(Taken from a posting on our email list)
Our city is smoke free in all public buildings, restaurants, public transportation,etc. There are strictly enforced ordinances. I know you won't have any problem with smoke. Those who smoke do so in designated areas outside.
I'd like to offer to have everyone to my house, which is a short distance by bus (ten minutes, maybe) from downtown, for an English tea during the four days, if there is any interest. My house is also completely smoke free. Two of the
expected guests will be staying here with me. It's very quiet here, and pretty.
Victoria is a beautiful, little city, extremely convenient to walk around in and safe. In the downtown core there are such interesting sights as:
- our hundred year old Provincial legislative buildings
- many old but well-maintianed buildings housing antiques stores, coffee houses, little off-beat shops
- the excellent main library -tons of good places to eat
- The Empress Hotel.....one of the old Canadian Pacific Railway elegant hotels (where they also serve "high tea" each afternoon, by appointment and at some outrageous price)
- Tally Hos (large horse-drawn wagons for passengers to be taken at a leisurely pace around the inner city and Beacon Hill Park)
- Beacon Hill Park...with pitch and put, petting zoo, and simply lovely plantings.....too gorgeous -much much more.
At night, on the causeway, overlooking the Inner
Harbour, and backed by The Empress Hotel, there is always music,
party atmosphere, and great happy times going on, for those who
can take the movement and noise.
- One can go, via bus tours, to Butchart Gardens, which is a world renowned gorgeous gardens worth the trip, created starting about 100 years ago in an old stone quarry near the city.
- Or on whale trips in a zodiac from the Inner Harbour.
- Or on teeny little harbour ferries just putting around the Inner Harbour.
- Or to the Oak Bay Marina to feed the seals, take lunch, walk on the docks, smell the ocean.
And we are surrounded by ocean on three sides. So you don't go
very far without seeing it, although you won't want to throw
yourself in it for too long, as the temperature range through the
year is 47 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit!!!! A wee bit chilly. However, some late July days are so hot that even I have been known to huck myself into that cold.
We have several lovely swimming and picnicking lakes right near
the city.
There. That's the start on this Victoria resident's mini-tour
guide and promotional blah blah.
Diana
Thanks Diana :)
Here are some links to various place around Victoria, come back often for updates :)
