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Tourist Attractions
The Butchart Gardens
Website:
www.butchchartgardens.com
Address: 800
Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay, BC
Phone:
866-652-4422; 250-652-4422
Hours:
9:00am
to 10:30 pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $25; Youth - $12.50;
Child - $3.00
** Hours and admission prices refer to
summer months only. If you plan to visit during other times of the
year, please refer to their website for more information.
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The Butchart Gardens offers 55 acres of
wonderful floral display located in Greater Victoria on Vancouver
Island. You will find spectacular views as you stroll along meandering
paths and expansive lawns. In 1904, Jennie Butchart began to beautify
a worked-out quarry site left behind from her husband's pioneering
efforts in the manufacture of Portland cement at nearby Tod Inlet. Her
venture remains a family commitment to horticulture and hospitality
spanning over 100 years. From the exquisite Sunken Garden to the
charming Rose Garden, this show garden still maintains the gracious
traditions of earlier times.
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Butterfly Gardens
Website:
www.butterflygardens.com
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
9:00am
to 5:30 pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $11; Youth/Senior - $10;
Child - $5.75
** Hours above refer to summer months
only. If you plan to visit during other times of the year, please
refer to their website for more information.
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Stroll amidst
hundreds of exotic butterflies
flying free in an indoor tropical rainforest and witness the entire
life cycle of these amazing insects. The spectacular flowering plants
and foliage, fascinating birds, waterfalls and stream all contribute
to make this a photographer's paradise and a truly memorable
experience for the entire family. It's best to coordinate your visit
to Butterfly Gardens with your visit to Butchart Gardens as Butterfly
Gardens is on the way to Butchart Gardens and adjacent to restaurants
for breakfast or lunch. There's lots of free parking available.
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Inner Harbour
Website:
www.victoriabc.ca/victoria/inner_harbour.htm
Location:
The Inner Harbor is in downtown Victoria,
just west of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, just north of the government
buildings.
Hours:
Always open
Admission:
No charge
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The Inner Harbour
is the bustling, vibrant, center of the action in Victoria and is
located just one block from the Victoria Conference Centre. Stroll
along the waterfront and enjoy the many street musicians, jugglers,
and artists, all against a picturesque backdrop of yachts and the
legislature buildings. Whether you’re looking for a whale watching
adventure, kayak rental, or just to sample the many wonderful cafes,
pubs, and restaurants, you’ll find it on Victoria’s beautiful Inner
Harbour.
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Miniature World
Website:
www.miniatureworld.com
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
8:30am
to 9:00pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $9; Youth - $8; Child -
$7 (before tax)
** Hours above refer to summer months
only. If you plan to visit during other times of the year, please
refer to their website for more information.
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Step into the Story Books of facts, fiction and fantasy. Return to
those fond memories of yester-years, those childhood dreams and
history's greatest moments! Here you will see the world's smallest
sawmill, view 2 of the worlds largest doll houses, experience one of
the world's largest model railroads, visit the wonderful world of
circus, take a spaceship to the stars, travel through the Enchanted
Valley of Castles, witness the changing of the guard of Buckingham
Palace and travel on to further adventures. Tiny treasures and little
pleasures await all who continue into Frontierland, Fantasy land, the
Fields of Glory, the World of Dickens and much more. Special effects
in lighting, sound and animation help to create a memorable
experience, a lasting desire to return.
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Royal London Wax Museum
Website:
www.waxmuseum.bc.ca
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
9:30am
to 5:30 pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $10; Senior - $9; Student
- $7; Child - $5
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The Royal London Wax Museum in Victoria feautures over 300
life-like wax sculptures. You'll easily recognize famous modern day
celebrities, singers and politicians as well as traditional English
monarchy. Downstairs, if you dare, adventure through the wax museum
dungeons of horror! Warning: some of the scenes depicted in wax in the
dungeon may scare young kids, or even some brave adults.
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Craigdarroch Castle
Website:
www.craigdarrochcastle.com
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
9:00am
to 7:00pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $11.75; Senior - $10.75;
Student - $7.75; Child - $3.75
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Craigdarroch Castle was built between 1887
and 1890 for the family of Robert Dunsmuir, a wealthy citizen who had
made his fortune in coal. Dunsmuir himself died before the mansion was
completed but his widow, Joan, moved in and took over the family
business. At the time of his death in 1889, Dunsmuir's estate was
valued at US$15-20 million. There are 39 rooms in this 4-floor
Victorian mansion, most of which are open to the public and furnished
with Victorian-style furniture that did not, for the most part, belong
to the Dunsmuir family. After the family moved out, Craigdarroch
Castle served as a hospital for war veterans, a college (students' graffitis can still be seen in the billiard room), a school board
office and a conservatory of music before becoming a museum in 1979.
The tours are self-guided, though volunteers are usually around to
give you some information. There are 87 steps to climb and the house
is not wheelchair accessible.
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Royal BC Museum
Website:
www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
9am-5pm
Monday to Sunday; 9am-10pm Friday & Saturday
Admission:
Adult - $25.50; Senior - $19.50;
6-18 years - $17.50
*Prices above are for general admission. Please
refer to the website for information about tickets that include IMAX
movies or for IMAX movie tickets without museum admission.
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The Royal BC Museum
is one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world. Since 1886,
they have been British Columbia's provincial museum, collecting
artifacts, documents and specimens of BC's natural and human history,
safeguarding them for the future, and sharing them with the world.
Each exhibit and gallery tells important stories about British
Columbia and provides an engaging and thought-provoking window on the
province's past, present and future.
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Pacific Undersea
Gardens
Website:
www.pacificunderseagardens.com
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
9:00am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week
Admission:
Adult - $9.50; Senior - $8.50;
12-17 years - $7.50; 5-11 years - $5.50
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The Pacific Undersea Gardens is a
interactive marine animal museum located in the centre of Victoria and
is a big part to the line up of major attractions on the
Inner Harbour. It is a showcase of what lives beneath the surface of the
Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Undersea Gardens brings the marine world up
close and personal to all who visit this unique underwater museum in
Victoria, BC. Located at the south west entrance of the Inner Harbour
area the Pacific Undersea Gardens reaches down 5 metres (15
feet) underwater, allowing visitors and children to view the over
5,000 marine animals swimming and playing in their natural
environment.
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The Victoria Bug Zoo
Website:
www.bugzoo.bc.ca
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
10am - 5pm Monday through
Saturday; 11am -5pm Sunday
Admission:
Adult - $8; Senior - $7; Student - $6;
3-16 years - $5
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Home to about 50 species of bugs, this offbeat,
two-room minizoo houses the largest tropical insect collection in
North America. You can even hold many of the varieties, which include
walking sticks, scorpions, and centipedes. Staff members are on hand
to dispense scientific information.
The Victoria Bug Zoo is an educational experience as well as a
"thrill" for those who are adventurous enough to accept the "handling"
opportunities presented. YIKES!!!
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Fort Rodd Hill &
Fisguard Lighthouse National Historic Site
Website:
www.pc.gc.ca
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
10am - 5:30pm
Admission:
Adult - $3.90; Senior - $3.40;
Youth - $1.90;
Family - $9.80
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Built in the late 1890s, Fort Rodd Hill's gun batteries
protected the port of Victoria and the naval base at Esquimalt.
Through two World Wars, its underground magazines, command posts,
guardhouses, barracks and searchlights were stalwart sentinels in the
defence strategy of Canada and the British Empire. During World War
II, its soldiers kept careful watch for any maritime traffic entering
Juan de Fuca Strait that might threaten the commercial ports of
Victoria and Vancouver, or the naval base and shipbuilding facilities
in Esquimalt harbour.
Fisgard Lighthouse, built in 1860, was
the first permanent lighthouse on Canada's west coast. Its light still
shines proudly, ushering marine traffic safely into harbour.
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Prince of Whales Whale
Watching
Website:
www.princeofwhales.com
Address:
Phone:
Hours:
See website for tour options
Admission:
See
website for tour options
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Princes of Whales excursions leave
Victoria’s Inner Harbour on a regular schedule throughout the spring,
summer and fall. Passengers embark on a wildlife cruise up to
100-kilometres in length in search of killer whales, grey whales, minke
whales, or even humpback whales. A variety of smaller marine mammals and
sea birds are often seen as well. The company strives to provide an
exciting experience that is both safe and educational. The skippers of all
vessels are all well informed and Coast Guard approved. The
Ocean Magic offers the opportunity to ride in comfort either
indoors or out, and has a marine biologist aboard to provide more in-depth
discussions of marine mammal biology and ecology.
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Legislative Building
Tours
Website:
www.leg.bc.ca
Phone:
250-387-3046
Hours:
Tours run Monday - Friday, 8:30am
to 5:00pm
Admission:
All guided tours are free of
charge
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The Legislative Tour Office is mandated to
communicate to all visitors the purpose of the Legislative Assembly of
British Columbia generally and on the role of Members of the Legislative
Assembly (MLAs), as well as to highlight the splendour of the Parliament
Buildings. Free guided tours are provided throughout the year. Please
consult the
tour
schedule for more information about our tours. Or
take a tour on-line. While visiting the Parliament Buildings, you may
be interested in observing debates in the Chamber when the House is
sitting. The entrance to the public galleries is on the third floor of the
building. Entry to the galleries is normally without reservation; however,
seats are often full during Question Period (shortly after 1:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday), so plan to arrive early.
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All Fun Recreation Park
Website:
www.allfun.bc.ca
Address: 2207 Millstream Road
Phone:
250-474-3184
Hours
& Admission:
Depends on what you choose to do! Visit the website for more
information.
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The good times start at All Fun! The
park features:
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A huge
waterslide complex, with 16 slides totaling over 3/4 of a mile of wet
and wild FUN! The Waterslide Park also has an eighty-man hot tub,
childern's spray park, giant sandbox, beach volleyball, concession,
gift shop and arcade.
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Eight batting
cages featuring softball and baseball; three speeds 40, 60 and 75 mph.
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2 go-kart
tracks - a large 1,400 foot road course with an over/under pass, or
for the not so brave a smaller oval track.
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An exciting
and challenging mini-golf course
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Victoria Carriage Tours
Website:
www.victoriacarriage.com
Address: 6924 West Saanich Road
Phone:
877-663-2207; 250-383-2207
Hours:
9:00am to 1100pm
Rates:
Depends on which tour you select. Visit the website for more
information.
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The Mission
of Victoria Carriage Tours is to provide an unforgettable horse-drawn
carriage experience. They offer many fantastic tours, and this is just one
example ...
By the Sea Tour: Start our tour alongside the BC Legislative
buildings and continue through the historic James Bay neighbourhood. Take
in the magnificent architecture of some of the oldest homes in Victoria.
We turn on to the Dallas Road waterfront to view the magnificent Olympic
Mountains an stroll past Emily Carrs house. The tour winds it's way
through the Inner Harbor and ends at our stand. (A downtown option through
Chinatown is also possible depending on the time of day).
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Victoria's Chinatown
Website:
www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca
Victoria's Chinatown is the first Chinatown in Canada and the second
in the Americas (after San Francisco). Step through The Gate of
Harmonious Interest for an unforgettable walking tour of Canada's
Oldest Chinatown. Victoria's Chinatown was the stopover, playground,
and temporary home for prospectors and adventurers during the heydey
of the 1858 West Coast Gold Rush. At its height, Victoria's Chinatown
had about 3,500 permanent Chinese residents. Go on a walking tour and visit famous 'Fan
Tan Alley' and explore the unique shops and historical cultural
Chinatown has to offer.
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