Victoria

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The Inner Harbour has the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Provincial Legislature building, both easy to spot from the ship. The Royal BC Museum, on the harbour's edge, covers the region's Indigenous cultures and natural history. A short bus or taxi ride reaches Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre garden built in a former quarry with themed sections and seasonal plantings. Chinatown, the oldest in Canada and second oldest in North America, is a few blocks from the harbour. Craigdarroch Castle, a Victorian mansion on a hill, has period furnishings and stained glass. Whale-watching tours depart from the harbour, with orcas and humpbacks seen in the surrounding strait. Fish and chips are a strong local tradition, and afternoon tea at the Empress is a famous indulgence. The city is flat and walkable. Canadian dollar is the currency.