FOSS4G2007 Tourism

This page is dedicated to collect information helpful for everyone interested in tourist activities in Victoria, during FOSS4G 2007. Please, add any information you would consider helpful for people visiting Victoria, BC.

List of proposed topics:

Must-see places, features, etc.

• Walk or Harbour Ferry to/from Fisherman's Wharf and have some Fish and Chips at Barb's Place, or an ice cream cone. Check out floating homes, the fish boats, and the tame harbour seals that frequent the floats.
  • Harbour Ferry from the docks in front of the Empress, frequent service to/from Fisherman's Wharf.
  • Walk along the harbour, keeping the water to your right and following the paths and streets along the shoreline, you will eventually arrive at Fisherman's Wharf.
• Take an evening walk on the Ogden Point breakwater.
  • Enjoy views of the Olympic mountains to the south, and the sun going down over the Sooke Hills to the west
  • Watch the locals fish off the breakwater
  • Watch divers in the "underwater marine park" off the breakwater
  • Watch for harbor seals in the waters inside the breakwater
  • Stroll all the way out (~1km) to the marker lighthouse
  • Have a desert, coffee, dinner, or glass of wine at the Ogden Point Cafe at the foot of the breakwater
  • Walk Oswego Street south from the harbour to the ocean (about 10 minutes). Turn right at the ocean and along the ocean paths until you get to the foot of the breakwater (another 5-10 minutes).
• Have a drink in the Bengal Lounge.
  • Excellent service, British Empire surroundings, overstuffed leather chairs, what's not to like?
  • Oh, the prices are really high. But it's an experience.
• Visit Beacon Hill Park.
  • Walk south along Douglas Street until you get to the Beacon Drive-In.
  • Have a soft-serve ice cream, or some onion rings.
  • Turn east and walk into the park. Walk to the top of Beacon Hill, admire the view. Walk back down and through the flower gardens.
  • Head north through the park, to the Mayor's Grove of trees. Note the engangered Gary Oaks.
  • Continue north, across Southgate to Humboldt, turn left.
  • Note the St Ann's academy grounds on your left before you arrive back at the convention centre.
• Go to China Town.
  • Walk north on Government Street, admire the touristic knick knack shops.
  • At Fisgard Street, admire the Gate of Harmonious Interest.
  • Walk down into China Town. If it is lunch time, consider having dim sum at Dom Mee's restaurant.
  • Turn left and walk through Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada.
  • Fan Tan Alley lets out on Pandora Street, turn right and have a beer at Swan's, a local brew pub.
  • Or, cross Pandora Street and enter Market Square, and the Old Town area around lower Johnson Street.
• Criagdarroch Castle is located about a 20 minute walk from downtown.
  • Built by a local coal baron, it is a late-19th century gem of provincial opulance.
  • Walk away from the harbor on Fort Street, past numerous antique stores and auction houses.
  • You'll cross Cook Street, leave down town and head up a long moderate hill.
  • When you see a middle school on your left, you are almost there. Look for Joan Cresent on your right.
  • Turn and walk up the hill on Joan Crescent, you will come to the castle.

Victoria By Bus

"Catch a movie, meander through Butchart Gardens, swirl down a waterslide or watch the sun set at an ocean-side park. All this and more is as easy as hopping a bus."

In addition to locations listed on the Victoria Regional Transit System's Explore Victoria page, you can use the bus system to explore various parts of Victoria and the surrounding municipalities.

Public / Online geodata and maps

Online Maps of Victoria

• victoria.openguides.org
• Victoria, BC in the Yahoo!

Walking with GPS

Where can I get some waypoints about Victoria?

• OpenStreetMap.org - GPS tracks of Victoria,BC
• Victoria Hotels with downloadable GPS waypoint data
• waypoint.org - search result with Victoria, BC waypoints

There is also Victoria Mapping Party planned during the weekend before the conference, so it will be also an interesting opportunity to take a walk or ride a bike and visit Victoria.

Helpful notes

Tourism information, phone numbers, must-know, etc.

Tourism Victoria
710 - 1175 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC V8W 2E1
Phone: (250) 953-2033, Fax: (250) 382-6539

• City of Victoria in BC
• Victoria Travel Guide
• Travel and Tourism Victoria

Other

There is also a lot of useful information available on the official website of FOSS4G 2007:

• About Victoria
• From Wining and Dining to Shopping
• Nanaimo and Vancouver Island
• Whale Watching and Bus Tours