flickr / CC BY SA/Paul Hamilton
Abkhazi Garden
1964 Fairfield Rd.
Sitting down for afternoon tea is one of the most popular things to do in Victoria, but often it comes at a high price. For a more affordable alternative, visit The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden, located in a residential area just east of downtown. You can wander the well-manicured grounds—which feature Garry oaks, Japanese maples and rhododendrons—then enjoy a spot of tea (locally sourced) as well as scones and other light bites. Afternoon tea costs $22-$55 per person, and entrance to the garden is by donation ($10 suggested).
Beacon Hill Park
Douglas St. & Dallas St.
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If you’re traveling with kids, add Beacon Hill Park to your itinerary. The free public park has multiple playgrounds plus ponds, gardens, shaded walking paths and plenty of ducks, geese and peacocks roaming the grounds. One of the most fun things to do in the park, however, is to visit the by-donation Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, where you can hold cuddly pygmy goats and get up-close with llamas, pigs and other animals. Arrive at 10:10 a.m. or 4:10 p.m. and you’re in for a treat—the goats stampede from their barn to the petting enclosure twice daily amid a chorus of cheers (and laughs) from the crowd.
Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel
642 Johnson St.
One of the best hotels in Victoria, B.C., for budget-conscious travelers is the Best Western Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel. You can’t beat the location; the hotel is just a 5- to 7-minute walk from most shops, restaurants and pubs along Government Street (the main tourist strip) and a 15-minute walk from the Inner Harbour. Perks include free Wi-Fi, complimentary bicycle rentals and AAA discounts for members.
Breakwater District
Dallas Road and Dock Street
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Dallas Road Scenic Drive
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Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites
603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd.
Learn about wartime history at , just a short drive (20 minutes) west of Victoria. For less than $8 a person you’ll gain entry to the Parks Canada site, a former coastal artillery fort that defended Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base from 1895 to 1956. After checking out the gun batteries, secret bunkers and barracks, follow the path down to the Fisgard Lighthouse. The circa 1860 lighthouse is reputedly the oldest on Canada’s west coast and now features kid-friendly interactive exhibits and outstanding views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains.
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville St.
Before a day of sightseeing at the Inner Harbour, check the daily tour schedule at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. (Tour times are posted near the visitor entrance at the front steps.) Guided 45-minute tours are free of charge and will give you a handy introduction to Victoria’s history and Canada’s parliamentary system of government. Return at dusk and you’ll see the building—itself a stunning example of Renaissance and Romanesque architecture—illuminated with thousands of decorative lights.