Victoria, crown jewel of British Columbia, is just as royal and beautiful as the monarch she was named after. This capital city has gained renown for its interesting architecture, ancient traditions, and stunning landscapes. Lonely Planet calls this Canadian city North America’s most English city, and while this is true, given its heritage, it’s also a uniquely Canadian city. Summer 2018 will be one of the best times to savor the city’s unique offerings, including garden tours, High Tea, and world-class museums.
1. Walking Tours
This is a walking tour that was created with the ardent foodie in mind. To take this walking tour, Foodies meet at the public market and then head on over to various local restaurants, where they can tickle their taste buds with tastes of chocolate, bread and cheese, craft beer, and seafood. This tour includes a visit to the city’s Chinatown, Bastion Square, and the Parliament building. If you take the walking tour, be sure to bring your camera and your appetite. Both will be put to good use.
2. Visit the Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum encourages visitors to engage with history. Interactive exhibits take museum-goers back in time to the Ice Age and to the tombs of ancient Egypt. The tour brings you up close to historical artifacts and the amazing facts behind them. Summer 2018 counts as one of the best times to see the museum: Its ancient Egypt exhibit is just now getting underway and runs until the end of the year.
3. Chinatown
The city’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in Canada. Started 150 years ago by Chinese immigrants, this well-preserved section of the city features the architecture and red and gold everywhere. It’s a community that’s bound together by the tradition of culture, the Buddhist temple, and excellent restaurants and grocery stores.
4. Abkhazi Gardens and Teahouse
This teahouse got its start in 1946 and combines the tradition of High Tea with the stunning Abkhazi Gardens. The Abkhazi Gardens and Teahouse sits on the gardens cultivated by Prince and Princess Abkhazi. It began as a one-acre garden that the two started after they married in the mid-1940s and continued to care for throughout their lives.
5. Virtual Reality Lounge
Infusion Edutainment created the world’s first Virtual Reality Lounge. Although VR seems like the stuff that movies and science fiction novels are made of, this trip through the pathways of the mind is more than that. It’s an educational experience that introduces people to dream worlds beyond the imagination. This is a different kind of opportunity for fun, one that you won’t find anywhere else.
Final Thoughts
During the summer of 2018, this city promises to be one of the most exciting places in the world to be. With its age-old traditions, like afternoon tea combined with modern tech experiences and virtual reality, you won’t find an adventure quite like it anywhere else in the world. It’s a foodie’s delight and a history buff’s dream.
If you’ve ever considered looking at the city in a more permanent way, we encourage you to contact us. Alair Homes Victoria specializes in custom-built homes and could build you a home here that’s as interesting as the city itself.