10 - RUSSIAN COBRA SUBMARINE:

Visit the Russian Cobra in the inner harbour at the foot of Swift Street. This Russian Foxtrot-Class Attack submarine, code named Cobra, was commissioned into the Soviet Navy in 1974 and regularly patrolled in the Arctic, Pacific and Indian Oceans during her 20-year career. She is an amazing sight from the outside, and tours run continuously from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Website: http://www.victoriasubmarine.com.

9 - CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE:

Craigdarroch Castle, the extravagant home built for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, is a historic residence to visit. The castle has the finest collection of etched and stained glass on the West Coast. Website: http://www.craigdarrochcastle.com.

8 - MINIATURE WORLD:

Over 80 attractions include a tiny circus, Fantasy Land dioramas of favourite nursery rhymes, Dickens scenes of old London, and Fields of Glory – miniature re-enactments of famous battles. Miniature World's 35-room version of Queen Mary's famous doll house features incredible detail. Website: http://www.miniatureworld.com.

7 - FORT RODD HILL & FISGARD LIGHTHOUSE:

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site commemorates the national significance of the Victoria-Esquimalt coast artillery fortress in the defense of Victoria and the naval base at Esquimalt harbour. This was part of the larger defense strategy of the British Empire and Canada 1878 to 1956. Website: http://parkscan.harbour.com/frh/.

6 - BUTCHART GARDENS:

The Butchart Gardens is a 50-acre estate featuring theme gardens such as the sunken, Italian, rose and Japanese gardens. There is festive décor, lighting and entertainment over the Christmas season, and an indoor historical display from mid-January through March 31^st. (I would have rated Butchart Gardens higher if it wasn’t for the admission price.) Website: http://www.butchartgardens.com.

5 - MARITIME MUSEUM:

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is housed in the historic 1889 Provincial Law Courts building situated in Bastion Square. Besides its maritime displays, it houses a cage-type elevator considered the oldest operating elevator in the country. The building's vaulted ceilings and elegant cornices provide an appropriate setting for the visitor's journey back through history. Website: http://mmbc.bc.ca.

4 - BC LEGISLATURE:

These are sometimes known to visitors as the Parliament Buildings. (The parliament buildings are in Ottawa.) Guided tours are offered for the 100-year-old Legislative Buildings that house the provincial government. A young architect, Francis Rattenbury, won the design competition for this project in 1893 only a few months after he arrived in BC, leaving his stamp on the city. Website: http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca.

3 - WHALE WATCHING TOURS:

At convenient locations in the harbour are several tour companies offering tickets on their zodiacs or high-speed covered cruisers. Virtually all of them are Ministry of Transport approved and their guides are all experienced certified naturalists.

2 - ROYAL BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSEUM:

The Royal British Columbia Museum has won worldwide acclaim. Its current temporary exhibit "Emily Carr: Eccentric Author, Artist & Genius" runs until April 7, 2002. Over 50 pieces of rare Emily Carr pottery are on loan from Bryan Adams' private collection. And not to be outdone is the IMAX® at the National Geographic Theatre within the museum. Website: http://rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca.

1 - FESTIVALS and more FESTIVALS:

Besides the many excellent year-round tourist attractions in Victoria are the many festivals and events that complete anyone’s vacation. Besides the natural beauty and historical significance of our locale, these annual events will make your visit a memorable one and I consider to be our #1 attraction.

So there you have it. Creating a Top Ten was difficult as there are so many great attractions in Victoria. However these are the ones we have found over the years to be most popular with our guests.

More Things to See and Do in Victoria

If that wasn’t enough, here are a few more things you can do:

• Crystal Garden Conservation Centre
• Victoria Butterfly Gardens
• Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
• Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse
• Tally-Ho Sightseeing
• Royal London Wax Museum
• Olde England Inn & Anne Hathaway’s Thatched Cottage
• Restaurants (There were 600 at last count – something for everyone.)
• Tea Houses
• Pubs & Micro Breweries (Christie's Carriage House, Spinnakers Pub, Swans Brewpub, Four Mile House, etc.)
• BC Heritage Houses (Emily Carr House; Craigflower Manor; Helmecken House; and Point Ellice House.)
• Undersea Gardens
• Heritage Acres (Saanich Historical Artifacts Society)
• Victoria Bug Zoo

Best Places to Hike in Victoria

These are all day hikes and represent a graduated program for beginners of one to two-hour workouts. You can go to these parks over and over again as most of them have a number of variations on any hike in their boundaries. A few basic pointers are appropriate here even for the easiest city hikes: Never hike alone. Tell someone where you are going. Get good boots. Take a first aid kit (and get training if you have not had it). Take water, a snack, and a head cover of some kind.

Mount Doug

This municipal park is a good starter because you can take easy strolls around the base and extend them up to about an hour. Then you can start up some of the winding trails. Finally, you can find the trails that go straight up to do at the end of your one-hour warm-up.

Thetis Lake Park

There are three or four lakes and various hills to romp around on. Lots of places to swim.

Mount Work

The Mount Work trail goes up, up, up without a break. Remember, the trip DOWN is the one that is harder on your body. Make sure your knees (and boots) are ready for it. Fantastic views and a great place for a picnic.

Gowlland Tod

This is long if you go the whole way on the north trail. It's best to increase your distance over several visits. There are fantastic views of Finlayson Arm inlet. Once you've got the north hike under your belt, take the south route to the top of Mt. Finlayson in Goldstream park. This will take several hours.

Goldstream Provincial Park

Most people only know this park from the parking lot to the nature house. This represents less than five per cent of the park. The majority of the park is located on the other side of the highway. To do the whole perimeter loop, excluding Mt. Finlayson, takes two hours at a quick pace. It is constantly up and down. Once this is no longer a challenge, add on the Mt. Finlayson loop. This is very steep, sometimes you need your hands, but there is no actual climbing.

East Sooke Regional Park

This is the best place to practice for the West Coast Trail due to the similar terrain. The coast trail in East Sooke Park takes six and one half hours from end to end. That is not return time. This is a big park. Also there are many hikes within the interior of the park that offer opportunities to go up and down.

Juan de Fuca Marine Trail

This trail will give you a good feel for the West Coast Trail. The terrain is identical but you can take it in bite-sized day trips and overnights to practice getting your logistics and planning right for the big one.

Free Things to See and Do in Victoria

Individuals and families travelling on a budget may want to consider some of our FREE local attractions and activities. There is something for everyone.

Inner Harbour Entertainment

Each evening throughout the summer months, the Inner Harbour Causeway comes alive with street entertainers and street merchants. Red the Juggler is one of the more popular entertainers. Anyone can watch, however, the entertainers do ask you to donate.

Market Square

This charming mall has a courtyard that quite often is filled with free entertainment. It consists of a courtyard surrounded by three stories of shops and eating establishments.

Beacon Hill Park

The Cameron Band shell has entertainment scheduled throughout the summer. Check with the City of Victoria Parks and Recreation at 361-0364. Beacon Hill park also has a children's petting zoo that accepts donations, so it is almost free and there also is a putting green across from the petting zoo. Bring your own putter and balls.

Park Nature Houses

A number of parks have nature houses filled with displays and knowledgeable staff. Whitty's Lagoon and Francis-King are two CRD parks (478-3344) and Goldstream Park is a Provincial Park. The Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary has a nature house as well as a lake walk an plenty of places to birdwatch! (479-0211)

Dominion Astrophysical Observatory

This observatory is open to the public during scheduled hours. Check by calling 363-0012.

Garage Sales

To get a real taste of how Victorian's live, pick up any of our local newspapers (the Times Colonist or the Newsgroup) and check out the garage sale ads. On any given weekend there are hundreds of garage sales. You may find some great bargains or some interesting junk!

Swimming at a Beach

Elk/Beaver Lake and Thetis Lake Park are two popular local beaches where you can swim. Food concessions operate at both beaches. Thetis Lake has pay parking.

Beach Walks

Victoria has many excellent and scenic beaches. Check out some of the following: Dallas Road Cliffs, Willows Beach, Cadboro Bay, Whitty's Lagoon, Island View Beach ... and there are more!

Blackberry Picking

In August & September you can pick blackberries that grow wild throughout the Victoria region. Country roads, institutional properties, road allowances and empty lots are great places to find berries. They have prickly vines so wear old clothes with long-sleeve shirts.

Glass Beach Sidney

On the water in front of the Hotel Sidney is a beach that has polished glass instead of sand. It was created by dumping garbage years and years ago. It is a small beach but a great place to explore and collect.

Fishing

If you bring a rod and reel you can fish from the Ogden Point Breakwater, the Dock in Sidney, the Fishing Pier in Sidney, and from the rocks at 10 mile point.

Antique Walk

A walk east along Fort Street from Douglas will take you past numerous antique shops.

Capitol Iron

Check out the "junk" section in the basement of this unique store.

Naden Walking Tours

These tours take place at HMCS Naden at the Naval and Military Museum. Call 250-363-4312 for details!

This article was contributed by Martin Knight. He and his wife Kathy have been resident managers of the Fort Victoria RV Park since 1983. For those who may wish to forward this column to their family and friends by e-mail, it is available on the Fort Victoria RV Park website at www.fortvicrv.com/fort. The Fort Victoria RV Park was featured on the prime cable TV network show Distant Roads this past May. Their recently re-designed website has streaming video of the program.