Victoria Attractions
Helpful Links

Events in Victoria: http://www.tourismvictoria.com/events/calendar/

Coupons and deals for Victoria’s attractions: http://www.tourismvictoria.com/plan/deals/activities/

Free cultural & recreational passes to Victoria’s attractions available for the Greater Victoria Public Library’s cardholders: https://gvpl.ca/using-the-library/our-collection/cultural-and-recreational-passes

Free things to do in Victoria: http://www.where.ca/british-columbia/victoria/things-to-do-in-victoria

Guide to parking in Victoria downtown (on-street parking and the City of Victoria’s parkades): http://www.pov.bc.ca/pdfs/parking-brochure.pdf

Nature, Parks and Wildlife

Anderson Hill Park, that is primarily a rare Garry Oak ecosystem, features rocky geography with a stunning view of Mountain Baker and the Olympic Peninsula (http://victoria.amongnature.ca/park/andersonhill).

Abkhazi Garden, created in 1946 by Prince and Princess Abkhazi, is a heritage garden famous for its majestic trees and dramatic site (http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/properties/vancouver-island-region/abkhazi-garden).

Finnerty Gardens, located on the University of Victoria grounds, contain over 4,000 different trees and shrubs and display one of Canada’s best collections of rhododendrons, with more than 1,500 rhododendron and azalea plants (http://www.uvic.ca/finnerty).

The Gardens at HCP combine more than 20 different style gardens set in a conservation park with nature trails, wetlands and bird watching sites. Tour and enjoy Ann’s Garden, Bonsai Garden, Winter Garden, Herb Harden, Hardy Fuchsias, Heather Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Takata Japanese Garden/Zen Garden, and a bunch of other beautiful gardens at HCP (http://hcp.ca/gardens_hcp/).

Goldstream Park, located 16 km from downtown Victoria on southern Vancouver Island, is home to waterfalls, including Niagara Falls, which is almost at high as its famous namesake, and Goldstream Falls, a small waterfall located in the southwest corner of the park (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/goldstream/).

Lone Tree Hill Regional Park is a wonderful hidden bit of paradise deep in the hills of Victoria that has a beautiful panoramic view from its summit (the distant Malahat, Victoria and the very distant Olympic Mountains in the US). The hike to the summit is fairly short and relaxing (http://victoriahiatus.com/victoriahikes/lone-tree-hill.html).

Victoria Butterfly Gardens offers a unique opportunity to see hundreds of colorful butterflies and moths (including the largest moth in the world) that flatter freely through this tropical greenhouse (http://www.butterflygardens.com).

Day Trips, Tours and Outdoor Activities

Discover the Past offers Victoria’s most popular walking tours (Ghostly Walks; Chinatown Walks; Discovery Walks) where you can meet fascinating figures and explore amazing stories while walking through Victoria’s history (https://discoverthepast.com).

Ogden Point Breakwater, a very long concrete breakwater, is available for walking all the way out to its end, to a monument shaped lighthouse guarding the entrance to the Victoria Harbour. The walkway has a great view in almost all directions, featuring the Olympic Mountains and ship traffic entering and leaving through the Straight (https://www.virtualtourist.com/903124-2132415/Victoria-Tips/long-concrete-breakwater-wandering-into-straight).

The Unity Wall (Na’Tsa’Maht) Mural, a public art piece that honors culture of the Coast Salish Nations, covers both sides of the Ogden Point Breakwater transforming it into the largest mural in Canada (http://www.theunitywall.ca/index.php).

Off the Beaten Track tours provide visitors to Victoria with an opportunity to explore the hidden gems of Victoria and participate in exciting excursions to tucked away places that they would otherwise miss, including Goldstream Railway Trestle, Witty’s Lagoon, and Sooke Potholes (http://www.otbt.ca).

The Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria is dedicated to researching, preserving and encouraging the appreciation of Victoria’s heritage cemeteries. They offer Walking History Tours, Ghost Bus-tours and Ghost Walks, as well as field trips and lectures (http://www.oldcem.bc.ca).

The Quw’utsun Cultural Centre, located in Duncan, 60 km northwest of Victoria, captures the Cowichan people’s (the largest Aboriginal Band in BC) living traditions. The Centre features the largest carving house in the world, where you can watch a totem being carved; exhibits throughout the property; the Riverwalk Café with traditional Native foods, and the gift shop (http://www.khowutzun.com/qccc/attractions-tours/introduction).

The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, located in Sidney, approximately 30 km north of Victoria, is Canada’s aquarium and cultural centre for the Salish Sea, with over 160 species of marine life, a rare marine mammal exhibit, and a unique Coast Salish art collection (http://www.salishseacentre.org/#intro).

The Signs of Lekwungen, consisting of seven unique site markers, is an interpretive walkway along the Inner Harbour and surrounding areas that honors the art, history and culture of the Coast Salish people (http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/culture/public-art/signs-of-lekwungen.html; http://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Parks~Rec~Culture/Culture/Documents/arts-lekwungen-brochure.pdf).

Museums and Historic Sites

The Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum displays the history and heritage of the naval presence on Canada’s West Coast, and of the military on Southern Vancouver Island, including Canadian Women’s Army Corps and Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org).

Christ Church Cathedral is one of Canada’s largest churches that is open to the public and has a great self-guided tour allowing to explore history of this gothic architectural gem (http://www.christchurchcathedral.bc.ca).

Craigdarroch Castle National Historic Site is a stunning example of Victorian architecture, including exquisite stained-glass windows, woodwork and period antiques (https://thecastle.ca).

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites feature Canada’s oldest west coast lighthouse, coastal gun batteries built over 100 years ago, acres of meadows and stunning ocean views. You can also tour through secret bunkers, military command posts and original 19th century buildings at Fort Rodd Hill (http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill/visit.aspx).

Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, but what makes it really special is its beautiful gardens, including formal gardens and a rare Garry oak ecosystem (http://www.ltgov.bc.ca).

Hatley Park National Historic Site is home to Royal Roads University, with Hatley Castle as the centrepiece of Edwardian estate. Hatley Park also hosts gorgeous Japanese, Italian, and Rose formal gardens that follow Edwardian design; 15 km of walking and hiking trails through old growth forest; a protected migratory bird sanctuary; an historic First Nations’ site; and a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains (http://hatleypark.ca).

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, Western Canada’s oldest Maritime Museum, is dedicated to telling the story of the province’s rich maritime heritage (http://mmbc.bc.ca).

Miniature World is a museum of dioramas, with 88 displays all constructed in miniature to the finest detail (http://www.miniatureworld.com/index.htm).

Point Ellice House, an enchanting 19th-century home/museum, presents one of the most complete collections of Victoriana anywhere in North America – the furnishings, clothing, and possessions of the O’Reilly family, who owned the home for more than a century (https://pointellicehouse.com).

Ross Bay Cemetery is the oldest surviving formal landscape design in BC and is a superb example of a Victorian-era burial ground where many of the famous Canadians and Americans are buried (http://www.oldcem.bc.ca/cem_rb.htm).

St. Ann’s Academy National Historic Site is one of Victoria’s most beautiful and important historic sites. It was once home to the Sisters of St. Ann and remains one of Victoria’s premier landmarks surrounded by heritage gardens and green space (http://www.stannsacademy.com).

Sights, Landmarks and Public Art Projects

Chemainus, aka “City of Murals”, located 80 km northwest of Victoria, is home to the largest covered-in sawmill in North America, as well as the world’s largest outdoor art gallery (https://www.virtualtourist.com/903124-688133/Victoria-Tips/chemainus-city-of-murals).

Dragon Alley in Victoria’s Chinatown connects Fisgard and Herald Streets, going as a mysterious passageway through three buildings. It is home to an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, studios and residential units (http://chinatown.library.uvic.ca/dragon_alley).

Fan Tan Alley in Victoria’s Chinatown runs between Fisgard Street and Pandora Avenue and is the narrowest street in Canada (only 0.9 metres wide in its narrowest point) (http://chinatown.library.uvic.ca/fan_tan_alley).

Milepost 0 of the TransCanada Highway at Douglas Street and Dallas Road in Victoria is the official start of the TransCanada Highway, one of the longest highways in North America (despite the fact that roads continue north and west from Victoria) (https://www.virtualtourist.com/903124-2134445/Victoria-Tips/milepost-0-of-the-trans-canada-highway).

Out of the Mist Gallery represents classic and contemporary Northwest Coast native art, including traditional potlatch masks, basketry, shamanic devices, button blankets, totem poles, artefacts, as well as other North American, Oceanic, and African tribal art (http://www.outofthemistgallery.com).

Public Art in Various Locations includes sculptures of various types, murals and paintings, and decorations of all sorts. These range from highly traditional totems to highly stylized and/or abstract modern works (https://www.virtualtourist.com/903124-2142711/Victoria-Tips/public-art-in-various-locations; http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-rec-culture/culture/public-art.html).

Thunderbird Park is one of downtown Victoria’s most extraordinary features, home to an impressive display of totem poles and First Nations monuments, as well as two historic buildings: Helmcken House and St. Anne’s Schoolhouse (http://www.explorevancouverisland.com/Thunderbird_Park_Victoria__Vancouver_Island_BC.htm).

 

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