Victoria, B.C. ~ The Garden City
The last stop on our cruise was the beautiful port of Victoria, British Columbia. It is a town steeped in history and architecture. We’ve visited London a couple of times, so I was surprised at how reminiscent it felt this time versus our previous visits to Victoria.
Once again, we opted to disembark and wander the city to see what we could find. The downtown is a short, easy 20-minute journey through the city. On the walk, you will pass the inner harbor along James Bay which includes Fisherman’s Wharf Park, hotels and restaurants, and the well landscaped Laurel Point Park.
Continuing down Belleville Street, turning onto Government Street, you’ll come upon the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. A patina roof and arches transport you to Europe. Be sure to walk around the building to witness the details and figures intricately carved into the stone.
Traveling further along the flower lined streets brings you to the next photography and visitor opportunity, the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel. The stately castle-like building is on the historic site registry and offers an intermingling of vintage, contemporary, and classic with a touch of modern. The flower lined walkway welcomes you inside to enjoy tea, lunch on the patio, or fine dining options.
The downtown offers a vast combination of restaurants, pubs and bars, shopping, and typical tourist gift shops. During our visit, most blocks provided live music from local artists and unlimited outdoor dining with the incredible weather.
Sunsets never disappoint, and British Columbia delivered as we set sail for Seattle and returned home.
As we set sail the skies lit up with a vibrant sunset, and the city turned on to bid us farewell until our next visit. We will be back to stay a little longer.