Most visitors to Victoria spend 90% of their time in a small five-square block "Tourism Zone" centering on the Inner Harbour Causeway near the Coho Ferry Terminal. It's popular because of its central location to shopping and tourist attractions, the Empress Hotel, and moorage is available. tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/free.htm

Horse and Carriage Rides: Several companies offer these popular tours of the Inner Harbour and the community of James Bay. victoriabc.com/tours.phtml3

The Undersea Gardens: A marine aquarium. One featured occupant is the Giant Pacific Octopus. Divers entertain in regular shows. www.vicsurf.com/attracti/seagard.htm

The Museum Circuit: Victoria has several excellent artifact and commercial attractions. daryl.chin.gc.ca/Museums/English/vlmp.html#British%20
Columbia tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/museum.htm

One of the favorites in the Inner Harbour is the Royal London Wax Museum. Figures from history (including British and Canadian Prime Ministers and U.S.A. Presidents) are featured, along with some of the ghoulish imaginations of some of history's great mystery and horror writers. www.waxworld.com/

Crystal Gardens: Suitable for all ages. www.bcpcc.com/crystal/

Parliament Buildings: Opens for tours June 1.

The Royal BC Museum: Highly rated; with regular traveling exhibits. rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/

Imax Theatre: This theatre features a three-story screen and stadium-style seating. There are usually three different shows per day, with several screenings. Located in the RBC Museum. www.imax.com/theatres/victoria.html

Chinatown: Excellent restaurants.

If you only stay in that area, however, you will miss some of the most impressive sights on Southern Vancouver Island. We invite you to venture out to other attractions. Rental cars, shuttle buses, municipal and tour busses are available.

The Saanich Peninsula:

Getting around Greater Victoria, which includes all the municipalities between Sooke and Oak Bay, and north to Swartz Bay on the Saanich Peninsula, is easy by transit bus. BC Transit has an excellent service, and features several ultra-modern double-decker buses on some of the heavily used routes, including those to Sooke and Sidney-Swartz Bay.
See http://www.bctransit.com/regions/vic/

Butterfly Gardens: This commercial establishment is on the way to Butchart Gardens. The butterflies are in a large greenhouse-type of building. They come from around the world, and it's not uncommon for them to alight upon you. butterflygardens.com/

Butchart Gardens: World famous floral displays located in a re-claimed quarry. During the summer months, try to visit on a Saturday evening. The fireworks display is truly a choreography, and a famous Italian specialist proclaimed the display to be 19th Century-style, and one of the best in modern times. www.butchartgardens.com/

Commonwealth Place: Kids love wave pools, while older adults enjoy Olympic-sized lap pools. The Commonwealth Place complex has five pools, complete with a wave machine, a water slide; 1, 3, and 10 m. dive boards, and hot pool. See www.gov.saanich.bc.ca/leisure/scp/index.htm

Sidney-by-the-Sea: Located near the northern-most tip of the peninsula (near the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Tswawwassen on the mainland side -- south of Vancouver) this city has something for everyone. Visit the marina, and walk the shopping area. There are several gift shops, good bookstores, restaurants and delis. www.sidneybc.com/

Mount Douglas (Mount Doug): Mount Douglas is a Saanich Municipal Park, and the highest observation point in the Greater Victoria core area. While a car is desirable, it is possible to take a transit bus to the base of Mount Doug and then to hike to the top. The vista is 360 degrees, with Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountains, the Cities of Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt and several other municipalities, the San Juan and Gulf Islands as a reward for your efforts. www.britishcolumbia.com/ParksAndTrails/Parks/details/?ID=542

Gardens! Victoria is known as the Garden City, and there are several besides Butchart Gardens. Some are in small city parks, others, such as Beacon Hill, have several intermixed with other attractions. Among the best bets are the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (particularly for gardeners interested in the biological names and habitat information about northwest gardening), Royal Roads University, Finnerty Gardens at the University of Victoria (UVIC) and Government House, the residence of British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor. www.crd.bc.ca/parks/brochure.htm www.islandnet.com/~hcp/
Royal Roads Gardens

Golfing: Many recreational boaters love whacking a few at the golf links. Here's where to find Southern Vancouver Island's offerings: www.victoriagolfing.com/listbottom.htm

Botanical Beach: It's a couple-hour drive west of Victoria (look for Sooke and then Port Renfrew on a Vancouver Island map) Botanical Beach is recommended for tidal pool explorations, but these must be done at low tide. www.sookenet.com/renfrew/pools.html

The Gulf Islands: Consider a day trip via ferry through the islands. Besides boating in your own boat, there are two ways to do that. One is to walk-on to a ferry, and enjoy the ride. But you won't be able to disembark at most the islands unless you want to wait a few hours for the next ferry. Two (and more expensive) is to take the ferry to one island (e.g. Saltspring) drive the island (rental cars are often available if you don't take your own), hop a ferry to the next, etc. You could visit three or four islands in a long day. www.bcferries.com/ www.gulfislands.com/

Southern Vancouver Island Scenic Tours: Malahat Drive: A car is required, but this popular highway to central and northern Vancouver Island offers beautiful sea-mountain vistas. The Saanich Peninsula, Gulf and San Juan Islands, Mount Baker southeast of Vancouver, and the Olympic Mountains tend to be spectacular in clear weather anytime during the year. www.vancouverisland.com/006sightsee/circletours/

Goldstream Provincial Park: Located at the southern end of the Malahat, this is a great raincoast forest. Popular activities are hikes (15 minutes to a couple of hours) and the salmon spawning in November-December. wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/goldstre.htm

Touring by car from Victoria, north via the Malahat, to Cowichan Bay, the farm and orchards of the Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay, Genoa Bay, and Chemainus are scenic and feature vineyards as well as coastal attractions. www.vonline.com/si/duncan.html

Other Visitation Ideas: For even more holiday adventures, visit tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/101ideas.htm