Map of Southern Vancouver Island and city Victoria area, BC Canada

Southern Vancouver Island      

Set in a necklace of smaller islands and anchored by the city  of Victoria, southern Vancouver Island has the wonderful combination of a  mild climate, diverse landscapes, rich cultures, well-preserved  history, and a unique charm that prompted Capt. George Vancouver to call  it "the most lovely country that can be imagined." The rain forests and  rugged fjords of the West Coast are separated from the drier, gentler  terrain of the East Coast by a backbone of snow-packed mountains. Such  contrasting scenery makes "The Island," as it is affectionately known  locally, so appealing.  

Chemainus [B7] When the local sawmill closed in 1983,  Chemainus shifted gears from logging to tourism, commissioning an  outdoor mural to celebrate the town's past. Now some 30  larger-than-life, historically themed murals grace the walls of downtown  buildings, drawing about 400,000 people annually.      

Duncan [C7] Follow the trail of footprints painted on downtown  sidewalks to view more than 40 stunning totem poles, the work of Native  carvers, or visit the B.C. Forest Museum for a look at logging of days  gone by, including a sawmill and working steam locomotive.      

Nanaimo [A6] Once a major coal-mining center, today Nanaimo is  a deep-sea fishing port and jumping-off point for the mainland and  offshore oases like Gabriola Island. Nanai-mo's beginnings are saluted  at The Bastion, built in 1853 and the Hudson's Bay Company's oldest  fort. The 4 km Harbourfront Walkway, with its colorful boats, shops, and  cafes, is a great spot to arrange for a sightseeing cruise to glimpse  whales and sea lions. Every July Nanaimo hosts the popular International  Bathtub Race.      

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve [B1-D3]      

This reserve extends 105 km and comprises three distinct  regions with different entry points on Vancouver's magnificent West  Coast: Long Beach, popular with surfers and beachcombers; the Broken  Group Islands, a mecca for kayakers; and the West Coast Trail, a  challenging trail for experienced hikers. From sandy beaches to peaceful  estuaries, rugged headlands to thick rain forests, the landscape here  has numerous contrasts. Each spring the reserve becomes a major stopping  place for waterfowl, and thousands of gray whales migrate through the  reserve's waters.      

Ucluelet [B1] Named for a First Nations word that means "safe  harbor," Ucluelet is a good base for short, easy hikes to many  spectacular seascapes. The Wild Pacific Trail winds through the rain  forest and around a storm-swept headland past Amphitrite Point  Lighthouse.      

Victoria [E8] The capital of British Columbia retains a  well-mannered British heritage, embodied in its Tallyho carriages,  double-deck buses, high tea served in the Empress Hotel, and immaculate  English gardens. Modern Victoria preserves its past in its museums,  wonderfully restored architecture and mansions. Walk the waterfront or  take the ferry across the Inner Harbour to see many of Victoria's famous  downtown attractions. In Thunderbird Park, you'll find outstanding  totem poles; in summer carvers often work in the park. (9 No visit to  Victoria is complete without a stop at Butchart Gardens. This 20-hectare  lush landscape of themed gardens was created in 1904 from a limestone  quarry.      

CITY GUIDE      

VICTORIA      

Butchart Gardens Beacon Hill Park Thunderbird Park Empress Hotel Inner Harbour Parliament Buildings Royal London Wax Museum      

Old Town Bastion Square Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Royal  British Columbia Museum Maritime Museum of British Columbia Chinatown  and Fan Tan Alley Craigdarroch Castle      

(1889) Craigflower Manor (1853) Sealand of the Pacific Crystal Garden Munro's Bookstore Classic Car Museum Victoria Bug Zoo      

AIRPORT INFORMATION      

(250) 360-9074      

TRAIN INFORMATION      

(250) 383-4324      

RADIO STATIONS      

C-FAX 1070 AM The Q 100.3 FM      

TOURISM OFFICE      

Travel Infocenter 812 Wharf St. (250) 382-2127      

TOURISM WEB SITE      

http:// victoriabc. com