FGSCruise2015: Featured Destination Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia

Wrapped around the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a gentle blend of colonial England and contemporary Western Canada. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, and its grand Parliament Buildings, with 150 years of British history.



Victoria was originally founded in 1843 when the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post there.  By 1849, Vancouver Island had become a British Crown colony.  Today the city is part of British Columbia, with Victoria as the administrative capital and Vancouver (75 miles northwest on the mainland) being the industrial center.

Most of the attractions center near the harbor, although the walkable inner-city streets foster cordiality. The city is probably best known for its mild climate and active outdoor lifestyle, and Victoria is lauded as one of the most walkable Canadian cities.



Among the many attractions are the world-famous 50-acre Butchart Gardens.  The gracious Fairmont Empress Hotel dominates the Inner Harbour—originally built as a resort by the Canadian Pacific Railway, it has been restored and offers afternoon English tea.



The city also invites gourmet dining, fantastic shopping, nearby lighthouses and whale watching of the resident pod of orcas.  Other excursions include pub tours, horse-drawn trolleys, and a tour of Craigdarroch Castle.



The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

FGSCruise2015: Destination Tracy Arm Fjord

Nestled between 3,000-foot-high granite walls, the narrow, twisting slice of ocean called Tracy Arm Fjord weaves through the Tongass National Forest for roughly 35 miles. The shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snowcaps and trees sprouting at odd angles from rocky outcroppings.



Tracy Arm, a classic fjord, has it all: snow-capped peaks, shear rock palisades, rainbows and tidewater glaciers. Some of the rock formations are shiny smooth from years of glacier wear, plunging almost vertically into the water that is a thousand feet deep.



Drift among icebergs and waterfalls that cascade thousands of feet for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier. Watch for bergs shearing off the snout of the glacier, creating dramatic waves that travel for miles.



You'll see incredible mountains and emerald green water, and be able to watch for whales, bear, eagles, mountain goats, and seals. These are the sights you don’t want to miss!

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions. Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.