A Taste of the Veddy, Veddy Best in B.C.

Accommodations: Empress Hotel, 721 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 8W 1W5. Telephone (604) 384-8111. Rates: $130/$185 single, $155/$215 double.

Oak Bay Hotel, 1175 Beach Drive, Victoria, B.C. V8S 2N2. Telephone (604) 598-4556. Rates: $85/$188 (discounted $10 for singles).

Olde England Inn, 429 Lampson St., Victoria, B.C. V9A 5Y9. Telephone (604) 388-4353. Rates: $62/$170 single or double.

Abigail’s, 906 McClure St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 3E7. Telephone (604) 388-5363. Rates: $100/$196 single or double with breakfast.

The Beaconsfield, 998 Humboldt St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 2Z8. Telephone (604) 383-4044. Rates: $100/$196, single or double (breakfast included).

The Captain’s Palace Hotel & Restaurant is an interesting inn downtown at 309 Belleville St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X2. Telephone (604) 388-9191. Rates: $85/$135 single, $110/$175 double. Includes a champagne cocktail on arrival, morning coffee delivered to your room, a full American-style breakfast. This Victorian inn is three blocks west of the Parliament buildings.

Note: Prices quoted are in Canadian dollars, which are currently trading at about 1.13 to the U.S. dollar.

Eating and Drinking: Afternoon tea is served at several hotels and restaurants, including the Empress and Oak Bay hotels, Olde England Inn and The Blethering Place, 2250 Oak Bay Village. Telephone (604) 598-5558.

Murchie’s, 1110 Government St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 142, (604) 383-3112, has been selling tea to go since 1894.

Some of Victoria’s pubs include:

Fogg n’ Suds, 711 Broughton St., (604) 383-2337

The Elephant & Castle, Victoria Eaton Centre, Government and View streets, (604) 383-5858

The Snug in the Oak Bay Hotel.

Getting Around: For information on ferries serving Victoria, write to B.C. Ferries, 1112 1st St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 4V2. Telephone (604) 386-3431 or (604) 669-1211.

Details on horse-drawn wagon tours are available from Tallyho Tours, 180 Goward Road, RR7, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3X3.

Daily cruises between Seattle and Victoria are operated by Stena Line, Pier 48, 101 Alaskan Way South, Seattle, Wash. 98104. Call (800) 962-5948.

Shopping: Rogers’ Chocolates, 913 Government St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1X5. One of Canada’s best-known confections. Cream fillings include peach, rum, maple, peppermint, coffee, cherry, walnut, pineapple, vanilla and plain chocolate. A three-pound box of Rogers’ finest will cost you $49.50 Canadian.

W. & J. Wilson British Woolens (in the lobby of the Empress Hotel) for sweaters and Burberry raincoats, among other goods.

The Spirit of Christmas, 1022 Government St., (604) 385-2501. Few stores in North America carry this large of a selection of Christmas items. Only a short stroll from the Empress Hotel.

Note: Ask your hotel receptionist for a list of specialty stores in Victoria.

Sightseeing: British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville St. Call (604) 387-3014 for recorded information. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. during summer months.

Butchart Gardens (13 miles north of downtown Victoria). Telephone (604) 652-5256 for recorded information. This is a 50-acre showplace featuring the famed Sunken Garden, a rose garden, Japanese and Italian gardens, fountains, ponds.

Fireworks and stage entertainment are offered during the summer. Lunches, afternoon tea and a buffet are served in the Blue Poppy Restaurant and Coffee Bar. For more information, write to Butchart Gardens, Box 4010, Station A., Victoria, B.C., Canada V8X 3X4.

Beacon Hill Park (cricket, lawn bowling, flowers, lakes, playgrounds, a wading pool, petting farm, picnic areas).

General Information: For maps, brochures and other details on British Columbia, contact the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, 2600 Michelson St., Suite 1050, Irvine 92715, (800) 548-8016.