Travel In-Town: Victoria's Picturesque Parks
Here are the more popular Victoria parks:
[ Victoria | North to Saanich | West to Sooke ]
Beacon Hill Park
East of Douglas Street, south of downtown (Victoria)
This park brings relaxation to Victoria’s downtown area. It is named for the beacons that were lit as a navigation aid. This 75 hectare park has streams, several duck ponds, a cricket field, playgrounds, wading pools, a children’s zoo, and a bandshell. In spring, this park is blanketed by hundreds of thousands of daffodils and blue camas, and over 30,000 plants replanted semi-annually. The Lookout, also known as Victoria’s "Lovers’ Lane" has a great view of the Juan de Fuca Strait. At the southwest end of the park is the official Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Thunderbird Park
Belleville & Douglas
This park, beside the BC Museum, features a long house and several totems from the Bella Coola, Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-cha-nulth, Salish, and Tsimshian people. Sometimes you can even watch carvers at work.
Ross Bay Cemetery
1495 Fairfield Rd (Scenic Marine Dr/Dallas Rd - just past Clover Point)
250-384-0045
This 11 hectare cemetery houses 27,000 graves dating back to the earliest days of Victoria. Robert Dunsmuir, Sir James Douglas, and Emily Carr are all buried here. The Old Cemeteries Society offers guided tours.
Mount Tolmie Lookout
Oak Bay, just west of University of Victoria
This hill gives a splendid view of Oak Bay and downtown Victoria, and has the added bonus that the top is road-accessible (no hiking!).
Mount Douglas Park
Scenic Marine Drive at Cordova Bay (Saanich)
This park, which includes the summit of Mount Douglas has great views of the city and the waters. Forests of cedar and Douglas fir cover expanses of the park.
Uplands Park
Beach Drive (Scenic Marine Drive) (Oak Bay)
This park is in the middle of Oak bay and surrounded by the posh Uplands Estates neighbourhood. Its 30 hectares are largely an unspoiled wild park. There are several trails through the park and two boat ramps.
Saxe Point Park
Fraser Street (off Esquimalt Rd (Esquimalt)
This waterfront park has a great view over the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Washington’s Olympic Mountains. Its combination of forest and grassy fields makes it a great place for picnics or a nature hike. Beachcombers and scuba divers enjoy this park for its rustic nature.
|
