Seattle
Seattle has exploded from a small West Coast town known for bad weather into a bustling powerhouse on the Pacific Rim known for espresso. The city of Pearl Jam and Frasier Crane has undergone quite a transformation over the last couple of decades. Starbucks and Microsoft have headquarters in the region, bringing jobs and prosperity with them. With growth comes headaches, of course, and Seattle has had its share. The city's infrastructure was not designed to hold so many people, and the same people who used to snicker at the traffic jams of New York and Los Angeles now find themselves in the same boat.
That's not to say that Seattle doesn't have a lot of other advantages. The city itself is positively beautiful, with lots of greenery. It's a perfect town for a walk, as long as it's not raining. Of course, Seattle also boasts of one of the more recognizable symbols in the world, the Space Needle. The view from the top is simply breathtaking.
Downtown Seattle is where you will probably spend most of your day. The area has undergone a renaissance, with new shops and restaurants opening up around every corner, seemingly every day. A gorgeous art museum and a new ballpark, Safeco Field, have helped to attract this sprawling city back inward. Pioneer Square, which used to be a ghost town, has become the hip place to be after hours.
Seattle has been able to combine a small-town neighborliness with all of the cultural advantages of a big city. This unique dichotomy has attracted more and more tourists, as well as more and more residents.
Victoria
The landscape of British Columbia is as diverse as it is beautiful, and the west coast, home to glorious Victoria, is no exception. From beaches to mountains, exquisite parks to enchanting architectural sites, Victoria has it all. The museums in the city are marvelous, and the Royal British Columbia Museum, in particular, is outstanding, featuring an IMAX theater and incredible exhibits. The Maritime Museum illustrates the heralded maritime history of Victoria, and the model ship exhibit is fascinating. There are a number of spots in the city where nature has combined with the efforts of local residents to create some of the most amazing sites possible. The Butchart Gardens captivate all who visit, and Beacon Hill Park is a wondrous region that is adored by the entire community.
Victoria is a picturesque seaport that is the capital of the province and the highlight of beautiful Vancouver Island. Positioned ideally, and complemented by the lovely Pacific Ocean, Victoria enjoys a strong English influence, and its Victorian architecture only adds to the feeling. During the 19th century, it was a mighty port city that was a major English outpost. But in the 1880?s, when Vancouver was founded, England basically forgot all about Victoria. However, in the 20th century, and in the new millennium, we certainly cannot forget about this gorgeous city by the sea. With a pleasant climate and plenty of fabulous restaurants to keep you busy for days, Victoria is becoming a more popular vacation spot with each passing year.
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