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VICTORIA, B. C.
THE CAPITAL CITY
Victoria, the Capital City of British Columbia, and seat of the Lieutenant-Governor,
is a most attractive city beautifully situated on the S. E. end of Vancouver Island over-
looking the Straits of San Juan de Fuca, with the Olympic Range and snow-capped Mount
Baker in the background.
The substantial buildings, the wide and well-kept streets, the gay flower-gardens,
and the numerous country houses in the environs give the place quite an old-world air.
Victoria has the least rainfall of any city on the Pacific Coast and ranks among the most
healthful spots in the whole world, with a climate rivalling that of the famous resorts in
the south of England. Having an average of five and a half hours sunshine every day in
the year, and a temperature rarely lower than freezing point, and usually forty to seventy
degrees above, Victoria is the Mecca for hundreds of those who wish to escape the
extreme winters of the prairies.
Among the principal attractions are the magnificent Parliament Buildings; Beacon
Hill Park, commanding charming views of the Straits, and the Gorge. Chinatown, with its
theatre, joss houses and strange stores, attracts many visitors.
The new Dominion Observatory, containing one of the two great telescopes of the
world, with a seventy-two inch reflector, is situated on Observation Hill, commanding
one of the finest views on the Pacific Coast, and visitors should not fail to visit this great
seat of scientific research. This site was chosen after two years investigation throughout
Canada, when the Dominion Government announced that Victoria had been chosen be-
cause of its superlative climatic and atmospheric conditions.
Butchart's Gardens, situated at Brentwood, on the Saanich Peninsula, are a veritable
fairyland of flowers, lawns, and lake, artificially constructed in an old quarry. They
feature besides the sunken gardens, Italian and Japanese Gardens. Here are to be found
miniature trees, shrubs, figures, waterfalls, rustic bridges, and summer houses, and the
whole is a never failing source of delight.
Recently completed is the Crystal Garden, containing one of the largest salt water
swimming pools on the continent. The water is pumoed from the Pacific Ocean nearly a
mile away, and heated to a temperature of seventy degrees, so that this most attractive
pool may be enjoyed the year round.
Victoria is famous as a tourist resort, out-door sports being carried on the year round.
Six golf courses are available, while the city is the gateway to Vancouver Island,^veritable
paradise for the sportsman, fishing and shooting being unsurpassed.
Published by
THE COAST PUBLISHING COMPANY, VANCOUVER, B. C.
Made in U.S.A.
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