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Tir Na NOg by the Sea Irish Musical B&B
Contact Us
would like to suggest some things to do while you
are here.
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| Tours
and Attractions
Whatever your interests,
whatever your age, the Victoria region is bursting with things to do
and places to go -- and it's all in a glorious physical setting.
Start at Victoria City's Inner Harbour
where you'll find the B.C. Parliament
Buildings, seat of the provincial government. Join a tour and see
the restoration in all of its late 19th century glory. The capital buildings
are at the Inner Harbour and the same location as the Empress Hotel,
where you can also take a look at Beautiful B.C.'s beautiful capital
city from the air with Harbour
Air Seaplanes. |
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the street from the Parliament Buildings is the Royal
British Columbia Museum, packed with realistic and fascinating displays
centred on the Pacific West Coast and featuring magnificent examples
of Pacific Northwest aboriginal art. For more of First Nations' art--including
magnificent totem poles - walk next door to Thunderbird Park. The Museum
is also home to the National Geographic IMAX
Theatre. Nearby sits the Maritime
Museum of BC with a variety of theme galleries related to the seafaring
life.
Adjacent to The Maritime
Museum is Bastion Square, the original heart of Victoria when
it was a fur-trading fort, built in the 1840's. Gold Rush fever in the
later 1800s changed Victoria irrevocably. The Hudson's Bay Co. fort
disappeared to be replaced by neighborhoods such as Chinatown,  a living
museum in itself. Don't be afraid to trace the small mysterious alleys
leading to tiny shops tucked into late 19th century brick buildings.
Victoria's has compact downtown, an easy to walk for all. Within a 10
minute walk of Chinatown for example is Antique Row, otherwise known
as Fort Street. |
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If
you prefer, you can take a guided walking tour through different
historical areas of Victoria. For example, a number of walk tours are
sponsored by the Architectural
Institute of B.C.and led by architectural students. Another historic
walking tour called Tales from the Tombs is provided by members
of the Old Cemeteries
Society, who lead you through a classic Victorian burial ground
at Ross Bay. Or, outside the city's downtown, take your own guided
walk in the district of Oak Bay or the Royal
Canadian Navy base, which features the largest drydock on the west
coast of the Americas. |
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Victoria,
Western Canada's oldest city, dating from 1843, has also managed to
preserve some homes that date from the mid to late 18001s. A few examples
open to the public: Home of Emily
Carr, an "English Gingerbread" house built in 1864 that
also provides insight into Canada's first -- and best known -- independent
artist and writer, Emily Carr. Helmcken
House, right beside the Royal
British Columbia Museum, is the oldest historic house in the
Province, built in 1852. A beautifully preserved modest family
Victorian home can be seen at Point
Ellice House -- with high tea service daily.
For a map of these
homes and others visit click
here. |
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By the way, the most
magnificent home of all perches on a hill overlooking Victoria's downtown.
Craigdarroch
Castle, furnished lavishly in the period of the 1890s-1900s,
is a stunning example of what money can buy. You may visit in the comfort
of an open coach from Royal
Blue Line Motor Tours, which leaves from the Inner Harbour.
Another
carefully restored historic treasure located near the Inner Harbour
is St. Ann's
Academy. It was once home to French-Canadian nuns and dates from
1858. |
Victoria
and its environs has a number of galleries that sell the work
of local artists. If yo'1re interested in the art world take time to
visit the Art Gallery
of Greater Victoria, one of Canada's finest art museums with a permanent
collection of 15,000 objets d'art, with primary emphasis on Canada and
Japan. Also of note is the University of Victoria's Maltwood
Art Museum and Gallery, which features a large and varied collection
ranging from ancient Chinese artifacts to works by well known contemporary
artists |
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Moving
away from the downtown core, and if flight is your fancy, drop into
the BC Aviation Museum
by Victoria International Airport. It contains restored aircraft
and artifacts related to the history of aviation in B.C. If you need
more space, consider the Centre
of the Universe, the interpretive centre of the Dominion Astrophysical
Observatory with spectacular views of both Victoria and the Cosmos. |
For a glimpse of life
as it has been lived for thousands of years in the temperate rain
forest visit Sooke
Region Museum. For a different look at our rural
past, see the Saanich
Historical Artifacts Society where 29 beautfful acres contains
everything from a blacksmith shop to an early sawmill.
Fisgard
Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on Canada's West Coast
built by the British in 1860. Exhibits tell of shipwrecks, storms
and the everyday working equipment of a lightkeeper a century ago.
It and the adjacent Fort
Rodd Hill are national parks. Fort Rodd Hill was constructed
at the begnning of the 20th century to protect the Esquimalt naval
docks. You can experience the history of the Canadian Navy on Canada's
West Coast at CFB Esquimalt Naval
& Military Museum.
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Now,
after all this, and if the kids are bugging you, head downtown again
to the Victoria Bug
Zoo, home to over 30 live species of the world's most fascinating
insects and spiders. The gentler side of bugs can be seen at Butterfly
Gardens where hundreds of butterflies flutter in freedom.
Or visit tropical displays under th
glass roof of Crystal
Gardens. Both the Royal
London Wax Museum, with its exhibition of over 300 life
size wax figures, and Miniature
World, with its tiny treasures and miniature pleasures,
are nearby.
To end
your week in Victoria -- was a week enough? -- walk beneath the
Inner Harbour at the Pacific
Undersea Gardens for an exciting and convenient
way to view the marine life of the British Columbia coastal region.
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Victoria
Estate Winery is Saanich Peninsula’s newest and most
prestigious winery. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria,
this is the pet project of Eric von Krosigk, one of Canada's elite
wine makers and the recipient of almost 175 international
wine medals. Using grapes from Saanich Peninsula, the Cowichan
Valley, the Gulf Islands and the Okanagan Valley, this winery is
producing fine wine like chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and
merlot. 1445 Benvenuto Avenue.
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Chalet
Estate Winery is a small farm gate winery producing quality,
hand crafted wines with grapes from the Saanich Peninsula and from
select vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. These wines are only
available at the winery and at a few select local restaurants.
Open Thursday to Saturday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm to
4:00 pm. 11195 Chalet Road, North Saanich.
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Less
than an hour's drive from Victoria, you will find the gently
rolling countryside of the South Cowichan Valley. Award-winning
wineries and one cidery are found on paved, country roads through
the region’s lush hills. Head for the wineries or tour the
coastal and countryside communities of Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake,
Cobble Hill and Cowichan Bay. Grab a map of the wine
route and enjoy some complimentary tours and tastings. Watch
for the annual festival “Wines of the Island” in the
first week in September.
:
Zanatta Winery
Cherry
Point Vineyards
Godfrey
Brownnell Vineyards
Merridale
Cider
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Plan
a day trip to Salt Spring Island and visit two wineries while
experiencing the alluring life of this magical hideaway.
Well-known as an enclave for gifted artists, musicians and
writers, pick up a map of craft and art studios from Visitor
Services in Ganges, and spend the day wandering the countryside
and visit Salt
Spring Vineyards, 151 Lee Road at the 1800 block Fulford
Ganges Road Garry
Oaks Winery,1880 Fulford-Ganges Road. Saturna Island
Vineyards is situated at the side of a soaring sandstone and
granite cliff on the edge of the ocean, with a magnificent view to
southern Gulf Islands nearby. There are sixty acres of vines under
cultivation in four designated vineyards, which makes Saturna
Island Vineyards one of the largest estate vineyard and winery
operations in the province.
Plan your ferry travel for Salt Spring and Saturna Islands check
the ferry
schedule.
A highlight of touring
Saltspring island are the popular Saturday Market and unique shops
in Ganges. Besides being the home to the greatest collection of
artists in Canada it is also recognized as the "Organic
gardening Capital of Canada. A great way to see all of this
is by bus tour, Round
Trip Sightseeing offers a great package for the entire day.
|
|
Victoria
Estate Winery is Saanich Peninsula’s newest and most
prestigious winery. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria,
this is the pet project of Eric von Krosigk, one of Canada's elite
wine makers and the recipient of almost 175 international
wine medals. Using grapes from Saanich Peninsula, the Cowichan
Valley, the Gulf Islands and the Okanagan Valley, this winery is
producing fine wine like chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and
merlot. 1445 Benvenuto Avenue.
|
|
Chalet
Estate Winery is a small farm gate winery producing quality,
hand crafted wines with grapes from the Saanich Peninsula and from
select vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. These wines are only
available at the winery and at a few select local restaurants.
Open Thursday to Saturday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm to
4:00 pm. 11195 Chalet Road, North Saanich.
|
|
Less
than an hour's drive from Victoria, you will find the gently
rolling countryside of the South Cowichan Valley. Award-winning
wineries and one cidery are found on paved, country roads through
the region’s lush hills. Head for the wineries or tour the
coastal and countryside communities of Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake,
Cobble Hill and Cowichan Bay. Grab a map of the wine
route and enjoy some complimentary tours and tastings. Watch
for the annual festival “Wines of the Island” in the
first week in September.
:
Zanatta Winery
Cherry
Point Vineyards
Godfrey
Brownnell Vineyards
Merridale
Cider
|
|
|
Plan
a day trip to Salt Spring Island and visit two wineries while
experiencing the alluring life of this magical hideaway.
Well-known as an enclave for gifted artists, musicians and
writers, pick up a map of craft and art studios from Visitor
Services in Ganges, and spend the day wandering the countryside
and visit Salt
Spring Vineyards, 151 Lee Road at the 1800 block Fulford
Ganges Road Garry
Oaks Winery,1880 Fulford-Ganges Road. Saturna Island
Vineyards is situated at the side of a soaring sandstone and
granite cliff on the edge of the ocean, with a magnificent view to
southern Gulf Islands nearby. There are sixty acres of vines under
cultivation in four designated vineyards, which makes Saturna
Island Vineyards one of the largest estate vineyard and winery
operations in the province.
Plan your ferry travel for Salt Spring and Saturna Islands check
the ferry
schedule.
A highlight of touring
Saltspring island are the popular Saturday Market and unique shops
in Ganges. Besides being the home to the greatest collection of
artists in Canada it is also recognized as the "Organic
gardening Capital of Canada. A great way to see all of this
is by bus tour, Round
Trip Sightseeing offers a great package for the entire day.
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