Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Victoria,BC help please

The place is very civilized and clean - nice Brit influence.

Your wife (and you) might enjoy the High Tea at the classic Empress Hotel (right on the harbor, but the name of the place may have changed since our last visit) and advance reservations (for the T) are recommended. Forget when you are going so don't know if whales will be running much, but a dinner boat ride for whale seeing has been nice.

Those accompanying me have enjoyed watching the float planes come and go from the close harbor (you might wish to arrive and leave that way). After the nice shops, lovely government buildings and Buchart Gardens you might wish to go further out on V Island. Or, take a cruise through the San Juan Islands (most of those are in the US).

You will like it.

I was in Victoria this past August during a cruise stop on an Alaskan cruise. It was by far the least desirable place we stopped the entire cruise. The Parliament building were beautiful but the part of the city accessible to us was just 100% a tourist trap. I would like to see some more parts of BC as I have driven from Spokane north to Williams Lake and saw quite few places and none were touristy like Victoria.

Walk on your own on the oceanfront walk around Victoria. Beautiful!

dennisinaz;
Top of the morning to you sir, I trust this last day in March has treated you acceptably well thus far.

After I read your post last evening I thought about what you'd written and can see that if one's exposure to Victoria was walking the downtown shops near the docks one could or would get that impression of it. I think that's too bad as Victoria has a lot more to offer than the tourist shops in the downtown strip. Like many Canadian cities it's a bit spread out and a car can be helpful to see it all.

Anyway sir, should you be heading up into the interior via Highway 97 you'll pass very close to us, so feel free to give me a shout and if I can't buy you a coffee or some "world famous ice cream" in season, perhaps I can give you some ideas on what to see here.

All the best to you in the upcoming week and new month.

Regards,
Dwayne

I was last in Victoria in '73 on our honeymoon. We took the ferry from Anacortes on the way over and to Port Angeles on the way back. Victoria was great but on that return ferry trip, we had some heavy seas and my stomach couldn't wait until we docked. It was a very long short trip.

My grandson made a trip like that across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and renamed it the Straight of Wan ta Pukea.

If I can be of any assistance just let me know, I am pretty familiar with the area. If you are into beer several good brew pubs around town. If apple cider interests you this place is worth a visit:

http://www.seacider.ca/ciders/

GG- We don't claim 17zzhat as one of our own.

Victoria is simply fantastic and one of my favorite cities on earth.
I've only visited in August - not sure what it's like in springtime.

Beacon hill park, Provincial museum

Amen to that Issac. I concur 100% with your statement, Been to B.C. many a time and have always been treated very well by the Canucks.

If you get in an auto accident shut up and lawyer up. The government has a monopoly on auto insurance so it's you against their professional BSers. It's been a long time though, possibly it's changed, might be a good idea to call your insurance company for advise before you go.

BC is a place i've only driven through but someday plan to visit, some beautiful country down that way.

I have traveled pretty extensively in US and abroad due to the nature of my job. Hands down Vancouver is the one of the cleanest and safest large cities in world, I never turn down the chance to work in that city. Since they installed the train getting around is really easy, the mix of chinese influence and the local seafood makes for some interesting dining choices.

Compared to DC, NY City, Chicago, etc, it's utopia.

As others have said there is a large influx of Chinese in both Victoria & Victoria part of that reason is when the British returned Hong Kong back to Chinese Rule a large number of moneyed Chinese immigrated to Victoria & Vancouver from Hong Kong to be out from under Communist Chinese Rule.

I haven't been to Victoria for many years but do know about the Empress Hotel, my wife would like to visit there when we do make it down there. Super expensive for a tea but she puts up with my love of guns and hunting so it's a small price to pay

I am overwhelmed by all the answers and ideas! Thanks guys! My wife is now over the moon with excitement! So many ideas ( and a small quotient of bitching but hey.....to those I say, as so many have said before, GFY!) Thanks to all and keep the ideas coming.
We are looking at going the end of April or first of May...what kind of weather is expected that time of year?

Most likely overcast with a chance of showers till June.

I would bypass Victoria and head straight for Terrace. Its Steelhead season man!!!

There's a museum near the Parliament buildings that's a definite must see. Might suggest a quick tour of the Parliament buildings, too, bit of a British flair and some history. (Had two uncles who served there as elected members from Chilliwack.)

Butchart Gardens are a must see.

Actually, Victoria doesn't get near the rain as does Vancouver.

http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/community/about/climate.html

HI there I lived there for 46 years , BC 30 cal has good links and Dwayne is a great guy,.the museum has a good display of totem poles which are a history carving of the west coast of north America.
the whale watching is almost any time of the year ,Orcas ,local pods, humpbacks greys.

Looks like you come from NC so you may be ocean people , the west coast of NA is a rain forest from Oregon to Alaska and the growth of our vegetation is phenominal there is a forest park on the way to Port Albernie that was donated by a lumber magnet that is a must see if you like that sort of thing, its also on the way to Long Beach by Tofino, few nice lodges up there as well.
Grab a map Vancouver Island is close to 300 mile long and 50 to 80 miles wide a beautiful place but do be prepared for some rain, hope this helps


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