subject: Historic Attractions Getaways Restored Mansions Flavors Of The Bahamas Hiking Clear Blue Waters Plus [print this page] Gardens, Parks and Nearby Victoria Hotels
Recognized as the Garden City, Victorias beautiful gardens are borne of the fact that it the city has the mildest climate in Canada and basks in the most annual sunshine in British Columbia. Start your garden crawl with the Abkhazi Garden, one of the world's best and unique small gardens. Created by Prince and Princess Nicholas Abkhazi in the middle of the last century, this one-acre property is also lovingly called "the garden that love built" and features quiet woodland, rocky slopes, spectacular scenery, and a restaurant serving lunch and afternoon tea alongside a charming gift shop. Beacon Hill Park should also be in your itinerary with its alpine gardens, wildflower meadows, rose gardens, lakes, Mayor's Grove of Trees, and native Garry Oak forest. Government House features 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 Rose Gardens, Winter, Iris, Perennial, Alpine, Heather, Herb, Cut Flower, Cottage and English Country Gardens. Hatley Park is a sprawling Edwardian estate that features a Scottish-inspired castle, formal gardens, lush old growth forests and ocean vistas. Of course, theres world-famous Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada with 55 acres of superb gardens located in Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island.
Downtown Victoria Hotels
Downtown Victoria is the best place to experience the Garden City in its entirety. The downtown area offers some of the best shopping destinations: Antique Row on Fort Street, the charming little shops in Market Square, the dainty gift shops that dot Government Street. Victoria hotels in downtown will put you close to the major attractions of the city: the majestic Legislative Buildings, ivy-covered Empress Hotel, and the entertainments of Inner Harbour. Some of the great activities youll definitely enjoy at Inner Harbour are walking along the causeway while enjoying the ambience of local musicians, jugglers, and artists; high-speed whale-watching aboard a zodiac; or a luxurious dinner cruise on a yacht. The Undersea Gardens, Royal London Wax Museum, Crystal Gardens, and Miniature World are great destinations if you plan on taking your family with you. Great museums and historic sites abound in Victoria, such as the world-renowned Royal British Columbia Museum, Fort Rodd Hill in Esquimalt, and Craigdarroch Castle.
Victoria Hotels for Golf Vacations
Looking for a good round of gold?Choose Victoria; the city has been selected by Cond Nast Traveler Magazine as the #2 Top City in the Americas by its readers. Another reason is the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club, voted the 2006 Best Destination Golf Course in British Columbia by Golf Nerve Magazine readers. The course features three of the most demanding finishing holes on Vancouver Island. Also consider Bear Mountain Resort Mountain Course, a golf course co-designed by Jack and Steve Nicklaus. Arbutus Ridge also puts you 10 minutes away from the cultural city of Duncan. Theres also Bear Mountain Resort Mountain Course, co-designed by Jack and Steve Nicklaus. The course opened in the summer of 2003 and was immediately rated the number 1 new course in Western Canada and a couple years later, the top golf course in all of Canada. Its sister course is Bear Mountain Valley, an equally impressive course which features a host of unique amenities. The Olympic View Golf Club plays host the award winning GBC Golf Academy. Its large natural grass driving areas, realistic target greens, and short-game practice areas are great for helping you elevate your game.
Victoria Hotels and Scenic Attractions
Founded in 1843 as a Hudson Bay Company trading post and named in honor of Queen Victoria, Victoria is Western Canadas oldest city. Victorias charms are helped along by its moderate climate and British heritage proudly on display in its elegant homes, neighborhoods, and stunning architectural gems such as the famous Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings. Stay in Victoria hotels that put you within yards of these architectural gems or stay in one of them for the experience. The Empress Hotel is one of the world's truly grand hotels, it has undergone a $45 million restoration, and you can experience the grandeur and elegance of a bygone age with the contemporary feel of its 4-diamond hotel service. Other scenic attractions that you should include in your itinerary are Beacon Hill Park, a beloved expanse of green with its formal rose gardens, a band shell for outdoor summer concerts, and a petting zoo; Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada covering 55 acres of breathtaking floral showcases. Dont miss out on the City Hall, designed in 1875 in the "Second Empire" style.
