Tag: Victoria British Colombia Canada

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Vancouver, British Colombia, located in Southwest Canada.

VANCOUVER, CANADA
SCENIC VIEWS, MILD CLIMATE, AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE

Boasting mountains, sea, culture, art, and so much more, many cities claim to have it all, but few can back it up, like
Vancouver. Famously livable, just visiting this highrise city – surrounded by staggering natural beauty – is a thrill.
Offering all of the creature comforts of an ultra-modern, worldly metropolis – even downtown has a hint of mountain freshness to its air – and part of Vancouver’s appeal is how easily you can swap the skyscrapers for whale-filled oceans
and mountain-punctured skies.

Head up to the Vancouver Lookout Tower for the ultimate 360-degree views of the city, glistening amid the beautiful
embrace of the beckoning wilderness beyond. But what to see first? Art lovers might choose the Vancouver Art Gallery
or the Contemporary Art Gallery.

Nature lovers might rush for the ferry to visit Vancouver Island – where they can encounter grizzly bears, whales, and orcas. On the other hand, culture vultures will probably head for the sights and sounds of Canada’s biggest Chinatown. From steaming dim sum for lunch to Chinese apothecaries offering herbs to soothe any illness, it’s all here thanks to the migrant workers of the 19th century.

The one-of-a-kind treasure of Stanley Park brings wild wonder and natural beauty to this cosmopolitan city’s doorstep,
and the pine-tree-clad park offers isolated trails and incredible views. Wander the Seawall that encircles it – a 20-mile
coastal path, full of joggers, whizzing skaters, and wandering couples. Grab a bike and cycle between Coal Harbour and Kitsilano Beach. You can top up your tan on the shore as you soak in the glorious views of the mountains and cityscape from the sands.

GRANVILLE ISLAND PUBLIC MARKET
The Granville Island Public Market is the jewel in the Island’s crown and one of Vancouver’s most popular tourist attractions. It is an indoor market featuring a fascinating assortment of colorful food and produce stores, showcasing handcrafted products and the very finest in unique gifts—all fresh from the ocean, the oven, or the field.

SIGHTS

• Stanley Park
• VanDusen Botanical Garden
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Bloedel Conservatory
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Science World

Today’s Excursion – Vancouver City Highlights

We experienced the highlights of Vancouver on this orientation tour.

Sights seen along the way will include:

Robson Street, Vancouver’s most famous shopping street, is set in the heart of downtown. It is a three-block commercial mecca that includes premier fashion stores, fine dining, and amenities.

Vancouver’s Chinatown is the third largest in North America and home to more than 30,000 people of Chinese descent. Authentic architecture, exotic cuisine, and colorful specialty shops make each turn down the narrow alleyways unique.

Drive through Gastown, the original site from which modern Vancouver evolved. The varied shops and boutiques make the area a popular shopping district. The famous steam clock fills the air with music every 15 minutes.

Stanley Park is a lush rainforest in the heart of the city. This 1,000-acre park teems with wildlife and natural beauty. The park was created in 1889 and is named after the Governor General of Canada (who was also responsible for the Stanley Cup Hockey Tournament).  Stanley Park houses an aquarium, rose garden, cricket fields, an open-air theatre, and the First Nations Totem Poles. The thousand-acre park is bound by a three-mile seawall, which also serves as a bike path.

Once an industrial area, Granville Island is now home to craft studios, artists’ galleries, theatres, a brewery, and a public market featuring handcrafted products, unique gifts, and street performers. Many of the buildings have retained their original timber beams and tin roofs.

Tonight’s Gala Event

Tonight’s Gala Dinner.

Check out today’s Chronicle.

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Victoria, on the West Coast of Canada.

VICTORIA, CANADA
RICH COLONIAL HISTORY, BEAUTIFUL PARKS, FANTASTIC FOOD & INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE

Set on the southern tip of Vancouver Island (although nowhere near Vancouver), Victoria (the city) is nowhere
near Victoria Island. Confused? Victoria may be Vancouver’s smaller sister in size, but what it lacks in bright light and big
city bustle is more than made up for by its fantastic food scene, historical background, and glorious natural
surroundings. Stop at any local, and you’ll find a charming population full of friendliness and pride for their city.

Easily walkable, Victoria is full of blooming gardens, coastal paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19thcentury
architecture. Pods of friendly whales have been known to visit the harbor, attracted by the fertile waters.
Three resident pods of Orcas live in the nearby Puget Sound, Gulf, and San Juan Islands. Nothing beats the feeling of
standing on the viewing deck, binoculars in hand, listening to the eerie communication of the beautiful black and
white beasts.

Discovered by Captain James Cook in the 18th century, Victoria – and Vancouver Island – had long been home to many
indigenous families. The city retains its roots in its First Nation culture, thousands of examples of which can be found
in the spectacular collection housed at The Royal BC Museum.

After gold was discovered in 1858, people flocked to the area, bringing adventurers from as far afield as Australia. This
diversity of population was further cemented in the 19th century when thousands of migrant workers were brought
in to build the railway.

CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE
Craigdarroch Castle was built by Scottish-born coal and shipping baron Robert Dunsmuir. The immense fortune of the Dunsmuir family is reflected in the four floors of exquisite stained glass windows, intricate woodwork, and fabulous Victorian-era furnishings. The museum is open year-round for self-guided tours.

Craigdarroch Castle has one of North America’s finest collections of Victorian residential stained and leaded glass windows, all of which are believed to have been produced by an American studio.

SIGHTS

• Royal BC Museum
• Beacon Hill Park
• Fisherman’s Wharf Park
• Miniature World
• Victoria’s Chinatown
• The Butchart Gardens
• Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Today’s Excursion – Butchart and Butterfly Gardens

During this picturesque excursion to the city’s exquisite gardens, we discovered why Victoria is known as the ‘Garden City.’

Victoria, Butchart Gardens, Floral, Cascading, Rock, and Themed Gardens, Fountains, Ponds
Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute sightseeing drive to the Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site,
Victoria’s #1 attraction and one of the top show gardens in the world. En route, pass through James Bay and the city’s
beautiful Beacon Hill Park, home to the world’s tallest, freestanding totem pole. Upon arrival at the approximately 55-acre
(about 22-hectare) Butchart Gardens, take a self-guided, approximately two-hour walking tour. Stroll along aromatic walking
trails, lavish floral gardens, cascading fountains, ponds, rock gardens, and several themed gardens, including the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and Butchart’s famous Sunken Garden.

Butterfly Gardens, Butterflies, Flamingos, Tropical Birds & Plants, Reptiles, Koi Fish, Orchids

The Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a beautiful, warm tropical garden with thousands of exotic, free-flying butterflies, an impressive insectarium, flamingos, dozens of other tropical birds and reptiles, and koi fish swimming in the stream and pond. Nestled amidst an approximately 12,000-square-foot enclosure, the Butterfly Gardens feature 200 species of orchids and thousands of tropical plants, along with the ‘Foods of the World’ and ‘Carnivorous Plant’ displays.

Inner-Harbour, Fairmont Empress Hotel, BC Legislative Buildings, Chinatown, Old Town, Shopping
We drove through Victoria’s Inner Harbor for an exquisite view of the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, BC Legislative Buildings, and the ‘Gates of Harmonious Interest’ to see historic Chinatown, the second oldest in North America.

Tonight’s dinner was in La Dame.

Check out today’s Chronicle.