Victoria, BC, Canada
British Columbia's capital city, Victoria, is located on the southernmost tip of spectacular Vancouver Island, just a short Helijet, floatplane, catamaran or commercial flight from BC's lower mainland region, Metro Vancouver, and Washington State. You can also reach this delightful, cosmopolitan island destination via car, coach, ferry, international flight, or even as part of an incredible whale watching adventure from downtown Vancouver.
Victoria is known for its old-world charm, decidedly British flavour, world-class hotels, decadent dining, wine, seafood, and some of the best microbreweries on the west coast. The dramatic architecture surrounding the world-famous Inner Harbour, designed by Francis Rattenbury near the turn of the 19th century, include the magnificent BC Legislative Buildings, the Crystal Garden, and the renowned Fairmont Empress Hotel.
Other highlights include; a wide range of visitor attractions, antique shopping, art galleries, great outdoor adventure travel, second highest number of restaurants per capita in North America and gardens, gardens, gardens!
Victoria is also home to the Royal BC Museum, one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world. Housing British Columbia's provincial museum and archives, the RBCM also offers a state-of-the-art IMAX Theatre, is host to ever-changing exhibits of interest, and the Royal BC Museum and BC Archives website is a great resource.
The rainbow flag is flown proudly in Victoria, front and centre on the Legislature grounds for Pride. Pride festivities in Victoria now span over ten days, including a colourful parade with over 100 entries, and a large outdoor festival, with vendor booths, beer gardens, and two live performance stages. A relatively small, but active LGBTQ+ nightlife scene includes one main nightclub and several mainstream clubs that host LGBTQ+ events in the downtown core. A year-round calendar of events include community events, fundraisers, theatre, drag extravaganzas, and more. Pride events kick off on Canada Day, July 1, with the Parade and Festival on Sunday July 8, and they are expected to be bigger and better than ever as they celebrate 24 years of Pride in 2018.
24 Hours in Victoria Photos
Pride Week Victoria, July 1-8, 2018
Start plotting and planning for your spot on the parade route, with over 100 entries, and 20,000 attendees, the parade is always a much anticipated, colour filled event for everyone to take part in!
Pride Festival
Victoria Pride week celebrates with the annual festival and parade. Start your day marching in solidarity, with local businesses, Non Profit Organizations, the LGBTQ community and allies. Ending at Macdonald Park the festival brings to its community over 150 vendors, main stage performers, kid, child and teen catered fun, and the always-popular beer garden antics. Check the Victoria Pride Society web site link below for details.
Victoria Pride Photos: CLICK HERE
10 Acres Restaurants
The Bistro, The Commons and The Kitchen are three distinct dining establishments with the same passion to provide Victoria’s finest dining experience while promoting organic produce and ethically raised, hormone free livestock from their own 10 Acres Farm. The farm is located on the Saanich Peninsula. www.10acres.ca
10 Acres / Kitchen - 614 Humboldt,
250.385.4512, www.10acreskitchen.ca
10 Acres / Bistro - 611 Courtney,
250.220.8008, www.10acresbistro.ca
250.940.0735, www.10acrescommons.ca
Hotels:
The Fairmont Empress Hotel
Inner Harbour location, in the heart of it all
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1W5
1.800.441.1414
www.fairmont.com/empress
Gay Clubs and Lounges
Paparazzi Nightclub
The Paparazzi Nightclub is the hottest LGBTQ+ community nightclub in Victoria, offering the latest dance music, sexy people to look at and fun shows. This unique, upscale venue offers dramatic design, state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities and some of the best DJs in the city, making it the perfect environment for Private Parties, Corporate Events and fundraisers.642 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC,250.385.6533 www.paparazzinightclub.com
