"Grace and Beauty" Victoria by tvor

Victoria Travel Guide: 1,620 reviews and 3,357 photos

Grace and Beauty - Victoria

Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, is usually thought of as a very "British" city and a city of gardens. It certainly is that. Victoria is filled with parks and many of the residents are keen gardeners as well. Victoria gets a lot of rain over the course of the year but that also means things grow in lush proportions.

It's origins were as a British colony and still retains a lot of evidence of that heritage but it's grown into a more contemporary representative of the north Pacific. I don't know if i'd say Victoria as a "British" feel to it as i've heard but there certainly is evidence of the British roots. One nice thing i noticed is that Victoria's downtown is vital, thriving with lots of shops that people actually use. Halifax's downtown is nearly deserted outside of working hours where most of the shoppers head to the outskirts to the malls and big box super stores. Victoria has malls and some big shopping centers but the downtown is also popular.

Along the waterfront of Victoria - Victoria

Along the waterfront of Victoria

Victoria is a friendly city and it's 2 or 300,000 population is far more manageable than Vancouver's millions. There are galleries and museums and great restaurants and some very pretty Victorian buildings and neighbourhoods.

I later found that Vancouver's downtown is more hip and trendy and businesslike though not as impersonal as, say Toronto seems to be. I've spent about the same amount of time in all three cities, only a few days each but that's the impressions i am getting. Victoria is a slower paced city and probably more my speed if i were to choose where to live, here or Vancouver.

Update:
Legislature Buildings, Victoria - Victoria

Legislature Buildings, Victoria

November 2003, just returned from a vacation in Victoria, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. I got to see a bit more of Victoria and the nearby Sidney by the Sea and did some shopping on Government Street and Chinatown. Tips and photos to follow.

http://www.victoriabc.com/

http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/common/index.shtml

http://www.victoria-bc.com/

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Lush green gardens, attractive waterfront, good food, good shops
  • Cons:Real estate is expensive, shops downtown maybe too geared to tourism
  • In a nutshell:Laid back, comfortably sized
  • Last visit to Victoria: Nov 2003
  • Intro Updated Nov 17, 2003
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Reviews (11)

Haida mask - Victoria Native Art at it's best Shopping (3)

There are lots of shops that carry art and crafts by the First Nations of BC, and some good shops that carry only this... more travel advice

Inside Munro Books - Victoria Books in an elegant surrounding Shopping (3)

Munro's is in an old heritage bank building, with high arched ceilings and beautiful fabric banners depicting the... more travel advice

Second oldest Chinatown in North America - Victoria Second oldest Chinatown in North America Favorites (1)

Chinatown in Victoria is not very big these days but it used to be much larger 100 years ago or so. It's in the older... more travel advice

Excellent views and atmosphere - Victoria Excellent views and atmosphere Restaurants (4)

Has an upstairs pub and downstairs restaurant, both casual. Excellent baked goods (two-mile high pies). Menu is... more travel advice

Comments (2)

  • Reply
    Dabs's Profile Photo
    Aug 18, 2006 at 1:22 PM

    I should have planned on staying in Victoria for at least 2 days, we knew we weren't going to have time for the Gardens but I wished we had time to see that museum! Guess I'll have to schedule another visit!!!

  • Reply
    BluBluBlu's Profile Photo
    Aug 27, 2005 at 6:43 AM

    'two mile high pies' sound a challenge! Happy travels, Blu

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