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Victoria BC Attractions
Vacation Ideas

Hidden Victoria BC Attractions: Unique Ways to Spend Your Time in the City of Gardens. Tea at the Empress, a stroll through the Buchart Gardens, evening carriage rides: Victoria, BC is a romantic city with a flair for old-fashioned charm.

But some of the lesser-known destinations on this Victorian isle are what makes it a truly captivating vacation idea. This article will share just a few of the many the secrets hidden throughout the City of Gardens.

Victoria BC Attractions #1: The City’s Tiniest Treasure: Located on the same block as the famous Empress Hotel is a large museum full of very small objects: Miniature World. This museum houses more than 80 miniature dioramas pieced together meticulously with amazing attention to detail. You’ll be lead through epic battle scenes, sleepy little towns with windows alight, and wonderfully lavish Tudor homes—all on a very small scale.

Children of all ages will be delighted by fairy tale lands and dollhouses as well as the world’s smallest working sawmill. Although Miniature World is a very entertaining stop, it is educational, too; lessons in history and culture abound as you experience long-ago events and places in an interesting and unique way.

Victoria BC Attractions #2: The Oldest Chocolate in Town: Any traveler with a sweet tooth would be remiss to pass up a trip to Rogers’ Chocolates, where they’ve been making specialty candy since 1885. Charles Rogers started his company in the back of his grocery store and opened the current storefront in 1891.

To this day, many of Charles’ original recipes remain unchanged, and a visit to the charming Victorian-style shop will reveal a surprisingly wide variety of handmade chocolates to choose from. So which delectable chocolate can’t you miss? The Victorian Cream: it’s an original creation of Charles Rogers himself and consists of fluffy nougat in a variety of flavors surrounded by rich chocolate.

Victoria BC Attractions #3: Victoria’s Very Own Castle: Cragidarroch Castle, which was built in the 1890’s by a wealthy entrepreneur, sits on a hill overlooking the city. Its ornate woodwork and breathtaking stained glass windows make it a must-see on your trip.

There are 39 luxuriously decorated rooms, including a grand ballroom, a tiny cupola with a 360 degree view, and a wood paneled smoking room fit for royalty. Take a tour of this grand mansion and you’ll understand why it’s one of the most lavish treasures to be found in Victoria.

Victoria BC Attractions #4: The Island’s Strangest Inhabitants: Many visitors to Victoria are unaware of its reputation as an extremely haunted city. Originally inhabited by native tribes who would hang their dead from trees near the river banks, this city is said to hold many spirits of those who never passed on to the peaceful afterlife.

Guided tours, often hosted by quirky and entertaining guides, are available which take visitors on a stroll to certain "haunted" destinations. You can choose to take the early evening tour, which is only slightly spooky, or the nighttime tour if you’re feeling particularly brave. Although you may or may not buy into every ghost story told along the way, you are certain to learn a lot of interesting history behind these beautiful places.

Victoria BC Attractions #5: The Waterfront’s Unique Entertainment: Victoria’s waterfront is a beautiful asset to the city any time of the year, but in the warmer seasons it is home to a variety of vivacious street performers. Ranging from mildly entertaining to outright crazy, these traveling shows can have a lot to offer.

The performers try to draw in large crowds with their off-kilter humor and dangerous stunts, and often use audience participants to make it a bit more interesting. Street shows are very casual and people are always coming and going, so don’t feel guilty about wandering off if you don’t end up liking what you see. If you do enjoy the show, however, consider making a donation at the end; audience dollars are the main source of income for many street entertainers.

If you’re headed to Victoria sometime soon, by all means visit the beautiful Buchart Gardens and wander through the stunning lobby of the Empress Hotel-- but don’t forget about the hidden treasures of this historical city that make it one of Canada's truly unique vacation ideas. From tiny trains to stunning city views, there’s a lot to find in this historical city if you just know where to look.

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