Victoria - Always in Season
Around Victoria, British Columbia, a city of sweeping gardens and bountiful flowers on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, your eyes will feast on the sights. You might even see Caddy, a legendary sea monster with a long, greenish-brown body and a camel-like head, swimming in the bay, or even a sixteen-inch footprint from a Sasquatch that roams nearby forests.
Sea creatures and mythical beasts are attracted to Victoria for the same reasons travelers from around the world relish this old-world city—its beauty, charm and fragrance are enchantingly alluring. Beauty in the way this capital city cast wondrous reflections onto the Inner Harbour. Charm from its restored 19th-century architecture and enduring British traditions. And fragrance from the nearly 2 billion flowers around the city (yes they count the flowers each year, and yes that's billions!).
The oldest city on Canada's west coast, Victoria is a livable, loveable seaside town with narrow streets, a dizzying array of tea gardens and streetlights that bloom on schedule. In short, it's a city that begs to be walked, explored, photographed and utterly enjoyed. Always in season, Victoria is the perfect foreign destination that's just a ferry-ride away from Seattle.
 |
Photo: Tourism Victoria |
Much like the whales, everything in Victoria moves at a leisurely pace, for it's a city that knows where it's going and is in no rush to get there. Residents and tourists alike amble about the clean streets, enjoying waterfront views, historic structures, funky shopping stores and first-rate museums
Victoria's picturesque Inner Harbour is where most are drawn, whether to simply enjoy the seaside scenery or to take part in the myriad of marine adventures. Seaplanes, ferries, yachts, kayaks and rowing sculls bustle across the waters, and buskers line the sidewalks during the warmer seasons. At night the Inner Harbour shimmers with the reflection of the more than 3,000 lights that illuminate the impressive Legislative Building.
Many explore this downtown area on foot, for popular attractions like Olde Towne, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf and Beacon Hill Park, along with the beautiful residential areas of James Bay, Fairfield and Rockland, are all within walking distance of the Inner Harbour. However, bicycles, double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages are also on hand for exploring this "Garden City."
Victorians take that "Garden City" moniker seriously, proudly tending the parks and gardens that cover more than 7,600 hectares (one hectare = 10,000 square meters). Victoria boasts the mildest climate in all of Canada, allowing gardens to bloom year-round, and the citizens take full advantage of these ideal weather conditions.
The essential ingredients to any garden are flowers, and flowers are so important to Victorians that they count them. Every February, while most Canadians are still shoveling snow, Victorians report the number of blossoms in their gardens and throughout their neighborhoods to the Chamber of Commerce. The announced results, which lately have totaled in the billions, spark a yearly celebration of the official farewell to winter and a hearty, flourishing welcome to an early spring.
 |
Photo: Tourism Victoria |
There are so many flowers in Victoria that the citizens get creative in using them. One popular and time-honored tradition is the hanging flower baskets that decorate thousands of lampposts. The placement of flower baskets on lampposts every June—a trademark of the city recognized around the world —has signaled the start of summer in Victoria for more than 60 years.
Traditions are important in Victoria, where the people embrace the celebrated British tradition of afternoon tea. Tearooms around Victoria—from fancy hotels to quaint one-room establishments—allow visitors and residents alike to savor afternoon tea while enjoying the most picturesque views in the city. Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel includes fresh berries and plump scones with homemade strawberry preserves and thick cream, served with a delightful blend of China black, Ceylon and Darjeeling teas to the sounds of Chopin's Waltz in A Minor.
Good tea, good company and relaxing times remain constant in Victoria. That's why travel agents have been sending their clients here for years, especially multi-generational families with varied interests. Whether you're looking for day trips to the scenic Gulf Islands or an adventurous overnight excursion amidst the snowcapped mountains and lush forests that traverse Vancouver Island, travel agents know how to get the best out of your vacation to Victoria.
Let your next vacation bloom in Victoria, British Columbia—it's always in season! Click here to find a travel agent near you and start planning your Canadian escape today!
 |
 Travel agents are available to assist you in 37 languages! |
Thanks for sharing quite informative article....
By: Beth Mason
At: 06/25/2009 00:00:00: AM
Victoria is so charming and elegant! What a great city to spend the day walking. When you visit make sure you take some time to visit Buchart Gardens - it's unbelievable for garden lovers and they have a fireworks show on Saturday evenings during the summer! You can pick up a tour to the gardens from the Harbor where the whale watching boats depart from. My husband and I would highly recommend the combined killer whale tour with the drop off at Buchart Gardens. An truly memorable day!
By: Anne Parnell
At: 06/25/2009 00:00:00: AM
Umpteen explore this downtown expanse on measure, for favourite attractions like Olde Towne, Chinatown, Fisher's Wharfage and Beacon Construction Parkland, along with the comely residential areas of Felon Bay, Fairfield and Rockland, are all within close interval of the Intrinsic Refuge..
=============
Ema
vancouver flowers
By: Ema Watson
At: 01/14/2010 00:00:00: AM
