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Victoria is British Columbia's whimsical city that has been called “more English than the English!” It has the mildest climate in Canada with gardens blooming year-round, the wild beauty of the Pacific coast on three sides, the adventure of the great outdoors in every direction, and ocean to mountain vistas wherever you go in this stunning city.
Victoria honors its colorful history with First Nations totem poles, heritage architecture and afternoon tea, yet bustles with the energy of a university town, having the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University and University Canada West within its limits. Shop windows are full of British imports, Native art and the latest trends. Restaurants and cafés serve the freshest cuisine. The harbor is alive at day with the romance of an era when tall ships moored alongside the wharf, and glitter at night as lights twinkle and cast their magic from atop the landmark Parliament buildings.
Victoria is a year-round tourism destination that offers a European ambiance in a friendly haven. It is no surprise that Victoria, BC is one of the world's favorite destinations.
The striking green rolling hills and farmland, dense cool forests, stunning ocean views, and friendly communities create lasting first impressions. The Saanich Peninsula encompasses the area just north of Greater Victoria all the way to Deep Cove and Swartz Bay, a major BC Ferries terminal. Sidney, the location of the Victoria International Airport, and Brentwood Bay are the two largest communities on the semi-rural Saanich Peninsula.
Sidney is a seaside resort town renowned for gorgeous ocean views. A lovely waterfront, this pretty little town has even more appeal. Sidney is also acclaimed for its delightful shopping and dining and, because Sidney has more bookstores per capita than anywhere else in the country, it has been named Canada's Booktown.
One of the most popular attractions to Vancouver Island and the Saanich Peninsula is the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Located in the Brentwood Bay area the gardens have been drawing visitors to the region since 1904 and have recently been designated a national historic site. Two minutes from the Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a beautiful indoor tropical garden with hundreds of free-flying butterflies and exotic birds, as well as an orchid garden, carnivorous plant display, and art gallery.
Located off the southeast coast of Vancouver Island there are over 300 islands that make up the Gulf Islands. Only a handful of the larger islands support the local population - Galiano Island, Mayne Island, Saturna Island, North and South Pender Islands and Salt Spring Island. These islands are famous for exceptional arts and crafts, country inns, excellent restaurants, parks, hiking, kayaking, cycling and breathtaking scenery.
Visitors to the Islands are always struck by their natural beauty: quiet roads where you will meet more deer or otter than motorists, vast stretches of uninterrupted shoreline with quaint lighthouses; stands of Madrona, Douglas Fir and Garry Oak; beaches and vast ocean parks. Small farms supporting organic gardening and a large natural seed repository reflect the history of the islands agricultural past including vineyards that are commanding international recognition.
The main Islands are accessible via BC Ferries from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and Tsawwassen on the Lower Mainland (in the summer several sailings go to each island daily).
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Scenic Victoria | | |
Saanich Peninsula sunset | | |
Gulf Islands beach | | |
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