Introduction
With its stately Parliament Buildings, glorious gardens and cultural amenities, the Queen's namesake city flaunts its quintessential British bent. On arrival, two prominent features—landscaping and architecture—immediately beg a closer look. Victoria cultivates the British passion for horticulture. Flowers and foliage pruned to perfection pop up everywhere: in more than 900 hanging baskets throughout the city; displayed under glass at the Crystal Garden conservatory; gracing the lawn of Government House, residence of the lieutenant governor; in experimental patches at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific; and even under water, at Pacific Undersea Gardens.
University grounds and public parks are equally as lovely. Cathedrals, castles, colleges and structures crowned with domes and spires testify to Victoria's stature as a seat of provincial government. Opportunities to peek inside abound. Tour the elaborately appointed Parliament Buildings or visit Christ Church Cathedral, one of Canada's largest cathedrals. Craigdarroch Castle, built in the late 1880s and lavishly decorated, harkens back to an affluent period.
Three outstanding museums accompany the Parliament Buildings at the Inner Harbour. Royal London Wax Museum captures likenesses of world luminaries, from princes to pop culture icons. Royal BC Museum, in Thunderbird Park, surveys the natural and human history of the province. In the historic, ivy-clad Fairmont Empress Hotel, Miniature World depicts diminutive scenes from history, literature and everyday life. While you're in the area, stroll along the Inner Harbour Walkway or board a traditional, London-style double-decker bus for an extended sightseeing tour.
Beyond its Empirical trappings, Victoria displays a contemporary edge. You'll find first-class hotels, international dining fare, luxury spas, fabulous import shops, championship golf courses, fringe theatre, fine art galleries and pop entertainment.
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