Secrets of Victoria, British Columbia

The Oldest City in the Pacific Northwest

The Clipper ferry is a comfortable high speed operation that will get you from Seattle’s waterfront to downtown Victoria in less than 3 hours. It’s an enjoyable, scenic route. Tip: Shell out the extra $30 for comfort class and you’ll get to skip all of the immigration lines upon arrival. 

The reason we are here, aside from looking for Harry and Meghan…

Beep Beep, Beep Beep, Yeah

John Lennon’s psychedelic Phantom V Rolls Royce is on display at the Royal BC Museum through the end of February.

John bought the car in 1964 for about £11,000. He made a number of changes to the vehicle, namely the paint job. Lennon was a terrible driver and had horrendous vision (hence the granny glasses). This Rolls Royce drove the Beatles to Buckingham Palace to receive their Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) medals in 1965. (John would later return his.) He employed a full-time driver and the car was used regularly through 1969. It was kept in storage until 1977 when it was donated in exchange for correcting an IRS issue. It was sold to a Canadian business man in 1985 for $2.3 million who later gave it to the Royal BC Museum.

The car is currently displayed in the lobby which is insanely generous because you don’t have to buy tickets!! We would have gladly paid to see it but instead we saw it, bought a couple of souvenirs from the gift shop, and split. I have no idea what else is in that museum. According to their website, we missed out on “550 million years of natural history and 9,000 years of human history in BC.” Maybe next time. 

Mini Me

When it came to Miniature World, my expectations were low. The truth is, I was really impressed. There are over 85 incredibly detailed displays featuring scenes from Camelot, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Dickensian London Towne, and Gulliver’s Travels with interactive elements like buttons that activate lights, model trains and sound effects. There are historical reenactments of wars, European castles, and the world’s smallest operating sawmill. I would have adored this as a child. 

Step Back Into The British Empire

Bonus! I didn’t even know that Victoria is said to be one of Canada’s most haunted places. My Twitter followers tipped me off. Practically every building downtown has its own ghost story.

Our hotel of choice was the iconic Fairmount Empress Hotel known for their famous high tea. The Empress is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria and rumor is, it’s haunted. (Yes!) Architect Francis Rattenbury designed this beaux-arts beauty as well as the majestic parliament buildings and it is said he haunts them all. Rattenbury was brutally murdered by his chauffeur, who was also his wife’s teenage lover. I roamed the halls in search of a man with a thin mustache wearing period clothing walking with a cane. Creaky floors, rickety elevators, dark hallways, and grand ballrooms set a dramatic scene reminiscent of the glorious days of the Edwardian era.

The Narrowest Street in Canada

As much as I love a good ghost story, Danny loves a good Chinatown. And this is a haunted Chinatown. Jackpot!! 

Fan Tan Alley is an historic piece of Canada’s oldest Chinatown. Trinket shops, restaurants, and boutiques line the alley but it wasn’t always so family-friendly. This former red light district was home to saloons, brothels, gambling halls, and opium dens. A century ago a man pushed his way through this very alley after murdering a young woman who had rejected him. She was given a proper burial and as a result, she has not been heard from since; Many have reported apparitions of the man. The Gate of Harmonious Interest at the entrance to Chinatown is decorated with symbols to scare away evil spirits.

Victoria, My Heart

More than the history and spooky tales, Victoria is a gorgeous, spotless city with stately homes and beautiful neighborhoods. The bright lights of the Parliament buildings, the architecture, and harbor views are picture-perfect. I’m sure the vibe is different during cruise ship season when 350+ ships come in over a 5 month span. Bundle up and take in Victoria in the winter and you’ll discover a delightfully friendly, cozy city.