About Victoria & The Upper HarbourVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 80,017 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 344,615, the 15th most populous Canadian metro region. Sometimes Victoria is called "a bit of Old England" because of its winding, narrow streets and beautiful gardens.
Victoria is about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from BC's largest city of Vancouver on the mainland. The city is about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Seattle by airplane, ferry, or the Victoria Clipper passenger-only ferry which operates daily, year round between Seattle and Victoria and 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Port Angeles, Washington by ferry across the Juan de Fuca Strait. Named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and of the Dominion of Canada, Victoria is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, with British settlement beginning in 1841. The city has retained a large number of its historic buildings, in particular its two most famous landmarks, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings (finished in 1897 and home of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia) and the Empress hotel (opened in 1908). The city's Chinatown is the second oldest in North America after San Francisco's. The region's Coast Salish First Nations peoples established communities in the area long before non-native settlement, possibly several thousand years earlier, which had large populations at the time of European exploration. Victoria, like many Vancouver Island communities, continues to have a sizable First Nations presence, composed of peoples from all over Vancouver Island and beyond. Travelodge Victoria overlooks Victoria's Upper Harbour and the body of water known simply as “The Gorge.” Locals know this as a narrow inlet that connects Victoria Harbour to Portage Inlet. The Gorge Waterway is defined as the inlet between Craigflower bridge and Selkirk bridge. The Gorge has a rich history as an important spiritual place and fishing area for First Nations, and a fishing, bathing and recreational area for early Victoria residents. In the 1920's and 30's, the Gorge Waterway was the place to be - home to Victoria's social scene along with swimming, boating, and picnic opportunities. Recreational boating is still practiced on the Gorge today, and most of the shorelines border residential properties. Guests can enjoy the Gorge Waterway by renting a kayak or bicycle and travelling into downtown Victoria from the hotel. The famous Galloping Goose trail which is just two blocks from the hotel provides a waterfront pathway that follows the Gorge all the way into the inner harbour. Victoria Harbour Tours conducts daily tours of the Gorge during the summer months and also offers water taxi service between the hotel and inner harbour. Source: Wikipedia & CRD |
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