North America - Canada - Victoria - Walking in Victoria, BC

Canada - Victoria, BC

Here are a few tips for Cruisers who would like to take a walk in Victoria. We were on the Island Princess repositioning the ship from Vancouver to San Francisco. I know this is the end of the cruise season in Alaska, but here are a few tips for future travelers to Alaska.

We arrived in Victoria with only a few hours to see the City. We decided to walk off the ship and walk to town.

The cruise ship terminal at Ogden Point is 1.49 miles from the City Center of Victoria, There are tourist information people standing on the dock with maps and information.

Get a map, walk up a small hill above the terminal. You will not need it, the signage is excellent.

Take the Walking Path Downtown Route (approximately 15- 30 minutes)

Follow the Signs

Walking downtown, there are many architecturally interesting buildings along the way.

Fisherman’s Wharf - the Wharf is made up of a group of small shops, cafés, and restaurants - then there are a couple of arms of houseboats (each decorated in different ways and great to see)

Welcome to Victoria

Walking downtown 
When you reach the Black Line Ferry Terminal, get the Outdoor Self-Guided Walking Tour. It details 14 notable statues, fountains, gardens, and memorials surrounding the 12 ½ acre Parliament Building property. Being a tourist, we stopped at the terminal as we were walking back to the ship. Missed a few things.

The British Columbia Parliament Buildings were constructed in 1893.

Empress Hotel - Situated over Inner Harbour, this is a National Historic Site.

Emily Carr, Canadian painter, and writer

The Royal BC Museum

Totem Poles – Government Street

Walking back, you can either take the same route along the waterfront, or take Oswego Street – it will bring you to the water – the ship will be to your right.

If you are still in the mood for Walking, take the Unity Wall and Breakwater Walk. The Ogden Point Breakwater is a narrow and spectacular walkway jutting out about 800 meters from the shore, with a lighthouse at the far end. The return trip is almost exactly a mile. It is located next to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

 Island Princess

North America - Canada - Vancouver - A Day In Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada - A Day in Vancouver

We caught the Big Bus on Howe Street – There are 23 stops on the Hop-on, Hop-off City Loop.

English Bay – Sculpture of Giant laughing Statues - 14 enormous bronze statues – in all different poses – of a shirtless guy laughing hysterically.

At Stanley Park, we got off the bus and took the extra Stanley Park Tour, which is part of the package. The First Nations Totem Poles were terrific.

Brockton Point Lighthouse

Girl in a Wetsuit is a life-size bronze sculpture by Elek Imredy of a woman in a  wetsuit, located on a rock in the water along the north side of Stanley Park.

Prospect Point

Lions Gate Bridge

Gastown

We got off the bus and took a walk – we saw the working steam clock, one of only a few in the world, located in Vancouver's Victorian Gastown.

The statue of Gassy Jack, the founding father of Vancouver, Captain John "Gassy Jack" Deighton
.

Coal Harbour – Downtown Vancouver

The Digital Orca is a 2009 sculpture by Douglas Coupland, located adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The Olympic Caudron located in Jack Poole Plaza

Granville Island

I know this is a very Touristy place – but it is so colorful.

We took the False Creek Ferry back to our hotel.

Yaletown

We went to Happy Hour at the Flying Pig, one of Vancouver's best neighborhood restaurants in Yaletown. 4-6pm

App's were $6-8, selected wine and beer $5-6.  We had Truffle Mac n Cheese, Salmon Cakes Halibut poppers and Brussels Sprouts

We had a beautiful day in Vancouver – can't wait to come back and see more of it. Here's one final photo that was taken on Burrard Bridge at sunset.