VICTORIA - 5 Suitcases

Our cruise to Alaska took us to some incredible places, from the Endicott Arm & the Dawes Glacier to Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Our final stop on the cruise was Victoria, British Columbia. We were in port for strange hours. Getting off the ship at 7 PM and getting back on board at 11 PM didn’t leave much time for us to really get out there and explore. However, we made the best of what little time we had in Victoria.

4 Hours in Victoria, British Columbia

As soon as we got off the ship, we walked towards the taxi stand and hired a cabbie to take us to the downtown district. Outside of the Parliament building, there’s a company that offers horse and carriage rides around the downtown area and surrounding parks. The ride was an hour-long which was perfect for our short time frame.

First, we left downtown and headed for Beacon Hill Park in our carriage. The park is massive! It is home to stunning gardens, manicured lawns, cricket pitches, a petting zoo, and several different trails.

Next, our tour took us down Government Street which led us past Emily Carr’s Home (Canadian artist and writer) and other stunning examples of Victorian architecture. Paint was a status symbol during the construction of these homes. Any home with 3 or more colors was a sign of wealth.

This vibrantly painted house was one of my favorites! I think it is safe to say that the homeowners were making bank!

Lastly, our tour ended right back in front of the Parliament building. We spent a bit of time perusing the area and watching the sunset over the harbor. Victoria is an absolutely stunning city/island when the sun goes down. It was interesting visiting a port a night, and for such a short period of time. Many of the buildings are lined with bright white lights. It reminded me a lot of St. Augustine, Florida– the oldest city in the United States. It was definitely a cool place!