Blog article written for The Admiral Inn
The Admiral Inn is located in downtown Victoria, on the Inner Harbour just a few blocks away from Victoria’s key attractions. Walk along the harbour towards the Fairmont Empress Hotel and you’ll pass by the BC Parliament building and grounds, the Royal BC Museum, and all the activities happening in the harbour. That path will also take you to Thunderbird Park and the wonderful shopping and dining areas that make downtown Victoria such a vibrant place to be.
Walk in the opposite direction and you’ll be standing on Laurel Point. The Laurel Point path leads directly from our doorstep and goes around the historic point towards Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a short but very beautiful walk. You will see luxury yachts, tour boats and even float planes as they come and go from the Victoria Inner Harbour. It’s also one of the best places walking distance from the Admiral Inn to watch the sunset.
Laurel Point has an interesting history as well. Located right at the entrance of Victoria’s Inner Harbur, the peninsula has always been a welcoming point for watercraft and passersby. In fact, the First Nations of the area used this very site for potlatch ceremonies hundreds of years ago. It was once called Dead Man’s Point and it was a gravesite where many Songhees chiefs were buried.
The photo below is from www.firstnations.de shows wooden figures in protective shelters surrounded by arbutus trees. Unfortunately, like all First Nations gravesites in central Victoria, this one was vandalized and looted by settlers and quickly disappeared.
Enjoy this special area and take the time to sit on one of the many benches along the Laurel Point path and watch the sun sink beneath the land on the other side of the channel. A variety of bird life will add to the show of nature as yellow, orange and pink shoot across the sky and reflect on the calm evening water. It’s a relaxing and beautiful way to end your busy day in Victoria. The view is just as pretty on your walk back to the Admiral Inn!
If you want to check it out during the day you can walk along the If you walk along the Laurel point path all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf in about 15 minutes from the Admiral Inn. This place is a very unique marine destination and unique to Victoria, BC. Come during the day when all the excitement is happening and you’ll find yummy restaurants, food kiosks, unique shops, eco-tour adventures and some curious harbour seals too! Wander down the docks with an ice cream cone and check out the cool float homes. Walk further and buy fresh fish right off the dock from a commercial fishing vessel.
