Tourist Attractions & Services in James Bay
One of the most beautiful cities in the world, as it should be for a city named after a queen, Victoria, British Columbia, is considered by many to be Canada’s "crown jewel of the West Coast".
The City of Victoria, also known as "The City of Gardens" is part of the Capital Region District (pop. 335,000), on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, a 90-minute ferry ride or 10 to 20 minute flight from Vancouver. Both the surroundings and the climate make Victoria an attractive place to visit any time of years.
The provincial capital of British Columbia is renowned for immaculate gardens, great charm, and mild winters. Residents of Victoria apartments for rent enjoy an average of 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Temperatures seldom drop below freezing or rise above 20 degrees Celsius.
Tourism is second only to Government in importance to Victoria’s economy, providing employment to many residents of Victoria apartment rentals. The logging, fishing and agricultural activities of Vancouver Island also contribute to the city’s economic base, and high-technology industries with low environmental impact are being actively sought.
A natural extension of downtown Victoria, lies James Bay, its oldest neighborhood which spans from the serene gardens of the beautiful 200 acre Beacon Hill Park up to the Inner Harbour and across to Odgen Point (a bustling cruiseship terminal as well as water and air transporation hub).
The district is home to many of the high-end hotels and restaurants of the Inner Harbour, a hugely popular community market and Fisherman’s Wharf, a tiny but popular area for fish and chips, whale-watching tours and more. The floating village is also home to an eclectic collection of houseboats and is most easily reached via the small Harbour Ferries which circulate regularly.
Below is a list of places to visit and things to do. Some are commercial ventures while others are free. There’s always something to do keep everyone engaged, entertained, and enthusiastic about living, working, or staying in James Bay!
COMMERCIAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS/SERVICES:
Culinary & Wine Tour available from Tavel With Taste Tours, #1-356 Simcoe Street, Victoria, BC V8V 1L1 – Tel: 250.385.1527 – Email: kathy[at]travelwithtaste.com
Emily Carr House (home of British Columbia’s renowned artist, Emily Carr), 207 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 2K8 – Tel: 250.383.5843
Helmcken House (the oldest house in Victoria), 675 Belleville Street (Royal BC Museum), Victoria BC, V8W 9W2 – Tel: 250.356.7226 -Toll Free: 1.888.447.7977
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides provided by a number of carriage tour companies including Black Beauty Line Carriage Tours, Tally Ho Tours, Victoria Carriage Tours available from the central staging area at the intersection of Menzies & Belleville Streets.
Kayaking Tour available from Kelp Reef Adventures, Fisherman’s Wharf, 12 Erie Street, Pier #2 – Tel: 250.386.7333 or 250. 818.2723 – Email: brad[at]kelpreef.com
National Geographic Imax Theatre located inside the Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1A1 – Tel: 250.953.4629
Pedi-Cab Tours available from the following pedi-cab companies such as Victoria Pedicab Company, Kabuki Kabs, and Victoria Rickshaw Tours who pick-up and drop off patrons along Government Street across from the Empress Hotel
Royal BC Museum, the museum, exhibits and archives are located at 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 9W2 – Tel: 250.356.7226 – Fax: 250.387.5674 – Toll Free: 1.888.447.7977 – Email: reception[at]royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
Royal London Wax Museum, 470 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 1W9 – Tel: 250.388.4461
Scuba-Diving/Snorkelling along Ogden Point Breakwater, rental equipment and off-shore diving available from Ogden Point Dive Center, 199 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC, V8V 1A4 – Tel: 250.380.9119 – Fax: 250.385.9110 – Toll Free: 1.888.701.1177 – Email: info[at]divevictoria.com
Whale-Watching Tours, available from Eagle Wing Tours whale watching tours available at Fisherman’s Wharf, 12 Erie Street, Pier #2, Victoria, BC – Tel: 250.384.8008, and Sea King Adventures, Fishermans Wharf, 12 Erie Street, Finger 4 Victoria – Tel: 250.381.4173
FREE THINGS TO DO IN JAMES BAY
BC Legislature & Legislative Assembly Tours, 501 Belleville St Victoria, BC, V8V – Tel: Tour Office at 250.387.3046 – Toll Free in BC: 1.800.663.7867 – Email: tours[at]leg.bc.ca.
Beacon Hill Park located off Douglas Street in James Bay, Victoria, BC, it is a wonderful place to walk, admire the gardens, hold a picnic, enjoy outdoor concerts in the summer, play on the pitch & putt course or in the children’s playground area and petting zoo.
Kite-Flying, Para-Sailing, Kite-Boarding at Holland Point or Clover Point on Dallas Road
Mile-Zero Landmark, (located at the intersection of Dallas Road and Douglas Street), it is the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway, the beginning of the Trans-Canada Trail, and a tribute to Terry-Fox, one of Canada’s top ten national heroes.
Macdonald Park in James Bay is the outdoor recreational centre of the community, with swings and roundabouts for kids, two fastball diamonds and 2 slopitch diamonds in spring and summer, and two rugby and football fields in fall and winter, not to mention plenty of grass for picnics and frizzbees.
Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour along Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Outer Harbour that includes Fisherman’s Wharf, Dallas Road, and the Ogden Point Breakwater.
