A little bit of England in North America: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

As the dollar values continues to slide against the English Pound we can still experience a slice of jolly ole England up north in western Canada.

Where? For the Anglophiles it is the charming very English Victorian city of Victoria located in British Columbia, Canada. Victoria's unique character is deeply rooted in its 150 year history and its British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence. Today this one time colonial trading outpost is alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping, colorful nightlife and a full complement of cultural offerings. English tradition is observed at the ivy covered Empress Hotel a 477 room landmark property that has been overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbor since 1908. The hotel is known for serving high afternoon tea in its elegant upper lobby along with its beautiful public spaces. The British penchant and passion for gardening is evident everywhere. Downtown Victoria's comes alive with hanging flower baskets that adorn the city's lampposts in a celebration of scent and bright colors. Flowers bloom year round in Victoria, which makes exploring the outdoors here enjoyable in any season. Ferns and lichens color the forest floor throughout the winter; come spring, an explosion of trilliums and calypso orchids heightens the effect before giving way to bushes lush with huckleberry, salmonberry, trailing blackberry, salal, and Oregon grape. Plan your own Victoria BC getaway today and experience a slice of jolly ole England in North America.