Victoria BC Attractions, Museums, Gardens, Maritime
Greater Victoria Attractions
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The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is one of Canada's finest art museums with a permanent collection of 15,000 objets d'art. Collection features art from Asia, Europe and North America. Canadian and Japan exhibits. Address: 1040 Moss Street, Victoria BC, Phone: (250) 384-4101
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The Butchart Gardens tucked into a 50-acre world famous garden estate. Each season offers splendor from spring to autumn's golden glory there's always something to see,
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Over 2000 exotic butterflies flying freely in a tropical garden. Tropical plants, flowers and a variety of wild birds, throughout the lush gardens. Observe caterpillar eggs, and pupae hidden among the plants. Address: 1461 Benvenuto Avenue. Phone: (250) 652-3822
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Built as the home of Robert Dunsmuir, the richest man in nineteenth century BC. Once a Military Hospital and was known as Victoria College for twenty-five years. Address: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria BC, Phone: (250) 592-5323 Fax: (250) 592-1099
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This was one of Vancouver Island's first farming communities, established in 1853 along Victoria's Gorge Waterway to meet the Hudson's Bay Company's obligations to Britain to support colonization. Corner of Admirals and Craigflower Road, Victoria BC
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Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC, Canada. Featuring the 1.8-metre Plaskett Telescope. Summer evenings public and star gazing tours. Address: 5071 West Saanich Road, Victoria BC, Phone: (250) 363-8262
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One of Canada's greatest and most loved artists. Feeling a spiritual connection with her subjects, her paintings are world famous include both landscape and native west coast villages. Address: 207 Government Street, Victoria BC, Phone: (250) 383-5843
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Just around the corner from Victoria's Inner Harbour is a unique marine destination,food kiosks, shops and eco-tour adventures. Buy seafood fresh off the boat, and watch as fishing vessels unload their wares.
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World famous trail where you can easily cycle, walk, run, jog, in-line skate, wheelchair accessible, ride your horse, commute to work, spend any part of a quiet day enjoying a variety of scenic routes on this multi-use, 55 km former railway line.
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Experience the splendour of an old growth temperate rain forest year round. Watch world class salmon spawning in the stream where Chum Salmon return between October and December. Enjoy the excellent interactive centre suitable for all ages to enjoy.
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Home to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Over 27 beautiful gardens ranging from a English Country Garden, a formal Victorian Rose Garden to a Woodlands Garden, BC plants are conserved. Address: 1401 Rockland Ave, Victoria BC
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This 565 acre Edwardian estate is Canada's largest and most diverse National Historic Site. At the centre is a magnificent castle built in 1908 by former British Columbia Premier and coal baron, James Dunsmuir. Open Year round, museum, Japanese, Italian and Rose Gardens.
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Now the oldest house in BC on its original site. Owner Dr John Sebastian Helmcken a surgeon with the Hudson's Bay Company., offers you a glimpse into the way life was lived over a 100 years. Address: 10 Elliot Street Sq, Victoria BC
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Overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour the Provincial Parliament Buildings reside on five hectares of manicured grounds. The building was designed by a British architect named Francis Rattenbury. There are over 3330 light bulbs illuminate the building at night.
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The Scratch Patch is an outdoor garden filled with gemstones. Pan for gold. Excavate real fossils. What fits in your collector's bag, you keep! A perennial family favorite. Indoors.Interpretive Centre has over 30 hands-on exhibits. Address: 9891 Seaport Place, Sidney BC, Phone: (250) 655-GEMS
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Little people's Wonderful World of Smallness! walk down its road -- step into the Story Books of fact, fiction and fantasy. Return to those fond memories of yesteryear, those childhood dreams. 649 Humboldt Street Victoria BC. Phone: (250) 385-9731
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Gold Rush Magistrate and Commissioner Peter O'Reilly acquired Point Ellice House in 1867. The flowers in the heritage gardens surrounding this home that accurately reflects the Victorian history. For more information or tea reservations, 250 380 6506. Address: 2616 Pleasant St, Victoria BC .. Treat yourself to a lovely scenic ride between downtown and Point Ellice on the little Harbour ferries, for only $5.00 pp.
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Victoria's Ross Bay Cemetery opened in 1873 to serve the burial needs of the growing city of Victoria. Overlooking Ross Bay, it is 11 hectares in size (27.5 acres). Not just a burial ground, it serves as a park and restful get away.
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The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is an aquarium and marine education centre focused on the amazing ecosystem of the Salish Sea.
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St Ann's Schoolhouse may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Built by Jacques Lequechier in 1844 and constructed in the Hudson Bay Company Red River style,
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Two distinct areas the marshy lowlands surrounding Swan Lake with 2.5-kilometre loop trail and the oak forested highlands of Christmas Hill. Nature education centre address: 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria BC V8X 3W1 Phone: (250) 479-0211
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The Robert Bateman Centre, supported by the Bateman Foundation, is a facility to house and preserve Robert legacy, and a multi-purpose meeting place for collaboration, creative thinking, and networking about in-nature education initiatives.
Greater Victoria Gardens
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An exquisite heritage home. Prince and Princess Abkhazi began creating their garden in 1946. The garden is very discreet from the street. The garden is blessed with dramatic glaciated rocky slopes, magnificent native Garry oaks and gorgeous vistas.
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World Famous for its floral anf fauna beauty. Through the years subtle changes alter the face of The Gardens. Each month there is something of beauty and interest, from the glorious relief of spring to the mass display of fall colour.
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The peaceful rural site includes:103 acres of land leased from the provincial government and features demonstration gardens, a conservation park and facilities for private and community events.
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The grounds embrace 14.6 hectares, consisting of 8.9 hectares of a rare Garry Oak ecosystem, and 5.7 hectares of formal gardens including the Bruce Pavilion, Rotary Garden of International Friendship, Victorian and Sunken and Rose Gardens.
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This 565 acre Edwardian estate is Canada's largest and most diverse National Historic Site. Open Year round, with daily tours of Hatley Castle, museum, Japanese, Italian and Rose Gardens.
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Horticulture Centre of the Pacific
A nonprofit organization founded in 1979.Over 103 acres cultivating public interest in sound gardening practices that demonstrate the diversity of plants that can be grown in this area, of preserving natural plant and animal habitat.
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Finnerty Gardens contain a major collection of rhododendrons, as well as many other varieties of plants. The gardens are always interesting, but the months of April and May are the peak blooming season and the best time to visit. Open to the public every day during daylight hours.
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Monthly meetings of the Victoria Rhododendron Society are held the first Thursday of every month, from September to June. Visitors are welcome!!
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Victoria Rock and Alpine Garden Society
VIRAGS is a club of plant lovers living near Victoria BC who visit, study, photograph, draw and grow alpine plants, bog dwellers and woodlanders, whether native or exotic. We encourage the propagation and distribution of plants.
Greater Victoria Museums
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Dedicated to preserving aircraft and aviation artifacts. Exhibits of restored aircraft and artifacts as they relate to the history of aviation in Canada, with emphasis on British Columbia.
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Displays from the earliest days of the Regiment to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Exhibits of Lee-variant rifles, probably one of the most unique firearms collections in Canada
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The archive and library includes photographs and documents that follows Naval development from its 1848 beginnings to turbulence of two World Wars, the conflict in Korea, and beyond.
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Featuring original artifacts from the days of the Dunsmuir's. Exhibits range from the days when the property was a Coastal Salish Indian burial site to the present time as the campus of Royal Roads University.
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The Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery houses a collection of art ranging from ancient Chinese artifacts to works by well known contemporary artists. Featuring as many as 24 exhibits per year
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Step you back in time with intriguing historical places to discover. The realistic displays of west coast native culture their history and artifacts are yours to explore. The museum features the natural history of the area and where you can learn how the people of British Columbia lived for thousands of years
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Highlights Sooke's regional history and culture through historic photographs, First Nations' artifacts, miniature model displays and artifacts depicting the day to day life of early pioneers in the region. Items on display include a blacksmith shop, restored steam-donkey engine yarder, and other artifacts.
West Coast Maritime Sites
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A National Historic Site, Fisgard's red brick house and white tower stands at the entrance to Esquimalt harbour. Built by the British in 1860 the first lighthouse on Canada's west coast is still in operation!
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A artillery fortress from 1878 to 1956 defending Victoria and the naval base at Esquimalt harbour. Explore gun batteries, fortified buildings, underground bunkers and searchlight emplacements and command posts.
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Lighthouses of British Columbia.
These lighthouses are operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. At some of these sites the towers and buildings been removed or replaced with beacons.
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The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is housed in the historic 1889 Provincial Law Courts building situated in Bastion Square. Here you will find exhibits and photographs covering Canada's maritime history, and a section on shipwrecks.
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Race Rocks is a set of small islands with inter tidal and sub tidal reefs located just south of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Access live videos.
