For the gardening enthusiast, Victoria boasts Butchart Gardens. 104 years old, these gardens must be seen to be appreciated. Tours leave from Victoria's inner harbor several times each day. Of course, no trip to the inner harbor would be complete without a stop at the Royal BC Museum. With life sized dioramas, and a rich history of both culture and nature, the Royal BC Museum is an amazing site. Of course, while you are in the inner harbor, be sure to stop into Madame Tussaud's, the Empress Hotel, and enjoy a nice picnic lunch on the lawns of British Columbia's breathtaking Parliament building.
For the parts of Victoria that are a bit off of the beaten path, but well worth the visit, make sure you see Trounce Alley, Baggins' shoes, and the Victoria Bug Zoo. Trounce Alley is a bohemian shopper's paradise. Baggins' shoes boasts the largest, most amazing selection of Converse and Puma shoes in North America. You will never see sneakers the same way again. As to the bug zoo, you just can't go wrong. Creepy-crawlers from all over the world enjoy their lives at the bug zoo. Be sure to visit their gift shop for some sour cream and onion flavored crickets, or a scorpion lollypop.
To see the stuff that's just for tourists, stay in the inner harbor to enjoy a busker show, or head out on the harbor on one of the harbor ferry tours. If Orcas are your thing, the waters off of Vancouver Island boast the world's highest concentration. Check with the tour companies to make sure they know where the pods are before stepping aboard. You'll have a great time.
Victoria B.C. is the sort of city that you can spend a week in without nearly seeing everything.If you are visiting the Pacific Northwest, make sure Victoria is on your itinerary.Happy traveling!
