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578 Carrall
Vancouver, BC V6B 2J8
Phone: 604-662-3207
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In addition to the fun of a walking tour of the lively Chinatown area, this neighborhood is home to one of Vancouver’s true hidden treasures – the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Garden. This lovely urban escape is quietly nestled away from the hustle and bustle that characterizes the rest of the neighborhood. Built in 1986 by fifty-two skilled artisans from Southern China, this garden is an authentic look at Ming-Dynasty era China, right here in downtown Vancouver.
Emily Carr House
207 Government Street
Victoria, BC V8V 2K8
Phone: 250-383-5843
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Just a few blocks from Beacon Hill Park is the birthplace of famed Canadian artist and writer Emily Carr. The youngest of nine children, Carr was born in 1871 in this simple house on Government Street. That same year, British Columbia officially became part of Canada, and Carr grew up right along with the new province. Her childhood in those rough and tumble days served as the backdrop for a series of fictionalized memoirs, for which she gained great acclaim late in life. But it was as a painter that she is best known, and many of her works are on permanent display at the nearby Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. A tour of this home gives visitors a chance to see how Carr lived, and sometimes there's even a local actress on hand, playing the famous Ms. Carr and interacting with visitors.
Fairmont Empress Hotel
721 Government Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1W5
Phone: 866-840-8402
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Victoria has gained a reputation for being the most British city in all of Canada. And, whenever there’s been a hunger for the land of tea and crumpets, Victoria has always been more than happy to step up to the wicket and oblige. The most obvious vestige of of Victoria's colonial past is the massive Fairmont Empress Hotel, which overlooks the Inner Harbor. This ivy-covered grand dame of Victoria Hotels was opened in 1908 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Since then, the Empress has become a Victoria Institution, and every day, hundreds of people show up for the hotel’s famous afternoon tea.
1040 Moss Street
Victoria, BC V8V 4P1 MA 02129
Phone: 250-384.4101
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This museum features an excellent collection of works by Victoria native Emily Carr, one of Canada's finest artists.Heavily influenced by the First Nations artwork around her, and yet intensely personal in her vision, Carr is recognized as one of the first artists to create a truly Canadian style. In addition to its excellent exhibit on Emily Carr, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has an impressive collection of Asian textiles, and there’s even a Japanese garden out back. Much of the collection is housed in an elegant 19th century mansion, so a visit here is as much about history as it is about artistic achievement.
British Columbia Parliament Buildings
501 Belleville St
Victoria, BC V8V
Phone: 250-387-3046
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A second Victoria icon to be sure, the British Columbia Parliament buildings loom large over the Inner Harbour. If you notice some similarity in design between this building and the nearby Fairmont Empress Hotel, it’s no coincidence. Both the Parliament and the hotel were designed by the same architect, Francis Rattenbury. Rattenbury designed this ornate building when he was only 25 years old, way back in 1898. The city of Victoria had been founded a half a century earlier earlier, making it the first European settlement on Vancouver Island. It became the capital of British Columbia in 1868. This remarkable building is open for daily tours, and is a definite must-see in Victoria.
Craigdarrach Castle
1050 Joan Crescent
Victoria, BC V8S 3L5
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There’s nothing in Victoria to compare to Craigdarroch Castle. This massive Gothic manor was built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir in the 1880s. Dunsmuir was a Scot who arrived in British Columbia as a young man in the 1850s, and became one of the wealthiest men in the entire province. And, when you’re a 19th century coal magnate, a 39-room shrine to your own power and influence seems like just the ticket.