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BC attractions for downtown tourism Victoria
Many of Victoria's principal heritage attractions, museums and gardens can be seen at http://www.heritagevictoria.org/index.html
B.C. Parliament Buildings, in the Inner Harbour is the seat of the provincial government. Join a tour and see the restoration in all of its late19th century glory.
Across the street from the Parliament Buildings is the Royal British Columbia Museum at 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC (1-888 447-7977). This is a superlative museum packed with realistic west coast displays. Famed for its Pacific Northwest aboriginal art collection. Allow at least two hours for your visit. The Museum is also home to the National Geographic IMAX Theatre. For more First Nations art, including totem poles, walk next door to Thunderbird Park. Click for a Royal BC Museum map showing directions from Gazebo Bed and Breakfast to both the Museum and IMAX (including gps co-ordinates).
Other attractions in the Inner Harbour area:-
The Royal London Wax Museum, 470 Belleville Street (250 388-4461) - in Victoria for 45 years featuring over 300 life size wax figures including royalty and a chamber of horrors. View the Wax Museum map and directions.
Pacific Undersea Gardens at 490 Belleville Street (250-382-5717) - walk beneath the Inner Harbour for a different way to view the marine life of this coastal region. View the Pacific Undersea Gardens map and directions.
Miniature World - "The Greatest Little Show on Earth" has over 80 miniature exhibits with tiny treasures - 649 Humboldt Street, Victoria (250 385-9731. See the Miniature World map and directions.
Whilst in the Inner Harbour enjoy a stroll along the walkways, either south from the end of Belleville Street to Fisherman’s Wharf (there to enjoy Barb’s Fish and Chips), or north from the blue Johnson Street bridge to the West Bay Marina. Look out for seals, otters and herons. In summer evenings the Causeway (between the Empress and the moorings) comes alive with local artists and the lights of the Parliament Buildings are impressive.
Three-wheeled, pedal powered vehicles for hire with driver/guide: Kabukikabs.
A wide variety of walking tours are available, select from www.discoverthepast.com, www.walkvictoria.com , http://www.walkabouts.ca , www.oldcem.bc.ca , http://www.dandahumphreys.com
Regally overlooking them all is The Empress Hotel, worth poking around to enjoy the magnificent carved wood and stained glass from Edwardian times - use the southern entrance. One of several venues in Victoria for high tea.
Walk north, past the Information Centre, to the Maritime Museum of BC with its galleries related to the seafaring life. It is at 28 Bastion Square (250 385-4222), the original heart of Victoria when it was a fur-trading fort, built in the 1840s before Gold Rush fever in the later 1800s. The Hudson’s Bay Co. fort disappeared to be replaced by neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, a living museum in itself – look out for tiny Fan Tan Alley.
Victoria, Western Canada’s oldest city, has also managed to preserve some homes that date from the mid to late 1800’s. Three which are open to the public (see: http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/heritage/historic_sites/site_list.htm ) are : Home of Emily Carr, an "English Gingerbread" house built in 1864 that also provides insight into Canada's first well-known artist and writer, Emily Carr.
Helmcken House, beside the Royal BC Museum, is the oldest historic house in the province, built in 1852.
Point Ellice House, is an Italianate Victorian family home where high tea is served. It can be reached by the charming little Harbour Ferries you will see criss-crossing the Inner Harbour also connecting spots like Fisherman's Wharf and the Gorge Waterway (250 708-0201).
The most magnificent home of all perches on a hill overlooking Victoria’s downtown. Craigdarroch Castle furnished lavishly by the Dunsmuir family in the 1890s is a striking example of what money can buy. 1050 Joan Crescent (250 592-5323). View our Craigdarroch Castle map with directions and gps coordinates.
Victoria's Country Retreat ... serenity near the Butchart Gardens
Canada Select 5 Star bed and breakfast
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