Beautiful landmarks Stroll around the Victorian-style Parliament Buildings and, a little further on, the Empress Hotel. If, as a group of American businessmen had hoped, Vancouver Island had been annexed by the United States in 1869, Victoria would have been a very different place today. This splendid institution traces the province's history from the Ice Age to the present day through re-creations of natural environments and peopled communities. National Geographic and Destination Cinema have recently added an IMAX format theater to the museum. Because Victoria has long been a popular tourist destination, visitors can count on a wide variety of lodgings, restaurants, shops and things to do.
Crowds get pretty big in mid-summer, making spring and fall ideal times to come.
The weather is still pretty mild, as it is throughout most of the year. Just behind the hotel, the Crystal Garden is an indoor home to semi-tropical gardens and pools. The crown jewel of Victoria is the Butchart Gardens. Buses and shuttles make it easy to get there. Like many of the world's famous gardens, Butchart Gardens came about almost by chance.