Fodor's Vancouver & Victoria by Fodor's

Author:Fodor's [Fodor’s Travel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780876371824
Publisher: Fodor's Travel Publications
Published: 2012-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

Worth Noting

Bastion Square.

James Douglas, the former colonial governor for whom Douglas Street was named, chose this spot for the original Fort Victoria and Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1843. In summer the square comes alive with street performers, crafts vendors, and a weekly farmers’ market. The former courthouse houses the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. | Off Wharf St., at View St., Downtown | VB8W 1H9 | 250/885–1387 | www.bastionsquare.ca.

Quick Bites: You might be tempted to dismiss Paradiso di Stelle (10 Bastion Sq. | 250/920–7266), with its busy patio and prime Bastion Square location, as a bit of a tourist trap. True, it’s popular, but the service is quick and friendly, and the authentic Italian coffee, house-made gelato, panini, and pastas are excellent. A water-view and people-watching table right in the action of Bastion Square is irresistible on a summer day.

Beacon Hill Park. The southern lawns and waterfront path of this 154-acre park afford great views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are ponds, jogging and walking paths, flowers and gardens, a cricket pitch, and a petting zoo (open daily 10–5). There’s live music in the bandshell on summer evenings, and on Saturday nights in August the Victoria Film Festival screens free movies. | Bordered by Douglas St., Southgate St., and Cook St., Downtown | V8V 3T2 | 250/361–0600 | www.victoria.ca | Free.

Emily Carr House.

One of Canada’s most celebrated artists and a respected writer, Emily Carr (1871–1945) lived in this extremely proper, wooden Victorian house before she abandoned her middle-class life to live in the wilds of British Columbia. Carr’s own descriptions, from her autobiography Book of Small, were used to restore the house. Art on display includes reproductions of Carr’s work—visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or the Vancouver Art Gallery to see the originals. | 207 Government St., James Bay | V8V 2K8 | 250/383–5843 | www.emilycarr.com | C$6.75 | May–Sept., Tues.–Sat. 11–4.

Fisherman’s Wharf.

Victoria Harbour Ferries has its terminal at this fun nautical spot, just west of the Inner Harbour. You can watch fishers unload their catches and admire the various vessels, or picnic in the shoreside park. Among the candy-color houseboats bobbing along the dock are several floating shacks where you can buy ice cream, fish-and-chips, live crabs, kayak tours, and tickets for whale-watching tours. Other booths sell fish to feed the harbor seals who often visit the quay. The busiest vendor is Barb’s, an esteemed fish-and-chips spot. | Corner of Superior and St. Lawrence Sts., Downtown | V8V 1V4.

Legacy Art Gallery.

Rotating exhibits from the University of Victoria’s vast art collection, as well as contemporary installations, are displayed in this airy downtown space. Shows in the 3,000-square-foot space include mostly Canadian works, including many by First Nations artists, but international painters are represented, too. | 630 Yates St., Downtown | V8W 1K9 | 250/381–7645 | www.legacygallery.ca | Free | Wed.–Sat. 10–5.

Maritime Museum of British Columbia.

In Victoria’s original courthouse, these two floors of model ships, weaponry, ships’ wheels, and photographs chronicle the province’s seafaring history, from its early explorers to whale hunters to pirates.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.