victoria

This is one of Victoria's premier attractions, and Canada's most visited museum, dedicated to teaching about the land and people of coastal British Columbia. The Natural History gallery presents BC's coastal and rainforest ecosystems from the ice age to the present the Modern History gallery features a real frontier town and the excellent First People's gallery houses native art and artefacts including an authentic longhouse. The IMAX theatre shows National Geographic films. Located next to Victoria's Inner Harbour the Royal British Columbia Museum was established in 1886 with the archives added in 1894. Today, it houses British Columbia’s provincial museum and archives which aim to collect and safeguard artefacts, specimens and documents pertaining to British Columbia’s human and natural history. 

Professional contemporary theatre from Canada and around the world the Belfry is Vancouver Island's largest professional theatre company. The Belfry Theatre was founded in 1974 as the Springridge Cultural Centre by a group of community minded individuals. Its original focus was as an alternative venue for touring theatre productions, concerts and community arts events. The company began producing plays in 1976 with a focus on contemporary work, especially new Canadian plays. In the past 30 years the Belfry has become one of Canada's most successful and respected theatre companies.
 

Victoria has long been known as the city of gardens. With mild climate, gardening is a year round passion which has resulted in an abundant array of gardens world renowned for their beauty and individual charm. That's why the International Garden Tourism Network awarded Victoria with the International Garden Destination of the Year award in 2015. Take a garden tour and experience it. As early as February, blooms spring up throughout the city while most of Canada is still covered under a blanket of snow. The Park also has a hanging basket tradition that spans over 75 years. Hanging baskets are placed on downtown lamp posts every June to signal the start of summer.

Fisgard Lighthouse has been in operation since 1860, though the beacon is now automated. Several floors in the restored lighthouse recount the tales of its keepers, and the over 2000 shipwrecks that have given this area its nickname, the graveyard of the Pacific. Fort Rodd Hill is so close that the shock from the coastal artillery's guns once blew out all of the lighthouse's windows. The fort was constructed in the 1890s and historic film footage and artefacts bring its storied past back to life. Thanks to beautiful mountain views and tidal pools for the young ones to explore, this is a great place to have a picnic after a morning of sightseeing.
 

Save On Foods Memorial Centre is home to the Victoria Royals hockey team and one of the city’s biggest event centres. When the Royals aren’t entertaining fans with big wins, the centre hosts a variety of big name events where musical acts like Grammy winning country singer Dwight Yoakam and Canada’s iconic Blue Rodeo take the stage. Guests can catch other high energy favourites from comedian Gabriel Iglesias to the Harlem Globetrotters to WWE Wrestling. The Memorial Centre facility offers private ice rink rental and provides an upscale buffet service before games and events at the third floor Lion’s Den, catering is upon request.
 

Christ Church Cathedral located in downtown Victoria is built in the Gothic style of the thirteenth century to the design of J.C.M. Keith, who won an international competition in 1896 to obtain this commission. The church of worship, spiritual care, Anglican Church of Canada is a large gothic cathedral of the European style of architectural interest and centre of worship. The Cathedral was built in 1929 and features stained glass windows and Hollmuth Wolff organ. The Gothic Revival church features pointed, arched windows outfitted with spectacular stained glass that depicts Victoria’s landmarks. Outstanding acoustics make this a favourite site for choral events.