Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

In August 2023, we flew to Seattle and made our way to Vancouver, CA where we boarded a ferry along with our rental car to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. I was amazed at the city’s historic allure, its beautiful seashore, its abundance of green spaces, its colonial past, its waterfront walk, totem poles, interesting architecture …

Both the Spanish and British claim being first to have explored Victoria in 1774 when the area was inhabited by the Coast Salish, Native Americans. As settlers began arriving, agriculture and coal eventually replaced fur trading. Vancouver Island became a British colony in 1849, British Columbia in 1858. The discovery of gold resulted in the influx of thousands to the area resulting in a population surge from a few hundreds to thousands in just days. Victoria became an incorporated city in 1862, one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. In 1866, it became the capital of the combined colonies of Vancouver and British Columbia.

Nowadays, Victoria’s population is listed as 91,867 (2021). Its economy relies on technology, tourism, education, shipyards and government services. Over 3.5 million tourists visit the city every year not including cruise ships day visitors.

We enjoyed walking around the harbor in downtown Victoria. It was crowded with tourists and locals selling jewelry, drinks and souvenirs. The parliament building, built in 1890 faces the waterfront. We took a tour of the building’s interior. Many were lounging on its beautiful grounds among flowers, a fountain, statues. I noted tourists enjoying a horse-drawn carriage tour. The Empress hotel is a historic downtown landmark. It opened in 1908. Many Hollywood actors, royals and famous people have stayed in it. It is known for its high tea. I highly recommend walking around with your camera, Victoria is a picturesque and memorable city with stunning sunsets along the waterfront.

References History, Britannica, Wikipedia