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Travelers who arrive in Victoria will soon realize why people call it "The Garden City." Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Victoria enjoys the mildest climate Canada has to offer. This favors the year-round abundance at nearby Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site comprising 55 acres of magnificent landscaping and floral designs. The Craigdarroch Castle Historic House Museum, a notable example of historic Victorian architecture, offers a spectacular view of the city for those who climb the 87-step staircase to the top of its tower.

Key facts

Victoria is accessible from Seattle and Port Angeles in Washington State and Vancouver on British Columbia’s mainland by airplane or ferry. The Victoria Clipper passenger-only ferry in Seattle operates daily and year-round while the Coho ferry does the same but can carry vehicles as well as foot traffic. Seaplanes fly from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and from Lake Union in Seattle directly to Victoria's Inner Harbor. Visitors arriving from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) can use the airline's ground shuttle service to Lake Union.

Hints and tips

One of the oldest settlements in the Pacific Northwest, what began as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post was renamed in 1846 for the Queen of England at the time. Victoria is now the capital of British Columbia. The climate is mild, with the winter temperatures in the mid-40s with plenty of rain. Summers are sunny and cool with average daytime highs around 70 degrees.