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Vicksburg

Vicksburg is a city of 22,000 people (2018) in Warren County, Mississippi. Vicksburg is a cultural landmark in the American South, and is home to the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, Vicksburg Military Park, and the Lower Mississippi River Museum.

Understand
The area which is now Vicksburg used to be part of the Natchez Native Americans' territory. The first Europeans who settled the area were French colonists, who built Fort-Saint-Pierre in 1719 on the high bluffs overlooking the Yazoo River at present-day Redwood. In 1790 the Spanish founded a military outpost on the site, which they called Fort Nogales (nogales meaning "walnut trees"). When the Americans took possession in 1798, they changed the name to Walnut Hills.

A sprawling community developed which was incorporated in 1825 as the City of Vicksburg. It was named after Newitt Vick, a Methodist minister. Vicksburg experienced rapid growth during the expansion of the cotton trade in the American South. Cotton was grown most profitably in the Mississippi Delta region. Vicksburg sits at the southern most tip of the Mississippi Delta, and served as a production and commerce hub for the cotton industry. In the decades leading up to the American Civil War, Vicksburg became very affluent from the large number of Delta planters and merchants making considerable profits selling cotton to European and North American textile producers.

Vicksburg is most famous as the location of a 47-day siege during the American Civil War (May 18 – July 4, 1863). A key strategic goal of the Union was to capture the entire Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two, but the rebels controlled the river's hairpin turn at Vicksburg, allowing men and supplies to cross from west to east. After federal naval forces on the Mississippi River made several attempts at passing the rebel batteries at Vicksburg, Ulysses S. Grant led the federal army on a campaign to put the Confederate garrison at Vicksburg to siege. The people of Vicksburg dug caves into the hillsides to survive the bombardment. The legacy of the siege lives through much of Vicksburg's art, museum exhibits and traditions.

Vicksburg was instrumental in the growth and propagation of American Blues music-- which is native to Mississippi. Blues evolved primarily in the Mississippi Delta region from the musical traditions of African-American slaves before the American Civil War. Vicksburg served as a central hub for musicians to perform for merchants and travelers in the music halls and "juke joints" near the river port at Vicksburg.

Today Vicksburg remains distinct as a place where travelers can experience the legacy and traditions of the American South in a quaint city overlooking the Mississippi River. The people of Vicksburg are very hospitable and love to pass down stories from generations past that will bring history to life. The pace of life remains much slower than in many other places in the United States. There are many activities in Vicksburg from cultural and historical venues, as well as historic Washington Street full of restaurants and consignment shops of antiques. Be sure to get out of the car and explore - Vicksburg has beautiful architecture and a warm, friendly environment for walking.

Get in
It is 234 miles (377 km) northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and 40 miles (65 km) due west of Jackson, the state capital.

By car
Interstate 20 (E-W) or U.S. Highway 61 (N-S)

By plane
The closest commercial airport to Vicksburg is Jackson-Evers International Airport in Jackson, about 50 miles east on I-20 (or a little more than 85 km). Vicksburg also has its own municipal airport for general aviation.

By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines (or Delta Bus Lines) has an active (albeit a very small) bus depot just off of I-20 on the Frontage Road (1295 S Frontage Rd), on the Halls Ferry Road exit south bound. You can contact the depot at.

By train
There is no passenger line that runs through Vicksburg. The nearest passenger station is in Jackson, MS and it is the New Orleans—Chicago route.

Get around
Visitors can walk around the downtown area easily. Other sites away from downtown will likely require some other form of transportation.

City Bus
The city of Vicksburg does have a local bus service called the NRoute, and there are nine routes throughout the city. The hours of operation are 6 AM till 6 PM Monday through Friday. The main depot where bus passes may be purchased is located at NROUTE Office 2501 Halls Ferry Rd, and may be contacted by calling. Bus riding rules are fairly strict (no food or drink may be consumed while riding, and exact change is required). Bus fares are: $1.50 (transfers are not included in the one-way base fare), senior citizen $0.75, children (ages 3-12) $0.50, bus transfer are $0.25 each, and monthly passes are $30. Bus transfers are only made at the main bus depot.

Taxi
Rocket Taxi Cab

See

Do

 * Casinos - Ameristar, DiamondJacks, Riverwalk, and The Rainbow Casino.
 * Bottleneck Blues Bar, Ameristar Casino, 4116 Washington Street, . This is about as close as it comes to a blues bar in Vicksburg (without hopelessly searching for a juke-joint in the Marcus Bottom area). Patrons must be 21 years old to enter (as you have to enter the casino) and have valid ID (a US driver's license or a passport for foreign nationals). Smoking is permitted during non-ticketed events, but prohibited during ticketed events. Most events are free, but occasionally you'll have to purchase tickets to some of the big name events.
 * Theater
 * WestSide Theater Foundation - for information about upcoming plays, view their page on Facebook or call Jack Burns at.
 * Gold In The Hills at the Parkside Playhouse, . It is the longest running melodrama in the world. Spring/summer only. $10 adults and $5 children.
 * Gold In The Hills at the Parkside Playhouse, . It is the longest running melodrama in the world. Spring/summer only. $10 adults and $5 children.

Drink

 * The Biedenharn Museum (see above) showcases an old-fashioned soda fountain, complete with authentic fountain drinks including all the Coke you can drink.
 * Be aware that Vicksburg does have what are called "local option" laws pertaining to the consumption and sale of alcohol. Beer and light wines are not sold M-Sa 2-7AM, and Su 2AM-noon.  It is illegal to consume alcohol in an open container outside of a bar or casino.  Penalties for public consumption violations can be as severe as a fine of $1000 and/or 90 days in the city jail.

Stay safe

 * When hiking into the wooded areas of Vicksburg, you may encounter a black bear (the proper description is the Louisiana Black Bear). Bear sighting typically increase during June and July (breading season), and bears have been spotted north in the forests of the cities of Redwood and Steele Bayou.  If you do see a bear or its cubs while in the woods, you are much too close to the bears, and need to carefully but quickly, backtrack from where you came.  Black bears are typically not as aggressive as the grizzly bears, but attacks on humans have been known to occur.
 * Care should be taken when participating in water sports (i.e., boating) in the Mississippi River. The currents are very strong, large barges traveling up and down the river generate strong wakes, the water is tan-brown (so you can’t see if you’re about to hit something floating just beneath the surface of the river), poisonous snakes (vipers commonly called a “water moccasin”) are a concern, and occasionally an alligator might be lurking in the water.  Swimming in or across the river is a very foolish thing to consider, and you’ll rarely see any sane person even attempting this feat.
 * There are some areas of the city you wouldn't want to stroll alone at night, and should use the same level of caution and street smarts (your wits) you would use in any large city. The gas station on Clay Street and Cherry Street is frequently a site of petty crime.

Stay healthy

 * The largest hospital in Vicksburg is the River Region Medical Center . It is a modern full-care center, and is equipped to handle nearly most major medical problems and emergencies.  As with any hospital stay in the USA, be sure that you are adequately insured (or expect a very large bill for services which can easily cost into the tens of thousands of dollars for serious medical treatment in an emergency room) as there is not a national health care system.
 * Humidity and the summer heat can be very intense. Hydrate yourself with either sports drinks or water (consumption of alcohol is not recommended regardless of what some may otherwise claim).
 * Mosquitoes along the riverfront can be annoying during the warmer months. Be sure to wear repellents that have a high concentration of DEET to reduce the risk of mosquito transmitted diseases.  Percentages of 25% or more DEET is recommended to repel most of the insects.

Go next

 * Jackson - You can find the Historic State Capitol building here, as well as the Russell C. Davis Planetarium, and the Jackson Zoo.
 * Natchez
 * Port Gibson
 * Natchez Trace Parkway - This 444-mile-long parkway is located a few miles east of town and traces an old trade route that has been in use since pre-colonial times.

title: Vicksburg


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Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor is a large coastal town of 15,000 people (2018), 80 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. It is a very popular tourist destination, with the area's population greatly expanded during the summer holidays, usually by Adelaide locals looking to escape the summer heat. It is a popular destination with South Australian high school graduates for their end of year celebrations, known colloquially as "schoolies".

Understand

Victor Harbor is tourist-oriented, and has many accommodation options, and some purpose-built visitor activities. It draws a weekend crowd from Adelaide, and some visitors from further afield. It caters for the schoolies after exams finish for the year so take this into account when selecting a time to visit.

Get in
Most people get to Victor Harbor by a 90-minute or so drive from Adelaide, but there is a coach service run by LinkSA from Adelaide Central Bus Station, Seaford Railway Station and Goolwa. Fares are $27.60/$13.80. You can switch to an airport bus at Marion Shopping Centre rather than in Adelaide City, but check the timetable as buses to Marion only go every hour or so.

The Steamranger runs the Southern Encounter service on Sundays twice monthly, departing from Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, giving around 4 hours to explore the town. Adults $75, children 5 years and over $40. They also run a train to Goolwa Sundays, Wednesdays and every day during the school holidays. One way fares are available on request.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk around. The main shopping strip, cafes, and pubs are only a short walk to the fair and the causeway to Granite Island.

Parking can get a bit tight along the water, so once you have found a parking spot, it's best just to leave the car there and walk the rest.

Europcar have an agency operating out of the City Motel on Ocean Street, just off the main strip. They charge one-way fees to drive to Adelaide, but they may waive them if you talk to them directly.

See

 * Whale watching. Southern Right Whales can be seen from the shore May until October.  South Australian government runs a maintains a web page which contains the latest foreshore sighting information.
 * Nearby Inman Valley is on the Inman Valley Rd, about 14 km inland of Victor Harbor. The town has a couple of houses and a farm equipment shop, but Selwyn's Rock, more commonly known as Glacier Rock is near here.  Access is by a very short walk with steps.
 * The Bluff is a lookout over the town and the water, above Encounter Bay.
 * Nearby Inman Valley is on the Inman Valley Rd, about 14 km inland of Victor Harbor. The town has a couple of houses and a farm equipment shop, but Selwyn's Rock, more commonly known as Glacier Rock is near here.  Access is by a very short walk with steps.
 * The Bluff is a lookout over the town and the water, above Encounter Bay.

Granite Island

Granite Island is undoubtedly the major attraction of the town. It is linked by a wooden causeway to the mainland. You can walk across the causeway in 15 minutes or so, or you can buy a ticket and take the horse-drawn tram across.

Once you get to the island there is a walk that circles the island, and takes around 45 minutes. There are wildflowers, rock formations, and sea cliff views to see. There is a cafe/kiosk there too.

If you get the tram, it takes you further than just across the causeway. It travels around 200 m on the island, as far as the cafe and visitor's centre complex, so it does save you a substantial walk, although it doesn't really save you any time.

No cars or bicycles are allowed on the causeway. Disabled visitors can arrange for taxi access through to the cafe.

Granite island is also a nesting ground for little penguins, known in Australia as the fairy penguin. They can only be seen at night, and you will have to join a tour to do so.

Cycle

 * There is a cycleway that goes from Victor Harbor along the coastline to Goolwa. Bike hire is available in Victor Harbor.

Sports

 * There is a golf course just out of town.
 * There is a putt-putt golf (mini-golf) in town.

Heritage railways

 * The Cockle Train operates year-round between Goolwa and Victor Harbor along the route of Australia's first railway. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars on all other weekends.
 * The Cockle Train operates year-round between Goolwa and Victor Harbor along the route of Australia's first railway. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars on all other weekends.

Drink

 * Hotel Victor, Encounter Restaurant, and Norfolk Cafe. Cafe and restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Pub bar, and bottle shop.

Sleep
For the tourist town that it is, there are numerous accommodation options here. The country motels, B&Bs, hostels and rental accommodation.

Go next

 * Sealink run coaches from here to meet the ferries to Kangaroo Island every day except Saturday and Wednesday.
 * See the rest of Encounter Bay, or catch the Cockle Train to Goolwa or Port Elliot.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Victor Harbor


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Victoria

Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire from 1837 to 1901. Her reign, the Victorian era, represented the Empire at its peak. Many places worldwide bear her name, from Africa's largest lake to a state in Australia and the capitals of British Columbia, Seychelles and Hong Kong.

There is more than one place called Victoria and not all are named after Queen Victoria either:

Argentina

 * Victoria (Buenos Aires) - A city in the San Fernando Partido in the northwestern part of the greater Buenos Aires metropolis. It grew up around the train station and yes it was named after the British Queen.
 * Victoria (Entre Rios) - A city in the department of the same name contained in the Entre Rios province.

Australia

 * Victoria (state) - the southernmost of the eastern mainland states

Canada

 * Victoria (British Columbia) is the capital of British Columbia province.
 * Saskatchewan's capital, the "Queen City" of Regina, is also named to honour Queen Victoria.
 * Victoria (Manitoba) - A rural municipality located in south-central Manitoba, north-east of Glenboro.
 * Victoria (Newfoundland & Labrador) - A town in Newfoundland and Labrador
 * Victoria (Nova Scotia) - A town in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.
 * Victoria (Prince Edward Island) - A small community on Prince Edward Island branded as "Victoria by the Sea" to honour its seaport heritage and to attract travellers and tourists.

Hong Kong

 * Victoria (Hong Kong) is the official name of the district on Hong Kong Island where the government is based, although it is generally called just 'Central' these days

Malta

 * Victoria (Malta) (Rabat) - the capital of the island of Gozo

Mexico
In Mexico, "Victoria" is named after Guadalupe Victoria, the general and political leader who fought for independence from the Spanish Empire in 1812 and became the first president of Mexico after the ratification of the 1824 constitution. Victoria, Texas (see below under the 'United States of America') is the other place named after Guadalupe Victoria instead of Queen Victoria when Texas was part of Mexico before 1836.
 * Ciudad Victoria (Tamaulipas) - The capital of La Municipalidad de Victoria and Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico.
 * Victoria (Guanajuato) - A town in Guanajuato state.

Nigeria

 * Victoria Island – the primary business and financial centre of Lagos

Philippines

 * Victorias (Negros Occidental) - A small town with a huge sugar refinery.

Seychelles

 * Victoria (Seychelles) - the capital city, located on the island of Mahe (Mahé)

Trinidad and Tobago

 * Victoria (Trinidad) - on the island of Trinidad

United States of America
Except in Kansas the name "Victoria" has different origins in the USA:
 * Victoria (Texas) - A town in Texas named after General Guadalupe Victoria who became the first president of Mexico following national independence and the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. Texas seceded from Mexico in 1836 and later joined the USA in 1845.
 * Victoria (Kansas) - A town in Kansas is the only town in the U.S. named after Queen Victoria by the town's founder and first settler George Grant in 1873.
 * Victoria (Minnesota) - A town in Minnesota named after the St Victoria Church located north of Lake Bavaria where the town was first settled in 1851.

Zambia and Zimbabwe

 * Victoria Falls (Zambia) — Zambian side of the falls
 * Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) — town on the Zimbabwean side

title: Victoria


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Victoria (British Columbia)

 * For other places with this name, see Victoria.

Victoria is the capital of Canada's westernmost province; British Columbia, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

Victoria contains a perfect combination of the old and new Canada. Amidst the bustle of this little city, you can venture through the classical British architecture to the preserved Chinatown, or all the way back in time to the original First Nations (Indigenous) culture. The colourful gardens and paintings are worth admiring, while the natural beauty just a short distance away from the town is simply breathtaking.

For the purposes of this guide, Victoria includes the nearby municipalities of Oak Bay, Saanich, Esquimalt and Brentwood Bay.

Understand
First-time visitors stepping into Vancouver Island might be surprised by the very different atmosphere as opposed to the city of Vancouver just across the Strait of Georgia.

While the island is mainly quiet and laid back, Victoria is a step up as the largest city on the island, aided by the fact that all of British Columbia's governmental offices are here. The quaint skylines in the city centre meet with the genteel and natural design on the outskirts of the downtown, designating Victoria as a resort town for western British Columbia.

History
Victoria's prime location, right between the Canadian mainland and the Pacific Ocean, makes the area become perhaps one of the earliest modern developments of Canada. From its humble beginnings as a backup trade post for Fort Vancouver (at Vancouver in the USA's Washington State) erected by James Douglas in 1843, the city's ports have been a witness of historic events that brought influxes of people from all over the world to Canada: from the Gold Rush to opium trade between Asia and North America. The real estate boom after World War I however, is what gives the city its well-known character, with Edwardian skylines popping up in the city center that transitions to genteel civility in the suburbs. A trip to Victoria would not be complete without admiring its classic buildings and a trip to the park or the houses outside the city.

Victoria was named in honour of the ruling queen of England in 1843 and designated as the provincial capital of British Columbia in 1871.

Climate
Much like the whole coastal British Columbia, the winter is mild with temperatures averaging above freezing for all of the year and most of the year's worth of rain falling. The summer however is cool and comfortable enough to get outside as much as possible, and the sun doesn't set until 9PM! Compared with the Vancouver city however, the city is less wet and receives more sunshine as the mountains at the USA's Olympic Peninsula and the island mountains usually managed to block the heaviest precipitations. Snow, while infrequent, is not unheard-of at least every year.

The whole island is a casualty to at least one mild windstorm every year, which would usually blow after a rain shower. The wind can range from nuisance at best to damaging at worse. It is a good idea to check the weather forecast during your visit to get you prepared.

Main airport

 * Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal is served by BC Transit. Travel between Victoria and the airport involves the following bus routes, including transferring buses at McTavish Exchange:
 * Route 88 operates between the airport, McTavish Exchange, and downtown Sidney on a half hourly frequency from Monday to Friday, and an hourly frequency on Saturdays and Sundays. Travel between the airport and McTavish Exchange takes 4 to 6 minutes.
 * Route 70 operates between Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal and downtown Victoria via downtown Sidney and McTavish Exchange. It is a limited stop service, which is faster than route 72. Travel between McTavish Exchange and downtown Victoria takes 35 to 45 minutes.
 * Route 72 operates between Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal and downtown Victoria via downtown Sidney and McTavish Exchange. Travel between McTavish Exchange and downtown Victoria takes 45 to 60 minutes.
 * Route 72 operates between Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal and downtown Victoria via downtown Sidney and McTavish Exchange. Travel between McTavish Exchange and downtown Victoria takes 45 to 60 minutes.

Seaplanes

 * Victoria Inner Harbor is a much more convenient port of entry right at the heart of town that serves helicopters and floatplanes. There are daily departures from the harbour on the north side of Vancouver's downtown (35 minutes; $157), Vancouver International Airport (30 minutes; $135), and as far south as Seattle's Lake Union (55 minutes). Seasonal flights from Tofino (1 hour).

By ferry to Sidney
About half an hour drive north of Victoria, there are ferry services in Sidney.
 * Operates routes from:
 * Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal (1 hour 35 minutes crossing. Adults $18; child (5-11) $8; vehicles $62)
 * Five of the larger Southern Gulf Islands.
 * Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal is served by BC Transit on several routes including
 * Route 70, a limited stop bus route connecting to downtown Victoria via Sidney. Travel time from the ferry terminal to downtown Victoria is around 45 to 55 minutes.
 * Route 72, a bus route connecting to downtown Victoria via Sidney. Travel time from the ferry terminal to downtown Victoria is around 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes
 * Route 70, a limited stop bus route connecting to downtown Victoria via Sidney. Travel time from the ferry terminal to downtown Victoria is around 45 to 55 minutes.
 * Route 72, a bus route connecting to downtown Victoria via Sidney. Travel time from the ferry terminal to downtown Victoria is around 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes

By recreational boat

Victoria is a popular destination for boaters from the U.S.A. as well as the Vancouver area. The trip is a long one; the leg across the Strait of San Juan de Fuca from Puget Sound is over 50 km. Because of frequent gales and small craft warnings, the boating trips may be rough, and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has a "no one turned away policy".

By cruise ship
Each year, from April through October, over 200 large cruise ships dock at the cruise ship terminal, with berths for three cruise ships and about 2.5 km southwest of the downtown inner harbor, and disembark more than one-third million visitors to the greater Victoria area. Ogden Point is a transit port for cruise ships, typically coming from or going to San Francisco or Seattle, i.e., no cruise ship is home ported at Victoria.

To get to downtown Victoria from Ogden Point, cruise ship visitors have many options: take a pleasant 30-minute walk through the James Bay residential area (Dallas St. along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, then north on Menzies St.), hop on ($2.25) the public bus #30 or #31 that runs along Dallas St., use the Ogden Point Bus and Marine Cruise shuttles at the terminal, or hail a taxi/limo lined up at the pier.

By car
There are two highways that reach Victoria:

 * Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) travels south from Nanaimo (Departure Bay) ferry terry terminal to Victoria. Only the portion from just before Langford to Victoria is a freeway.  In Langford there is an interchange with Highway 14 for travel from Port Renfrew and Sooke.  In Nanaimo, the highway intersects with Highway 19 for travel from areas north of Nanaimo.
 * Highway 17 (Pat Bay Highway) travels south in along the Saanich Peninsula from Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal just north of Sidney. This is the route to take if traveling from either of the two ferry terminals around Sidney or from Victoria International Airport. There are not many intersections along this highway though it is not a freeway.

Highway 1 and Highway 17 do not intersect. Instead, the easiest way to travel between the highways is via Mackenzie Ave.

By foot
Walking is an easy, free, and fun way to explore the entire downtown area. Make your way from hotel to museum to shops; stop for coffee; stroll along the harborside; grab a pint and some fish-n-chips - take it in!

By bike
Biking Victoria is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Canada, which may have something to do with the very mild winters. There are many places to rent bikes. One place is CycleBCRentals, at 685 Humboldt St. ( or toll-free ). Bike rentals start at $6 and they also rent scooters and motorbikes here.

By public transit

 * Runs a bus network within Victoria, between Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula including Sidney, and between Victoria and cities to the west including Langford and Sooke. Regular fares are a flat $2.50. Children aged 5 and under are free. Bus tickets can be purchased in books of ten, and give a slight discount. Day passes are also available; they cost $5.00 cash, or two tickets. No transfers are available with a single cash fare -- buy a day pass instead. Victoria, along with Kelowna, Toronto and Ottawa, is one of only a few cities in North America which use double decker buses in their city transit systems. Some notable bus routes:
 * 50 - Frequent route between downtown Victoria and Langford. Travel time between Victoria and Langford is 45 to 50 minutes.
 * 61 - During morning and afternoon rush hours from Monday to Friday travels between downtown Victoria and Sooke. Outside of those hours, the route travels between Langford and Sooke (connects with route 50 in Langford during this time).
 * 70 - Limited stop route between downtown Victoria and Swartz Bay ferry terminal with a stop in Sidney. Travel time to downtown Victoria from Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about 50-55 minutes, from Sidney is 45-50 minutes, and from McTavish Exchange is 35-40 minutes.
 * 72 - Route between downtown Victoria and Swartz Bay ferry terminal with a stop in Sidney. Travel time between downtown Victoria and Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about 1 hour 15 minutes. Travel time to downtown Victoria from Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about 1 hour 15 minutes, from Sidney 1 hour, and from McTavish Exchange is 55 minutes.
 * 75 - Route between downtown Victoria and Saanichton Exchange with a stop at Butchart Gardens. Travel time between downtown Victoria and Butchart Gardens is 50 minutes.
 * 88 - Route between Sidney and Victoria International Airport with stops at McTavish Exchange and in downtown Sidney. Travel time between the airport and Sidney is 17 minutes. Travel time between the airport and McTavish Exchange is 4 minutes.
 * Bus routes:
 * 44 - Route between downtown Victoria and Duncan with a stop in Langford.  Travel time between Victoria and Duncan is 1.25 hours. Cost per trip is $10. Operates several trips on Saturdays.   As of September 3, 2023, these trips will be renumbered as route 66.
 * 66 - Route between downtown Victoria and Duncan with a stop in Langford.  Travel time between Victoria and Duncan is 1.25 hours. Cost per trip is $10. Trips from Monday to Friday leave Duncan in the morning before 6:30 am (before 9:30 am as of September 3, 2023), and leave Victoria in the afternoon.
 * 99 - Route between downtown Victoria and Shawnigan Lake. Operates Monday to Friday, consisting of early morning trips to Victoria and afternoon trips to Shawnigan Lake.
 * 99 - Route between downtown Victoria and Shawnigan Lake. Operates Monday to Friday, consisting of early morning trips to Victoria and afternoon trips to Shawnigan Lake.

See
Many of Victoria's attractions (and tourist activity) are in or around the Inner Harbour and downtown, including the Parliament Buildings, the Empress Hotel, the Royal BC Museum and Beacon Hill Park. If you're pressed for time, it would be hard to go wrong spending your time there. Beyond the harbour are a handful of attractions, including the renowned Butchart Gardens, and many parks and beaches with trails, views and fewer tourists.

The Inner Harbour and Downtown
The Inner Harbour and area is the focal point of many trips to Victoria. It has the bulk of the must-see tourist attractions, and the artists, buskers and other entertainers add to the atmosphere. Many find it fascinating to watch the float planes taking off and landing. In the springtime, the Inner Harbour is filled with many beautiful flowers.
 * British Columbia Parliament Buildings, Victoria (2012) - 31.JPG
 * Carr House 1863.jpg
 * Carr House 1863.jpg
 * Carr House 1863.jpg

 * Exterior of Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia 01.jpg
 * Exterior of Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia 01.jpg
 * Exterior of Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia 01.jpg

Other attractions

 * [[Image:Butchart Gardens 10515883.jpg|thumb|300px|Butchart Gardens]]
 * Craigdarroch Castle May 2011.jpg
 * [[Image:Butchart Gardens 10515883.jpg|thumb|300px|Butchart Gardens]]
 * Craigdarroch Castle May 2011.jpg
 * Craigdarroch Castle May 2011.jpg

Whale watching
Whale watching is a popular activity in Victoria. Three pods of orcas (killer whales) have feeding grounds between Victoria and the mainland, plus grey whales, humpback whales and minke whales migrate through the Georgia Strait at different times of the year. Some companies offer whale watching tours year-round, but the best time to see whales is considered April to October. Tours outside of those times focus less on whales and more on the other marine wildlife. Many of the companies offer whale guarantees, but they are seasonable and tend to have conditions, so careful consideration is advised if you are making a decision based on the whale guarantee.

Tours are usually around three hours and the style of boat can vary, from open-air Zodiacs to yachts with heated cabins. Zodiacs are fast and low to the water, but can be very wet (protective suits are usually supplied) are not recommended for young children (restrictions vary by company), and people with mobility issues or injuries.

Parks and trails
The Victoria area is an amazing place to explore if you're inclined towards natural spots. A couple of converted railbeds provide longer-range multi-use trails (the Galloping Goose and Lochside) that stretch from Victoria to Sooke (and beyond) and the Saanich Peninsula. North of Victoria is Saanich, which has many fine parks that are popular spots for hiking.
 * From the Inner Harbour you can walk along the water in either direction to the very popular local Dallas Road, or you can cross (the Johnson Street bridge) and end up on the Westsong Walkway into Esquimalt. Both have beautiful views of the Inner Harbour and even Port Angeles across the water.
 * is on the edge of Gordon Head neighbourhood. It features extensive walking trails and a beautiful view across farmland and Greater Victoria.
 * is actually just a small hill but the most popular place in Greater Victoria to see a view of the skyline and surrounding scenery. Drive up Mayfair Drive, and park your car at the summit where you can watch the most stunning sunsets in Victoria. Mount Tolmie is also somewhat accessible by bus, take the #14 UVIC, but get off at Cedar Avenue (along Richmond Road) and you can scramble up the hill from there.
 * is on the edge of Gordon Head neighbourhood. It features extensive walking trails and a beautiful view across farmland and Greater Victoria.
 * is actually just a small hill but the most popular place in Greater Victoria to see a view of the skyline and surrounding scenery. Drive up Mayfair Drive, and park your car at the summit where you can watch the most stunning sunsets in Victoria. Mount Tolmie is also somewhat accessible by bus, take the #14 UVIC, but get off at Cedar Avenue (along Richmond Road) and you can scramble up the hill from there.
 * is actually just a small hill but the most popular place in Greater Victoria to see a view of the skyline and surrounding scenery. Drive up Mayfair Drive, and park your car at the summit where you can watch the most stunning sunsets in Victoria. Mount Tolmie is also somewhat accessible by bus, take the #14 UVIC, but get off at Cedar Avenue (along Richmond Road) and you can scramble up the hill from there.

Other activities

 * Harbour tours Small harbour ferries (about six passengers) provide transport around and a view of the Selkirk Waterway and Inner Harbour.
 * Wine tasting There are five wineries within a 45-minute drive of Victoria, on the Saanich Peninsula, including some estate wineries. These wineries have a wide range of wines including those made from their own grapes, grapes grown elsewhere and fruit wines.

Learn
There are many different schools in Victoria including ESL & Language schools, films school, art school, private colleges and so on.

 * Royal Roads University is also in the area, see Langford.
 * Royal Roads University is also in the area, see Langford.
 * Royal Roads University is also in the area, see Langford.
 * Royal Roads University is also in the area, see Langford.

Buy
Victoria is full of little shops tucked away in every nook and cranny in the centre. Souvenir shops are all around the Inner Harbour. Although people generally think Victoria is a tourist destination only, there are more than just tourist shops.
 * Americans so inclined may want to take the opportunity to pick up a Cuban Cigar or two. Thanks to trade agreements with Cuba, you can import up to $100 worth of Cuban cigars into America.
 * Government Street, from the Inner Harbour up to Chinatown, is the biggest (and rather touristy) shopping drag. The best way to go is just to wander the streets but make sure you check out some little gems like, at the bottom of Johnson St. In the summertime there's live music here.
 * Munro's Books, Victoria (2012) - 4.JPGFort Street is otherwise known as Antique Row. From Blanshard to Cook Streets, Fort Street is lined with small antique shops and auction houses.
 * The Inner Harbour has artisans selling their crafts during the summer (and part of spring and fall as well sometimes), and (off of Government Street) often has a summer craft market as well.
 * LoJo or Lower Johnson Street has several higher-end fashion boutiques. It's a good place to find local and international designer clothes.

Eat
Victoria has the second-highest number of restaurants per capita of all North American cities! The waterfront tourist area is home to a wide variety of restaurants and eateries, including several English-style pubs. Try the fish and chips or shepherds pie for a taste of England in Canada. For a more eclectic Victoria experience, check out the classy restaurants that surround Chinatown, offering interesting west-coast fusion and Asian dishes.

Drink
Because Victoria’s downtown is fairly small, most of the nightlife is within walking distance. Cabs aren’t too expensive and there isn’t too far to go to get from point A to B. Victoria's police force has an aggressive crackdown on drinking and driving, so take a cab, all you have to do is stumble to Douglas and eventually you will grab one before someone else. But if it’s a special night like Halloween or New Year’s Eve, expect a bit of a wait. Compared to clubs in larger cities, cover in Victoria is cheap, ranging from $3 to $10. Fridays and Saturdays: expect to pay $7 to get in the door and another $2 to check your coat. Compared to larger cities, Victoria's liquor is pretty pricey. There is a law in Victoria that requires all drinks to cost $3 at minimum for a serving of alcohol. Expect to pay at least $3 but most likely more for each drink. Beers and shots are about $5. Most bars have cash machines inside, and accept only cash as payment.

Sleep
There are a number of areas to stay in Victoria with the most popular location being downtown. Other options include Sidney, the West Shore and the Upper Harbour district.

Budget

Splurge

Stay safe
There is a drug presence among people living on the streets and in the bars. This means that panhandling can be a problem. Panhandlers are aggressive despite laws against this behaviour. You may wish to avoid Pandora Ave between Cook and Quadra as this is where a huge majority hang out. Do not walk around parks and grassy areas in sandals or bare feet as there are many needles discarded in these areas, city workers are quick to clean them up but it is always a good idea to be careful in these areas. However there is a strong police presence on downtown streets during the summer, especially on weekends at night. This problem is generally confined to the tourist area bounded by Blanshard Street.

Because all the bars and clubs are very close together, many drunken people spill into the streets at 2AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night and are in fact more dangerous than the street people. If you are out and about at this time (or have your downtown hotel room window open) be prepared to deal with all that drunken idiots have to offer such as public urination, shouting and rude comments.

In the unlikely event of a major earthquake, duck and cover and stay where you are during the shaking, then go outside once the shaking stops. Buildings and other structures are unlikely to collapse. Your largest threats come from breaking windows and falling objects such as ceiling tiles and bookshelves. Try to get under a table, desk, or door jamb to reduce your exposure to these threats. You are more likely to be injured if you try to run during the shaking.

Connect
The area codes for Victoria, and British Columbia as a whole, are 250 and 778. Because their areas overlap, all numbers must be dialed with the area code, including local calls.

Go next
Victoria is only a starting place to explore Vancouver Island by bus, car or bike.

Five hours by car to the west, Tofino is famous for its surfing and nature. The small town of Comox and its neighbour Courtenay are cozy and full of beautiful beaches. Head to Shawnigan Lake for a really small town and hit the lake in a canoe or the trails by foot. Nearby Hornby, Denman and Salt Spring Island each have a distinct vibe and are worth the visit just to check out something a little different. There is a lot of hiking, biking and camping. And of course, for the more city-loving folk, ferries from Victoria take you to bustling Vancouver or Seattle.

Hitchhiking is relatively common on Vancouver Island and may be useful for getting around.

title: Victoria (British Columbia)


text:
Victoria (Malta)

Victoria, also called Rabat is in Gozo. It should not be confused with another town called Rabat on the main island of Malta.

Get in
Rabat lies at the centre of the island and most of the roads pass through it. There are several car parks and bus routes near to the Citadella.

Get around
The main visitor attractions are in the central Citadella, which is inaccessible to cars, so walking is the only option.

Understand
Historically the central Citadella and the surrounding area of Rabat were considered separate towns - "Rabat" in Arabic simply means a suburb outside the fortified part of a town or keep.

In the 19th century, the name 'Victoria' was coined by the British government for the whole settlement. Nowadays, Gozitans generally refer to the settlement as 'Rabat', which can cause confusion with the town of the same name on the island of Malta (which, similarly, is the area outside the walls of the old Maltese capital Mdina).

Do

 * Once a year there are traditional horseraces through the centre of town.

Buy
On the main square of Rabat there is a market during weekdays selling mostly touristic wares.

Go next

 * The nearby town of Xaghra houses Ġgantija Temples, which are regarded as one of the oldest freestanding buildings in the world, as such they have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Buses run regularly between Victoria and Xaghra, except on Sundays. A taxi should cost around €18 return.
 * Għajnsielem

title: Victoria (Malta)


text:
Victoria (Seychelles)

Victoria is the capital of the Seychelles islands, on the island of Mahe.

Victoria is one of the smallest capital cities in the world and the only major port in the Seychelles. Its courthouse and post office in the centre of town have been virtually unchanged since colonial times.

Understand
In 2010, it was home about 26,500 people.

By bus
These buses cater to the locals and are fairly cheap. Buses are sometimes irregular and may come to a stop less often than in other cities, so don't be surprised to wait for a while.

By taxis
The taxis are metered and will often offer to be your tour guide around the island. Negotiate a price beforehand.

By bike
The most popular alternative among locals. Bikes can be rented for cheap at some shops in the city.

See

Attractions in the city include a clocktower modelled on that of Vauxhall Clock Tower in London, England, the Courthouse, the Victoria Botanical Gardens and the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market. The city is also home to the national stadium and a polytechnic institute, while the inner harbour lies immediately east of the town, around which tuna fishing and canning form a major local industry. One of the largest bridges in Victoria was destroyed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Do

 * Visit the morning market where residents buy and bargain for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables.

Buy
Coconuts and coconut products are very abundant in Victoria and sell for fairly cheap.

Eat

 * Islander Restaurant/Anchor Café is Anse a’ La Mouche. Owned by an American, and his family.  He is former USAF who worked in Seychelles .  Excellent food, great location. (closed on Sundays)
 * Marie Antoinette in St. Louis. Family style, you eat what they give you, generally it is about 5 different items.  If you go with two people, order for one, if you have three, order for two and if you have five order for three.  They give you a lot of food, genuine Creole.  M-Sa 18:30-21:00.
 * Boat House in Beau Vallon. Creole Buffet, they open at 07:30, get there early, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
 * La Perle Noir (The Black Pearl ) in Beau Vallon. Fancier place and a bit pricier.

title: Victoria (Seychelles)


text:
Victoria (state)

 * For the Catalan city of Vic (Spain), see Vic.

Victoria is the southernmost of the eastern mainland states of Australia. Roughly triangular in shape, it is home to more than a quarter of Australia's population, but makes up only 3% of the country's area. New South Wales lies to the north and northeast, with the Murray River forming most of the boundary between the two states. South Australia lies to the west, and the southern coast forms the other side of the triangle. Melbourne, the state capital and largest city, is nestled on Port Phillip in the centre of Victoria's coastline.

Cities

 * - the lively state capital and largest city
 * - a laid-back city in the heart of Gippsland
 * - the gateway to the Goldfields
 * - a city of old Victorian buildings built on gold money
 * - Victoria's second largest city and the beginning of the Great Ocean Road
 * - perched on the edge of the outback in the state's far north-west
 * - a vibrant city in Victoria's foodbowl, home of the agricultural industry
 * - a historic maritime city on the Shipwreck Coast
 * - The twin cities of Albury and Wodonga span the Murray River.

Other destinations

 * – a world heritage site home to the oldest aquaculture systems
 * – towering forests line the side of majestic mountains overlooking Melbourne
 * – rugged mountain ranges, perfect for bushwalking and birdwatching, and 80 percent of Victoria's rock art is here
 * – the famous scenic journey along the south-west coast of Victoria
 * – sun, fun, wineries and golf on Melbourne's doorstep
 * – the state's most popular ski resort, appealing to both beginners and the experienced
 * – penguins, beaches, wineries and nature parks teeming with wildlife
 * – home of Victoria's icon, the 12 Apostles
 * – a large peninsula of mostly wilderness, offering spectacular bushwalking and diving

Understand
Victoria is the smallest and most densely populated state on the Australian mainland. Parts are ideal for touring, without the long distances between towns common in all the other states.

Time zone
Victoria keeps the time as New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania (AEST), and is always half an hour ahead of South Australia. During winter, Victoria follows the same time as Queensland but is an hour ahead during summer.

Standard time is 10 hours ahead of GMT and summer time (from the first Sunday of October to the first Sunday of April) is 11 hours ahead.

History
On 1 July 1851, Victoria was established as a new colony from New South Wales. Days later, gold was discovered near Ballarat and Bendigo.

Visitor information

 * Visit Victoria website

By car
Victoria has good cross border road connections into its neighbouring states. The main routes from the north are the Princes Highway following the coast and entering the state near Genoa, the Hume Freway from Sydney entering the state at Wodonga, the Newell Highway entering the state near Shepparton and being the main route from Brisbane, and the Sturt and Silver City Highways entering at Mildura. From the west, the Princes Highway is again the coastal route, and the Western Highway the more direct route.

It is around 5 hours from Sydney to the Victorian border along the Hume Highway, and another 3 hours from there into Melbourne.

By plane
Melbourne is the main entry point to Victoria by air and Tullamarine airport 24km to the north of Melbourne City has direct flights from all Australian capital cities, and many international destinations.

Avalon airport is close to Geelong, around 57 km south-west of Melbourne. Jetstar flies from there to Sydney, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore). Useful to access Melbourne on the cheap, and for better access to Geelong and the Great Ocean Road.

Rex and Qantas fly to Mildura from Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The airport in neighbouring Albury has flights from Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, giving easier access to the north and the north-west of the state.

By ferry
Victoria is serviced regularly by one boat route, which travels between Victoria and the island state of Tasmania. The Spirit of Tasmania arrives daily (twice daily during peak season) at the Spirit of Tasmania Quay in Geelong. To encourage tourism, the Tasmanian state government subsidises fares and it can be a relatively inexpensive way to get to Victoria, especially if you are taking a vehicle. If travelling without a vehicle, it is usually cheaper and more convenient to arrive by air. The boat offers deck travel or for a higher price cabins are available. Most people travel by boat overnight, with it being an approximately 10-hour trip.

By train
Melbourne is connected to Sydney in New South Wales via NSW Trainlinks's Melbourne XPT, and to Adelaide in South Australia via Journey Beyond's The Overland

Get around
Melbourne has an integrated bus, tram and train network. Information about public transport across the state is available at Public Transport Victoria (PTV).

By car
Touring Victoria by car is a straightforward and practical way of seeing the state. Distances between towns tend not to be as great as in other states, and it is unusual to drive for more than a short while without passing through a small town unless in the Victorian Alps, and in rare cases, the remote northwest.

Victoria has the most developed road network of any state in Australia, and most towns are accessible without using dirt or gravel roads. With a freeway network of over, most important cities, namely Geelong, Ballarat, Ararat, Bendigo, Seymour, Shepparton, Wodonga, and Trafalgar are all connected to Melbourne via freeways. The only major exception is Mildura, which, in many ways, acts like it's in NSW.

Roads are indicated as freeways are called M-roads (why "M" when the favoured term for a controlled-access highway is freeway? No-one knows), A-roads for important roads connecting major cities but isn't a freeway, B-roads for roads connecting important regional towns, or C-roads, roads that connect minor regional towns together, but in general, there is no need to avoid a C-road if it clearly provides the quickest trip to where you want to go.

Although small compared to the freeway networks found in many US states or Quebec, the major freeways are as follows:
 * Princes Freeway (east). This freeway starts from the Princes Hwy (C101) interchange as a southeasterly continuation of the Monash Freeway and continues until Traralgon. Unlike many other freeways, the Princes Freeway (east) becomes a dual carriageway between Nar Nar Goon (after exit 32) and Longwarry (west of the C421 exit), and again from Darnum to Moe.
 * Princes Freeway (west). Starting from the interchange between the Western Ring Road (M80) and the West Gate Freeway (M1), this freeway connects Melbourne and Geelong, heading in a southwesterly direction. After exit 37, the road continues as the Princes Freeway, but is only a dual carriageway up to Colac; after Colac, it continues as a single carriageway. The Winchelsea Bypass has also yet to be constructed.
 * Western Freeway. Connecting Melbourne and Ballarat together, this freeway forms a core part of an eventual Melbourne–Adelaide dual carriageway. Starting from the M80 Ring Road, the road heads west as a full freeway until Ballarat, where a short 1–2-km section drops as a normal 4-lane highway. The freeway then continues on as the Ballarat Bypass, before continuing west as a dual carriageway until Ararat (with plans to extend this to Stawell in the short-term). This section is supposed to be a part of the Western Highway (as is signed on most signs), but some signs and sections may use the name "Western Freeway". However, the duplication project has been put on hold after an investigation was launched as the planned route cut through some sacred sites.
 * Mornington Peninsula Freeway. This freeway isn't truly an intrastate freeway, but it connects the Melbourne suburb of Dingley (near Dandenong) to Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula. It connects with Eastlink/Frankston Freeway just before the freeway exits Melbourne metro.
 * Hume Freeway is by far the most significant rural freeway, and as it stands, it's the only Victorian freeway that connects with somewhere interstate, continuing north as the Hume Highway north of Albury towards Sydney. Although there is a 2-km section in Kalkallo that drops to a rural 4-lane highway, this is by far Victoria's longest freeway.
 * Goulburn Valley Freeway is a short 60 km spur route braching off the Hume Freeway at Seymour towards Shepparton.
 * Calder Freeway links Melbourne to Bendigo. Starting at the Tullamrine Freeway/Citylink (M2) interchange, the freeway continues northwest for . However, the freeway ends at Ravenswood and continues north as an arterial road towards Bendigo CBD. The Bendigo Bypass, that is, the Calder Alternative Highway (A790), is not a freeway.

Unlike many other states, there are still many level rail crossings throughout the state. While the state government is on a long-term project to eventually remove all level crossings, these are still prevalent (even within Metropolitan Melbourne), often in the most unexpected places.

By train
Victoria has the most comprehensive rail passenger service in regional Australia. The state's passenger rail service, V/Line provides rail services within the state. Connecting V/Line coach (i.e. bus) services extend to some towns that passenger trains no longer service, such as Mildura. From 2023, all V/Line fares are capped at the current Metropolitan Melbourne daily fare, which is $10.60 as of 2024. This represents up to 90% reductions in fares so travelling around Victoria by train is very affordable. That Myki card you bought to get around Melbourne can be used on V/Line as far as Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Epsom, Eaglehawk, Traralgon and Seymour. Travel to areas beyond these stations will require a paper ticket.

V/Line train services operate in five regions:
 * Northern Victoria – to Bendigo and from there on to Swan Hill and Echuca
 * North Eastern Victoria – to Seymour, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Albury
 * Eastern Victoria – to Traralgon and Bairnsdale in Gippsland
 * South Western Victoria – to Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool
 * Western Victoria – to Ballarat and from there on to Ararat and Maryborough

Many services outside of those between Melbourne and the main centres of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon can be very infrequent, sometimes running only a few times a day.

The train service to Adelaide, The Overland, accepts travellers to destinations within Victoria. This enables travellers to go by rail to towns in western Victoria beyond Ararat such as Stawell, Nhill, Horsham and Dimboola.

Travellers can also take the NSW Trainlink XPT train to Sydney twice daily.

In addition to Google Maps, the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) app will assist with planning.

By bus
Outside of the rail corridors V/Line runs coach services to some towns. These often extend from train stations in towns with rail services.

Many other larger towns have local bus services servicing their suburbs or outlying towns. See the local guides.

By bicycle
Victoria has a number of rail trails, some of which can be reached by towns which have rail services. Bus coaches will sometimes take bikes if space is available in their storage areas. Wangaratta is one such destination easily accessible with your bike on a train, and you can easily reach Beechworth.

See
Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road. The Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island penguins. Puffing Billy, the villages and forests of the Dandenong Ranges, on the eastern fringe of Melbourne.

Victoria is also the state with the most ski resorts in Australia, although the only other two states to have skiing resorts are NSW and Tasmania anyway. This gives quite a wide variety of resorts to go to, and unlike in Sydney where going to the skifields would take about 6 hours at minimum and can sometimes take 8 hours, the closest skiing resorts to Melbourne; the state's capital, is only about 2 hours at best and 5 hours at most. Hence if there's news about snow, don't be surprised if all the skifields near Melbourne are booked out in minutes – this usually doesn't happen in NSW. The biggest towns in the alpine regions are Bright and Beechworth with the latter being mostly accessible via a freeway (and a little bit of some undivided highways closer to the town).

Whilst often not associated with, Victoria is home to Budj Bim National Park – a world heritage national park containing the earliest evidence of aquaculture in the world is found here with a system of channels, dams and weirs trapping eels and fish. It is one of only four cultural world heritage sites in Australia, and the first in Australia to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site solely for its Indigenous heritage.

Victoria is home to 45 national parks, which showcase the finest of Victoria's landscape and heritage, or a mix of both.

Do

Apart from the obvious water sports on the coast, in the last few years, a number of long-distance hiking trails have been marked that run along disused railway tracks and are also suitable for bicycles, so-called rail trails.

The 655-km-long Australian Alps Walking Trail, which starts in Walhalla and ends near Canberra, is particularly admiring. Almost all of Australia's highest mountains are touched. The national park administration recommends planning eight weeks for the entire route.

Eat
The entire Victoria is home to a vast amount of good nightlife, but in more particular - Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia with numerous restaurants by the Yarra River. But apart from "just" restaurants in Melbourne by the river, ever since the 10s, what used to be parking bays by streets have been converted into outdoor dining areas, including cafes, restaurants and really, anything that brings up Melbourne's nightlife. Do note however, that some of these restaurants are very popular, and will need you to book well in advance.

Drink
As in the rest of Australia, country bars and pubs are found in nearly every single rural town. Some of them do get violent though, particularly in the Goldfields region, where after dark you'll need to keep an eye out. Other parts of Victoria like the Murray or Gippsland regions don't have this issue at all, and they often are just quiet ones.

title: Victoria (state)


text:
Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, and near Botswana. The town lies immediately next to the falls, and they are the major attraction, but this popular tourist destination offers both adventure seekers and sightseers plenty of opportunities for a longer stay.

Understand
No doubt about it, Mosi-oa-Tunya (meaning "The Smoke That Thunders") – but more commonly known as Victoria Falls – is one of the most amazing sights in the world. The Falls are twice as tall as Niagara Falls, and several times longer. Although not the highest, widest or greatest volume of water, they have the largest sheet of water for any fall in the world, and are a sight not to be missed.

History
It took thousands of years of erosion for Victoria Falls to appear as and where it does now. Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "the smoke that thunders” only became known to the western world as Victoria Falls after David Livingstone first set eyes on this astonishing natural wonder in 1855, a heartbeat ago in geological time. During the Jurassic Period (150-200 million years ago) volcanic activity resulted in thick basalt deposits covering large parts of Southern Africa. As the lava cooled and solidified, cracks appeared in the hard basalt crust, which were filled with softer clay and lime. About 2 million years ago the land between Zimbabwe and the Kalahari desert was lifted up by the same series of earth movements that caused the Great African Rift Valley to the north. This blocked the flow of what was then the upper Limpopo river which began to fill up a vast inland sea called Lake Makgadikgadi in the region of modern Botswana. This began to overflow in a new course over Zimbabwe's basalt plateau about 20,000 years ago. Erosion by the mighty Zambezi River cut through the softer materials in the hard basalt, forming the first of a series of waterfalls. Over the last 20,000 years, the Falls have receded 8 km upstream, as the Zambezi carved its way through seven linked gorges. This geological history can be seen in the dark basalt in the shear rocky walls of gorges below the Falls. It is guessed that the Devil's Cataract, which is the lowest point of Victoria Falls, will eventually become the start of the next gorge as the river continues to cut its way back upstream.

Essentially the river falls into a section of gorge along its northern side forming a waterfall a mile long. You view the falls head on from across the gorge on Being a massive land, Victoria Falls comprises eight ravines and several islands that housed four endangered and migratory bird species like Taita Falcon and Black Eagle. Meanwhile, Victoria Falls’ stunning spray mist which can be seen as far as 50km is a result of its lively ecosystem. The newest waterfall can be found in Zimbabwe at The Devil’s Cataract. In an aerial view of Victoria Falls, there is a great chance that there will be more waterfalls in the future.

Border crossings
To cross the border from Zambia to see the falls on the Zimbabwe side you will need to pay at least US$30 for a Zimbabwe single entry visa (depending on nationality), and if you want to return to the Zambian side you will need to pay an extra US$20 for a multiple entry Zambian visa. To cross the border from the Zimbabwean side to the Zambian side you will need to pay an at least US$20 for a single day Zambian visa, and at least an extra US$15 for a multiple entry Zimbabwean visa. Don't forget you will need to decide whether you are getting a single or multiple entry visa when you first apply for it. If you are flying from South Africa just to see the falls, consider if it is worthwhile arriving on the Zimbabwean side and leaving from the Zambian, as you will minimise your visa costs this way (but may pay more for airfares). Flying to the Zambian side usually costs less than flying into the Zimbabwe side.

Still, for less than US$100 you can do both sides and tick another African country off your list.

When to visit
The park is open year-round, but you will get a much different experience depending on the season in which you visit.

 * In the rainy season (November to March), the water volume will be higher and the Falls will be more dramatic. You are guaranteed to get wet if you cross the bridge or walk along the trails winding near the Falls.  On the other hand, it is precisely because the volume of water is so high that your viewing of the actual Falls will be obscured—by all the water!
 * In the dry season, (April to October), the water volume will be lower, and by October Victoria Falls might just be a trickle. You will get a clearer view of the rocky ledge beneath the Falls, which is pretty spectacular, but the Falls might be somewhat underwhelming.

By train
The classic way of reaching Victoria Falls is by the overnight train from Bulawayo, now back to running daily again. National Railway of Zimbabwe still uses lovely British 1950s coaches for this line. Sleeper class 1st class 2-4 beds tickets are Z$20 per person. Linen costs an extra Z$9. 2nd class 4-6 beds is $10 per person. An Economy class seat costs $8 per person. You can pay in USD as well but change will be given in Zimbabwean dollars, if they have any! There is no running water or toilet paper. There are electric lights and shaver sockets but not plug sockets. During the first few hours after departing Victoria Falls you may see some wildlife. Departure from Victoria falls going to Bulawayo is at 19:00 every day, arriving in Bulawayo the next morning around 10:00 to 11:00. The ticket office at Vic Falls is open M-F from 07:00-10:00 and 14:30-18:45, and Sa-Su 09:00-10:00 and 16:30-18:45. is on Mallet Dr, next to the Victoria Falls Hotel. It offers a left luggage service.

Trains from Zambia across the spectacular Zambezi Bridge have been suspended for a few years; however, catching a train to Livingstone and then continuing by taxi is a possibility.

By car
The roads within Zimbabwe are relatively good. The most direct way to Victoria Falls overland is from Bulawayo. There is a good road network from the South African border at Beit Bridge right through to the Falls.

It's possible to drive in through Livingstone. Crossing an international border with a vehicle, however, will incur extra costs like carbon tax and insurance. Very annoying is the time consuming and disorganised procedure of obtaining a 'temporary import permit' for the car at the Zambian border posts. Once at the Zimbabwe border post, the whole procedure is to be repeated, though it is a bit faster but also expensive.

Coming from Namibia or Botswana, the best road is from Kasane in Botswana using the Kazungula border post which is about 70km from Victoria Falls.

By bus
Buses operated by Intercape ply the route between Windhoek in Namibia to Livingstone in Zambia three times a week. Notice that the bus stops on the Zambian side: You have to cross the border to Zimbabwe by foot or pick a taxi after crossing the Livingstone border post. A bus journey from Windhoek takes just over 14 hours and costs from R460.

Buses operated by Intercape sometimes have a route between Bulawayo and Vic Falls. Intercape has the largest intercity route network in Southern Africa.

There are two new buslines going from Vic falls to Harare via Bulawayo Extra city and Bravo tours.

Get around
If you stay in the swanky hotels downtown, or even some of the budget accommodation options just outside the downtown area, walking is manageable. Most of the places are no more than 3 km away from Victoria Falls.

Some of the hotels in Victoria Falls are not really in Vic Falls, but most of these have their own transfer services.

Cabs are plentiful, and should not cost more than $6 for a ride.

See

The obvious thing to see is of course the Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) and Shungu Namutitima (Boiling Water) in Lozi and Tonga languages respectively. Considered one of the seven natural wonder of the world. Watch and listen to the roar of 1088m³/second of water plunge into a 100m gorge below. The fall is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia (the Zambian side is covered in the article for Livingstone). Both sides preserve the natural rainforest which is present because of the continuous spray from the falls.

Do
Prices for activities vary. As of July 2019 the company Wild Horizons appears to be the cheapest, but you will get cheaper prices by not going direct. Wild Horizons website
 * Bungee jumping and zip wires rides take place from the bridge and the surrounding gorge.
 * Visit the grand Victoria Falls Hotel for a magnificent view of the bridge. This first-class hotel has survived the country's woes, though it has lost its shine. The public areas and corridors are a museum of antique art, maps and photographs making it a kind of museum. You can eat there, including Afternoon Tea (see below).
 * Whitewater rafting day trips sell for about $130 plus $10 National Park fees. The price includes a full day of shooting some of the best rapids in the world (including some Class V rapids!); lunch, eaten on the water and all the beer you can chug after the climb out.
 * From wherever you stay you can easily arrange for a safari (prices vary), a sunset cruise (around $55), or a helicopter ride (for about $130 plus $8 National Park fee, well worth the price) over the falls.
 * An antique steam locomotive shunts railway carriages on to the bridge at sunset to enable fine dining with a view of the falls. This can be viewed from the trackside if you don't want to pay the high price. The British Empire era railway station is also worth a look, it has one train a day in each direction.
 * The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has its Buffalo Bar which is quite simply the best spot to enjoy sundowners in Victoria falls. It is on a hill looking west towards a waterhole in the bush about 200 m away. At sunset see elephants and buffalo come to drink along with a wide range of smaller mammals and birds. Possibly the world's largest flying bird the, marabou stork also frequents the hole. Around noon the hotel also feeds leftover meat to the vultures, and hyenas sometimes turn up. Be prepared for the African bush squirrels to suddenly appear under your table. The hotel has an hourly free shuttle bus to town.
 * The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and The Kingdom Hotel both have a casino on site.
 * For something different try an elephant ride ($130), or a lion walk ($130).
 * There are bush walking safaris and a horse-back safari offered by a variety of tour operators in town.
 * In town you can book a day trip to the nearby Chobe reserve in Botswana for US$150 (July 2019). The Kaza Univisa will allow you to return to Zimbabwe, but you will need to visit Zambia first as it is only available at the Zambian border.
 * Zambezi River above the falls, which is beautiful and full of wildlife. Best seen on a cruise, especially at sunset. Prices as of July 2019: breakfast cruise US$65, birdwatching cruise US$55, lunch cruise US$65, sunset cruise US$40, dinner cruise US$75.

Buy
Victoria Falls is not cheap, especially if you want to do any activities.

As of April 2023, Zimbabwean ATMs dispense US dollars, the de facto currency of the country. Singles are difficult to come across but shops and restaurants can break the $100 notes from the ATM. In Zambia, you can withdraw kwacha and change to US dollars.

You will need cash for things like accommodation, and visas. For activities, you can pay by credit card in US$. Some of the supermarkets also accept credit cards and will bill you in US$. Outside Victoria Falls, foreign credit cards are rarely accepted.

There is substantial opportunity to shop in Victoria Falls, and you can find a good deal. The curio markets are just behind the post office and has dozens of tourist shops from which you may select wood and stone carvings, jewellery, t-shirts, curios, books, postcards, artwork, etc. (For fun, see if you can find the shop with the pictures of US Senator Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, from their visit.)

Traders in the sculpture markets are prepared to barter trade: hats, your shoes, T-shirts, pens, batteries are in demand. But think twice before you reduce people to the level of beggars. Just negotiate what you think is a fair price.

Eat
The centre has a few coffee shops, sandwich shops, and fast food options. For a few US dollars, you can feed an entire family.

All of the hotels have restaurants, and it is common to sample a new one each night. One place not to miss for a sundowner: The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge offers a-la-carte dinner, and the Boma offers an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner with authentic African dancing (US$45 excluding drinks, July 2019). The Ilala Lodge has a nice a la carte restaurant (a bit overpriced for the portions served; and the In-da-Belly Restaurant located in the camp site is a nice place to have simple meal and hang out at the pool and meet overland travellers from around the world.

There are Pick N Pay and OK supermarkets in town. Pick n Pay accept credit cards. Drinks and take-away food, snacks, camping supplies, are available.

 * The Boma
 * Makuwa-Kuwa at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
 * Palm Restaurant at Ilala Lodge
 * Livingstone Room at the Victoria Falls Hotel
 * Jungle Junction at the Victoria Falls Hotel
 * Garden of Eat'n - Great pizzas, breakfast and meals at Shoestring Backpackers Lodge
 * The restaurant at the Camp Site serves crocodile burgers and Warthog steak!
 * Rainforest Cafe in the Victoria Falls National Park. Monkeys will try to snatch your food if you are not paying attention to it!

Drink
Victoria Falls is not known anymore for its tremendous nightlife. There are a few small bars near the town centre, but they are not well-lit. It might be fun to stop in, but be careful.

The River Brewing Co serves its own beer.

Alternatively, all the hotels feature huge, well-stocked bars. However, the prices will be higher, and you might not feel that you are in Africa anymore.

Sleep
'''Price ranges quoted are in US dollars. ''' There are many types of accommodation in Victoria Falls. You can certainly find what you are looking for. Some of the accommodation options are not really in Victoria Falls so be careful, if booking in advance.

Budget
Dorm beds from $15 a night. Camping from $8 pp per night.

Mid-range

 * Teak Lodge located within the residential area of Vic Falls less than three kilometers to the Victoria Falls. Prices at $30–50/person per night, coupled with impeccable service and completely furnished in teak wood.
 * The Sprayview Hotel motel like accommodation is only 2 km from the Falls used to be about US$100/night.
 * The Kingdom Hotel Victoria Falls. This resort is constructed in Disney-esque jungle style. Four-star themed resort, swimming pool, close to falls, from US$150/pp. Family rooms available.
 * The Kingdom Hotel Victoria Falls. This resort is constructed in Disney-esque jungle style. Four-star themed resort, swimming pool, close to falls, from US$150/pp. Family rooms available.

Farther afield

 * Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge sits on a riverside fringe of the mighty Zambezi River where Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia converge. Located 80 km west of Victoria Falls, access is by transfer from Victoria Falls, Livingstone or Kasane. Imbabala offers not only the chance to unwind but also some of the most amazing game viewing and bird watching in the region, in the seclusion of a private National Parks concession. The 12,000 ha concession has 14 km of private Zambezi river frontage and borders the Chobe Forest Reserve, which is renowned for its massive Elephant population. Herds of up to 1500 elephants have been seen on the floodplains below the Lodge.

Services
You can get a haircut at the Victoria Falls Hotel salon, but it's not good. US$25, cash only. For other hair salons, turn off the main road by the Shearwater Cafe.

Stay safe
You can expect to be met by tourist police on your arrival in Victoria Falls. They are plentiful around the town and the falls and can be trusted. You can identify them by their yellow vests. Zimbabwe is very keen to keep tourists safe following a period of instability which saw visitors at risk, and tourists on the Zimbabwean side drop dramatically. Sometimes it feels like there are more tourist police than tourists.

If you are staying at one of the resorts, it is likely that the guards at the resorts will keep an eye on you on the paths to the falls until you are within site of the tourist police.

Touts are aggressive and desperate and best avoided. They keep a distance from the tourist police and guards. The markets are safe, and the traders there are very polite and keen for your trade.

The path along the side of the river to the Victoria Falls hotel from the falls is not safe to walk after dark.

Go next
Victoria Falls is located within 100 km of the four corners of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia and thus provides access to all of these countries, but the only point of any note within a reasonable distance to the park is Chobe National Park in Botswana. It is a common destination, and most hotels will be able to book a journey on a day safari of one or two days.

 * Bulawayo

title: Victoria Falls


text:
Victorville

Victorville is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.

By car
The largest artery by vehicle in and out of the area is Interstate 15; the 15 is the main access between Southern California and Las Vegas / Lake Havasu and is heavily traveled, often by tractor trailers and trucks with boats or dirtbikes in tow. CHP patrols the I-15 corridor in Victorville heavily. The nearest city to the south is San Bernardino and Barstow to the north. Several highways branch off from I-15; Highway 395 going west to Palmdale is a hilly two-lane highway for much of its length and is known for being quite dangerous with frequent CHP speed traps. Highway 18 splits off of I-15 at D Street and continues through Apple Valley and on into Lucerne Valley and eventually Big Bear.

Go next

 * Barstow
 * Hesperia
 * Apple Valley

title: Victorville


text:
Vicuña

Vicuña, with a population of 25,000 in 2012, is the largest town in Valle de Elqui, Northern Chile. Vicuña is a major center for producing pisco, a brandy made in Chile and Peru. You can visit the nearby pisco distilleries.

Understand
The area is dominated by a mountainous backdrop, and extensive plains on the valley floor, where high-quality grapes for pisco are grown, along with other fruits and vegetables. The La Punilla, Atimonate, Balalita, Los Tilos mountain ranges contain several peaks with altitudes over 4,000 m. Cooperativa Agrícola Pisquera Elqui Limitada (CAPEL) runs the main pisco distillery in the zone. Economic activity centers on the culture of grapes, fruits, cereals, and vegetables. Other industries include sheep ranching and iron and copper mining.

The area around Vicuña experiences approximately 300 totally clear days and nights annually, and several large astronomical observatories are located nearby, including the touristic Mammalluca Observatory.

A few kilometres outside town is the Route of the Grappa, visiting the factories known as pisqueras: Ruta Norte, Capel, Mistral, Tres Erres and Artesanos de Cochiguaz.

There is a tourist information at the NW corner of the Plaza de Armas, San Martín 275.

By bus
From La Serena there are buses (2,500 pesos) at 06:00, 06:55, 09:20, 11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 14:00, 16:30, 18:30 and 19:30 from Terminal de buses, and colectivos/minibuses (3,000 pesos) at least every hour from the provincial bus station north west of the Japanese Garden.

Heading back from Vicuña to La Serena, colectivos leave at 09:30, 09:50, 11:30, 13:00, 14:15, 15:00, 16:30, 17:20, 18:30, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30 and 21:15 (as of Oct 2022). The last colectivos back are at around 20:30 from Pisco Elqui and 21:15 from Vicuña. Furthermore, there are also at least two Turbus buses from Vicuña after that, the last one at 22:45, but please re-check onsite.

By car
Route 41-CH is an international route between Chile and Argentina that begins in the city of La Serena and ends at the Agua Negra border crossing.

The Antakari Heritage Route connects Vicuña with the municipalities of Río Hurtado and Andacollo. A variant of this route leads to the Province of Petorca in the V Region of Valparaíso.

Get around
The town is entirely walkable. Tourist information center on Plaza de Armas provides simple map of town.

See

 * The urban area is made up of buildings from around 1900.
 * The city has a square of ancient trees, which displays sculptures that honor Gabriela Mistral, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
 * At the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, daily tourist visits are offered.
 * At the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, daily tourist visits are offered.

Do

 * A local Pisco distillery offers tours for 2,000 pesos per person.
 * A local Pisco distillery offers tours for 2,000 pesos per person.

Buy
Pisco, of course.

Go next

 * Continue up the valley to Pisco Elqui.

title: Vicuña


text:
Vidarbha

Vidharbha, also known as Berar, is a region of Maharashtra state in India.

Cities

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * — the biggest and most developed city in the region, nicknamed the City of Oranges

 * —

 * — small town near Wardha

 * —

Other destinations

 * — located in Chikhaldara

 * —

 * — a tiger reserve

Understand
Throughout its history, Vidarbha has remained much calmer than the rest of India, especially during communal troubles. For decades, there have been recent calls to separate Vidarbha from Maharashtra. However, such demands have not been fulfilled because of the ruling party's opposition.

Economy
On average, Vidarbha is less economically developed than the rest of Maharashtra, with considerable poverty and malnutrition. The region is known for growing cotton, oranges and soybeans.

Talk
Most people of Vidarbha understand Varhadi, a dialect of Marathi. Apart from Marathi, Hindi is widely used throughout the region. In fact, Marathi is very well mixed with Hindi and hence it's slightly different from the pure Marathi language.

By plane
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is the only international airport in this region. The airport is well connected to other Indian cities and some international destinations.

title: Vidarbha