This was our final stop when we did our Alaska cruise. We knew it would be a Sunday night and that…read moremost businesses would be closed, so we just enjoyed walking around. Sunset at the marina was lovely and so were the lights around the Parliament buildings. We were able to stop in a couple of stores for some last-minute souvenirs that were Canada-made. It's definitely a city that we need to return to when we have time to see what else it has to offer.

Historical and modern, and also catered to the cruise ship tourists. There is a huge homeless…read morepopulation and it's paired with old money opulence; the class warfare is in full swing like many other larger cities in the world. Beautiful city and a lot of money has been invested into making the city friendly for tourists

This historic school house is beautifully restored. The volunteers, who offer personalized tours,…read moreare so knowledgeable and friendly. You can see items donated by previous students who came to this school once upon a time, and standing inside feels like you've traveled back in time. There are also many original items such as the oil cloth lesson board, the original chalk board, wall lanterns and more. In the summer they also feature a spooky story telling. Touring the museum is a must-see if you're staying on the island!

We stopped by the Crow Valley School on orcas Island and were delighted with how well preserved the…read moreschool was with original lesson plans and account books available to peruse, a headmaster's black dress displayed, some original school desks, and several enlarged old photographs of students. We received a personal tour of the school from Rebecca and were delighted to visit this historical spot on Orcas.

As one of the busiest ports in Canada, they were very welcoming to us as cruise ship passengers. We…read moreeven had a shuttle bus pick us up right from the port area to take us into downtown and then back to the port. There is a small gift shop located in the port building and plenty of self parking at paid meters. The Ogden Point Cruise Terminal is also walking distance to the coastline and the Fisherman's Wharf where there are floating restaurants.

Our cruise ship arrived in Victoria at the Ogden Point Terminal, situated around 1.5 miles from the…read morecity's downtown. Victoria has been welcoming cruise ships since 1978, and is one of the busiest ports in the Alaska cruise season, hosting hundreds of ships and thousands of passengers throughout April to October, each year. The port has two piers for cruise ships that can accommodate up to three ships at any one time. Shuttle buses are available to ferry passengers from the terminal to downtown, or you can take a taxi if you have another destination in mind. In doing my research for this trip, I found it was cheaper to either take a taxi or an Uber into town instead of the bus. Rickshaw drivers and horse-drawn carriages can be found outside the cruise terminal, but they are very pricey. Inside the terminal are gift shops, an exchange bureau, and bicycle rentals.

on the last week of October 2023 I did the fingerprint at the police and went to Service BC…read moreVictoria and requested a name change on November 1 2023, at Service BC Victoria and the representative there told me it would take 12 weeks to process. it is now February 25 2024 and even though I check my mailbox daily still nothing. it has been over 16 weeks now and counting. I'm just wondering which lazy government employee is supposed to be looking after this for me as I well know the paperwork doesn't take more than an hour to process. so I'm sure it is still sitting on someone's desk waiting for that person to actually do their one day a month worth of work. I'm not impressed at all as you can tell be my sarcastic manner. Maybe they should implement a new program for all government employees that they all make minimum wage and get commissions on the amount of work processed. I think the ones that actually do work really hard would end up making more money than they are now and the lazy daisies would end up being terminated after three months of not producing their fair share or work. I truly believe the provincial and federal governments would produce a lot more than what being done now. and the lengthy waits on the phone lines and the waits for passports and things like name changes and new birth certificates would improve greatly. Still waiting impatiently. HBW N

A+ to Vital Statistics for being a speedy, organized bureaucracy. I ordered my birth certificate…read moreon-line on Wednesday, it was printed on Thursday and arrived in my mailbox in Vancouver on Friday. It can't get faster than this. Also, the new design for birth certificates is pretty cool: they're made of the same paper-thin plastic as Australian cash, so they're indestructible. Someone's really been thinking over there.

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, known for its rich colonial history, incredible…read morewildlife, and vibrant cultural scene. Nicknamed the City of Gardens, it plays host to a plethora of open green spaces, where visitors and locals can relax. The waters around Victoria abound with life and three of the world-famous orca pods call them home. Millions visit this city every year and enjoy its natural beauty, temperate climate, and heritage charm that Victoria offers its citizens every day. Victoria is a city of neighborhoods, each with distinctive character and charm.

Victoria is a cool city to visit, or to live in. There's a lot of interesting history and…read morehistorical buildings. The downtown area offers plenty of shopping options for all budgets. The demographics here tend toward older European/white people so there's a lot of tea/coffee shops, bakeries, jigsaw puzzles, wool shops, and souvenirs. People are friendly and polite in general. Being a harbour town, you'll see ferries and boats, and seaplanes right in town. Lots of tourists and touristy things to do. Many diverse restaurants. Flowers and sculptures abound. Be sure to take in the magnificent Empress Hotel that dominates the waterfront. Explore the region from this central location. It's a beautiful island and Victoria is a real highlight.

Nice and easy walk to a pretty view! Good place to stop on a…read moredrive around the island. Saw some bald eagles flying around here too!

Driving to a small pull-off north of the Cattle Point Lighthouse on my way to Cattle Point I…read moreencountered a baby red fox in a ditch on the side of the road. I pulled over and rolled my window down and took a few pictures and a video. It tilted its head when I talked to it and it ran off when another vehicle drove by. Cattle Point is managed thru the Bureau of Land Management and is one of the features constituting the San Juan Islands National Monument. Some information about the area can be found on the San Juan Islands National Monument website in their Monument Site Catalog. The land abuts the Cattle Point Natural Resources Conservation Area run by the Department of Natural Resources. To the south is the Strait of Juan De Fuca. To the north is private land. I parked in the small pull-out by the trail leading to lighthouse. There are a few signs along the trail to the lighthouse with information about Cattle Point and its history and wildlife. I encountered four deer while I was here. Three grazing that made their way north and one grazer that made its way east and into the brush. The views are breathtaking and reminded me a bit of some of the views in the Outer Isles of Scotland. The cloudy sky made the walk enjoyable and I liked the backdrop of grey. Peaceful place to explore.

Fun alleyways to discover in this small town within the beautiful Victoria. The grocery stores are…read moreespecially interesting to us, and some of the entrances to private residences were charming and quaint. It's especially pretty at night with the city lights. Be prepared for shops and restaurants to close early. Plan for an afternoon visit so you can check the ambiance to your heart's desire.

Standing 38 feet tall and spanning a full city street, the Gates of Harmonious Interest is an…read moreeye-catching red and gold beauty. Featuring three arches, each of the pedestrian pathways is guarded by a stone lion. It was erected in 1981 and marks the entrance to Victoria, B.C.'s Chinatown. Victoria's Chinatown is the second oldest in North America, behind San Francisco and is Canada's oldest Chinatown. We were surprised that it was only about three or so blocks in downtown Victoria. We thought it would be bigger. Even being that small, it had a vibrant mix of restaurants, shops, and colorful architecture. It offers a unique cultural experience with its rich history and lively atmosphere. You can explore the area's local cuisine, charming boutiques, and immerse yourself in the dynamic energy of this historic site. Whether it's indulging in delicious food or admiring the distinctive architectural charm, a visit to Victoria's Chinatown promises an enriching and enjoyable experience for all.

Always very helpful people that serve you, and very pleasant!, no matter how busy they are!read more

The recently opened Colwood Post Office located in London Drugs is much more conveniently located…read moreand the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Open longer hours than most other post offices, and with considerably shorter lines, I would highly recommend stopping in!