Canada is home to many beautiful cities, but the capital of the province of British Columbia has to be one of the finest. Situated on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Victoria is home to the legislature, two castles, and a variety of manicured gardens. The finest hotel in the city is the Hotel Fairmont Empress which first opened to the public in 1908.
The hotel is steeped in history, having been built by the great Cornelius Van Horne. Van Horne is famous for having been the manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway. At the time, there were no luxury hotels along the route the train took, and Van Horne took it upon himself to build these. The Empress is the crowning jewel of his hotel line.
The hotel itself has 464 rooms which offer views of the picture perfect inner harbor, the gardens around the hotel, and the quaint city of Victoria. The rooms are designed to look both modern, and with a touch of the past. Prices start at $250.
The Amenities
The hotel itself has The Bengal Lounge for cocktails, and the restaurant hosts seasonal dinners, along with a daily afternoon tea. If you want to feel like royalty for a day or a weekend then head over to the Empress for a nice city getaway.
