravestones make fascinating reading.
ART GALLERY OF GREATER VICTORIA
From Christ Church Cathedral, walk up Rockland Avenue for four blocks through the
historical Rockland district, passing stately mansions and colorful gardens on tree-lined
streets. Turn left on Moss Street and you'll come to the 1889 Spencer Mansion and its mod-
ern wing, which together make up the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (1040 Moss St.,
250/384-4101, 10am-5pm daily, until 9pm Thurs., adult $13, senior $11, child $2.50). The
gallery contains Canada's finest collection of Japanese art, a range of contemporary art,
an Emily Carr gallery, and traveling exhibits, as well as a Japanese garden with a Shinto
shrine. The Gallery Shop sells art books, reproductions, and handcrafted jewelry, pottery,
and glass.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Continue up Rockland Avenue from the art gallery to reach Government House, the of-
ficial residence of the lieutenant governor, the queen's representative in British Columbia.
The surrounding gardens, including an English-style garden, rose garden, and rhododen-
dron garden, along with green velvet lawns and picture-perfect flower beds, are open to the
public throughout the year. On the front side of the property, vegetation has been left in a
more natural state, with gravel paths leading to benches that invite pausing to take in the
city panorama.
CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE
A short walk up (east) from the art gallery along Rockland Avenue and left on Joan Crescent
brings you to the baronial four-story mansion known as Craigdarroch Castle (1050 Joan
Crescent, 250/592-5323, 9am-7pm daily in summer, 10am-4:30pm daily the rest of the
year, adult $15, senior $13.50, child $6). From downtown take bus 11 (Uplands) or 14
(University) to Joan Crescent, then walk 100 meters (110 yards) up the hill. The architectur-
al masterpiece was built in 1890 for Robert Dunsmuir, a wealthy industrialist and politician
who died just before the building was completed. For all the nitty-gritties, tour the man-
sion with volunteer guides who really know their Dunsmuir, and then admire at your leisure