Visiting Victoria without visiting the globally famous Butchart Gardens would not be completed, even if you are not fond of gardens.
The Butchart Gardens is a collection of flower-patterned public showing gardens situated adjacent to Brentwood Bay Village in Central Saanich, on the Saanich Peninsula.
The Butchart Gardens' surface area is about 55 acres (22.2 hectares) that contain over 900 diverse bedding plants and 26 greenhouses. The Butchart Gardens comprise five gardens named Sunken, Rose, Japanese, Italian, and the Mediterranean, with its breathtaking beauty.
The five-acre (2 hectares) Sunken Garden is a nine-year-old garden that contains 151 flower beds and 65,000 planted bulbs. Walking through this garden and elegant Ross Fountain provides you with a tranquil atmosphere.
Created seven years ago, the Rose Garden has 280 different types of roses. With numerous beautiful blooms from summer to early autumn, the Rose Garden supplies an impressive collection of floribundas, ramblers, climbers, and Hybrid Tea Roses.
The Japanese garden is the first one in the collection where there are 500 Rhododendrons and Azaleas, 74 Japanese maples, and 200 meters (656 ft) of flowing streams. In this marvellous garden, you can hear the rustling of maple and beech trees.
The Italian garden, decorated with a bronze-cast statue and a flower-studded pond, has 18 flower beds and 85 different plants. If you want to experience delicious gelato in an alluring Italian atmosphere, visit this garden.
With nine garden beds and 110 different plants, the Mediterranean Garden presents lush, exotic plants gorgeous for every visitor.
The Butchart Gardens is located on the south of Vancouver Island and north of Victoria, with about 35 m (115 ft) of elevation. From the north, the Butchart Gardens ends in Saanich Inlet. If you are interested in having more of your visit, drive 2.7 km (1.6 miles) to the east to reach the Victoria Butterfly Gardens. There are parks near the Butchart Gardens, like Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, and Mt Work Regional Park to the south, Island View Beach Regional Park to the east, and John Dean Provincial Park to the north.
From Victoria:
The Butchart Gardens is north of Victoria and the fastest route to get there from the downtown is via Interurban Rd. It is 18.8 km (11.6 miles) and takes about 25 minutes.
Take Burnside Rd E, Interurban Rd, W Saanich Rd/BC-17A N and Wallace Dr to Benvenuto Ave in Brentwood Bay. After 18.1 km (11.2 miles), continue on Benvenuto Ave to your destination. After 650 m (2132.5 ft), you will reach the Butchart Gardens.
From Nanaimo:
The Butchart Gardens is in the south of Nanaimo, and the fastest route to get there is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. It is 118 km (73.3 miles) and takes about one hour and a half.
Take Wallace St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. After 550 m (1804.4 ft), follow Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S to Helmcken Rd in View Royal. Take exit eight from Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. Drive 103 km (64 miles) more and take Interurban Rd, W Saanich Rd/BC-17A N and Wallace Dr toward your destination in Brentwood Bay. When you drive 14.2 km (8.8 miles), you will reach the Butchart Gardens.
"The Butchart Gardens Loop" is an easy trail with a length of 1.6 km (0.9 miles), which is on the east side of Central Saanich. It has 18 m (59 ft) of elevation gain and features Quarry Lake. You can hike, walk and enjoy the beauty of this route all year round. It is wheelchair-friendly and kid-friendly. Please keep your dog on a leash in this trail.
There are other hiking trails near the Butchart Gardens, but they do not feature the garden. Among them are "Tod Inlet Trail" and "Dan/Partridge loop."
To cite the Butchart Gardens' history, Robert Pim Butchart and his wife, Jennie Butchart, established a quarry limestone on Tod Inlet in 1904. After exhausting the quarry in 1909, Jennie decided to turn it into the Sunken Garden, which was completed in 1921. They started to collect different plants and ornamental birds across the world. Also, several bronze statues are disclosed.
Today, the Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada with remains of the original cement plant. In the beginning, Mr. and Mrs. Butchart held weekly symphony concerts only for their friends and family. With attracting larger audiences, nowadays, different entertainments, including jazz and classical music, are held, particularly in summer. Also, the gardens are lit up with amazing Christmas lights in late December.
Any time of the year you plan to visit the stunning Butchart Gardens, you get fascinated. It is a perfect sight to see with a landscape of flowers, trees, grass, sculptures, and fountains. There are breathtaking views with an eye-catching array of flora for photo shooting. Have the pleasure of hiking and bird watching while the sweet-smelling flowers are surrounding you. After all, as the garden is placed in Victoria, there are several adventures around to make your trip memorable.
Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens is a place for history enthusiasts and gardens and interior design lovers. It is a 19th-century Victorian home and garden full of everything nostalgic to you. As one of Victoria's oldest homes, it is located overlooking the scenic and historic Selkirk Water/Gorge Waterway. It includes vegetables, cut flowers, a small fruit orchard, and a greenhouse.
The exotic flora, Japanese Maples, native Garry oaks, splendid rhododendrons of Abkhazi Garden makes it a must to visit when you are in Victoria. Walking and frolicking through this peaceful garden is delightful, especially in the spring and summer, when the flowers are blooming. The pond is full of turtles and Koi, and there is a teahouse perfect for afternoon tea.
Finnerty Gardens is a woodland garden in Victoria. With more than 500 species, it has one of Canada's best and largest collections of rhododendrons. Finnerty Gardens has wide trails with lots of room for everyone, even on busy days. This botanical garden is open year-round, with paths, ponds, and benches but the best time to visit is May or April.
Did you get fascinated before by a beautiful place that makes you stand steel? The pleasure of watching colourful butterflies from various spices and other creatures in a beautiful garden, the smell which lifts your mood, and the fresh air all feel like you are in a dreamland. If you love walking through a tropical area and are tired of boring visits, don't skip Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
Visiting the Butchart Gardens is an outstanding experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. Being in a dreamy atmosphere where colours surround you would refresh your soul. This colourful display is a gem in Victoria, designated by the National Historic Sites of Canada, with a landscape of flowers, trees, grass, sculptures, and fountains.
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Wear decent hiking boots for a moderate hiking trail near Sooke. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is an enjoyable trail that leads you to Grass Lake and featuring Monument Mountain makes it possible to have amazing views from the top. Doing the Grass Lake Trail overnight and camping by the lake turns it into a memorable trip. Enjoy the trail in warmer seasons and get a dip into the lake.
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It is time to put your heart into hiking and step into a moderate multi-use trail with some great views along the way and on top. Mount Manuel Quimper has a beautiful summit worth the climb, which gives you excellent vistas of Sooke Harbour and a chance to visit one of the last fire lookouts left on the island.
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Here is a highly recommended and well-marked trail for challenges enthusiasts. Hiking on Mount Empress from Sooke Potholes via Mary Vine and Todd Creek Trails offers you insane 360° views of the Sooke Basin, Victoria, and San Juan Islands.
Extraordinary opportunities to make your diving experience memorable in the heart of Greater Victoria, including high-ranked spots for diving. These spots provide you with inevitable diving opportunities which allow you to explore the alien underwater world of Victoria's waters saturated with magnificent creatures. Do not miss it for the world.
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Looking for a reliable place to go whale watching for the first time on Vancouver Island? Why not starting with Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club, one of the famous Yacht Clubs on the island. You will have the opportunity to observe these gigantic creatures and probably other sea creatures in the waters of the Salish Sea.
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Start your whale watching journey with Van Isle Marina, a critical marine zone on Vancouver Island, capable of serving 200 boats simultaneously, which has made it an ideal destination for the fans of whale watching. There is a high chance to observe other sea creatures other than whales.
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As one of the best tourist attractions of Sooke and Vancouver Island, West Coast comprises many outdoor excitements that cannot be denied. You are provided with different wildlife to watch and various food to eat, not to mention that you observe a rare nature that is outstanding. So, chances are high to see different whales and other marine creatures.
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You would better plan a visit to Cabin Point Coastline between April-September. It is the best time for those preparing for Sooke Whale Watching in one of the famous coastlines for it in the Salish sea. You are given adequate opportunity to gaze upon these marvellous sea creatures.
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Beechey Head and its loop are two of the hot spots for whale watching in Sooke. In addition to fantastic opportunities for whale watching, Beechey Head is a hiking and nature trip location that offers you excellent activities, such as birdwatching.
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Spirit Bay has a rich community offering settlings for whale watching lovers beside incredible wildlife; therefore, it would be an excellent point to start your Sooke Whale Watching. Plus, it has a cute beach. You cannot get over the beauty of it and its scenic views.
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Featuring wildflowers and fantastic sceneries, Creyke Point Trail is a suitable spot for whale watching, bird watching, and nature trips with splendid beaches and forests. So if you are having a great time in Sooke, remember to stop by Creyke Point to have more fun.
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Located in the heart of Victoria and adjacent to many whale watching operators, Victoria Harbour Ferry is a starting point for your whale watching tour. Many visitors come here to watch whales annually; not only whale watching but open waterways of Salish make Victoria Harbour Ferry a remarkable place for anglers, wildlife followers and daily tourists.
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Due to certified whale watching agencies, Fisherman's Wharf Park is a significant place to visit for whale watching enthusiasts. As one of the most prodigious and phenomenal creators worldwide, whales are ample during specific whale watching seasons.
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Featuring Victoria Harbour and West Bay, Esquimalt could be your starting point for whale watching in Victoria. You can also have the pleasure of watching sea lions, seals, porpoises, and a wide variety of marine birds are other stunning creators that may be highly admirable to wildlife watching fanatics.
Cattle Point is a part of Uplands Park in Victoria, runs along the coastline of Oak Bay. During falls and winters, especially November through March, the Cattle Point Storm Watching is an exhilarating experience. Watch storms smashing from spectacular vantage points as dark clouds blanket the sky, rains whipping, gusts of winds making barreling high waves.
Spiral Beach in Victoria is where the blue of the sea and sky and the Olympic Mountains at a distance is situated in a perfect picture. There are hills along the beach to stand on for a wide view. Walk on the sands and pebbles with the driftwoods around on the beach. Listen to the waves, walk on the shoreline, and have the storm watching pleasure in the fall and winter.
McNeill Bay has plenty of benches along the seawall to sit and enjoy the landscape of Trial Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Olympic Mountain. Do exciting water activities on McNeill Bay Beach and experience its wonderful esplanade and photogenic scenery. It is considered one of the fantastic off-leash dog beaches in Victoria.
Langford is a city on the south coast of Vancouver Island and heaven for golfers. You can stay at lodgings and play at challenging hillside courses and enjoy yourself at luxurious advantages like the Amatista Spa. Beautiful parks surround the city, so go hiking through scenic forests or have peaceful moments beside lakes. Langford offers shops, family activities, sheep farms, and a bike park.
Gonzales Bay is a small scenic bay with a crescent-shaped beach. Its sandy beach is often quiet and peaceful. Walking on the Gonzales Bay beach near the ocean can help to release the world's anxiety. Lie on the beach and see the peaks of Olympic Mountain and enjoy the Mediterrane climate. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach from September through May.
A trail leads you to Fisgard Lighthouse NHS, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. This historic lighthouse is still operating, but the entrance is not allowed. The keeper's house is open to the public which comprises wonderful exhibitions. There you can see shipwrecks, far-flung lights, storms, and the working equipment the lightkeepers used about a century ago.
Sooke is known as the Tall Tree Capital of Canada. The area's popularity is mainly based on tourists visiting the wilderness parks, hiking the West Coast Trail and the extremely popular Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Sooke is also famous for its beaches and is a destination for cycling and mountain biking. The arts community of Sooke is vibrant and hosts the annual Sooke Fine Arts Festival.
Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens is a place for history enthusiasts and gardens and interior design lovers. It is a 19th-century Victorian home and garden full of everything nostalgic to you. As one of Victoria's oldest homes, it is located overlooking the scenic and historic Selkirk Water/Gorge Waterway. It includes vegetables, cut flowers, a small fruit orchard, and a greenhouse.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or AGGV is home to artworks from talented artists of Canada and Asia. The building complex of the gallery includes the Spencer Mansion and the exhibition galleries. It also has gardens with a Japanese Shinto shrine. The art gallery is kid-friendly, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The gift shop has gorgeous merchandise.
Located in Victoria, the Royal BC Museum is one of Canada's most significant cultural and historical treasures. It showcases natural wonders and includes artifacts, documents, specimens, and everything slightly relevant to British Columbia's natural and human history. The museum also provides a dynamic forum and a safe space for discussion and reflection.
Miniature World is among the top ten attractions in Victoria. It is the World of Smallness, the World of Story Books, and the World of Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy. It presents villages with different themes such as Camelot or the World's Smallest Operational Sawmill or Space 2201 AD and Avian 1 Spaceship. Miniature World is so unique that you may want to visit it every time you're in Victoria.
If you are a fan of sun and beach, Victoria has the warmest weather in Canada to take a sunbath and swim, and Willows Beach is located in this area. This white sandy beach is south of Willows Park and has protected water suitable for a family vacation. Get the most out of your visit when you are at the park. Have a meal or drink in its cafe with a view of the sea.
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was established to preserve intertidal and subtidal communities that became very rich due to strong tidal currents. It features marine mammals like whales, sea lions and seals, birds like ducks, cormorants, black oyster-catchers and bald eagles. Fish species, marine invertebrates, and animals like marine algae and seagrass are among other inhabitants.
Sitting Lady Falls or Witty's Lagoon Falls with a wonderful forest around, and the moss-covered rocks is a magical place, something out of a fairy tale but near Victoria. The waterfall with 100 m (328 ft) height is divided into two parts, like a fork, making a unique shape worth visiting. The good thing about Sitting Lady Falls is the variety of birds living in the area.
Gallery Merrick is home to many native artists. The purpose of the gallery is to appreciate beauty everywhere we look. The priority of the gallery is to help working artists who make their livings out of their art. Many artists from Vancouver Island, surrounding islands, and across the country exhibit their talents here.
You may have limitations for yourself, but if you are not a beginner at cave exploring, overcome your own limits. Find a hidden gem in Langford, somewhere that few people know. Florence Lake Cave is a mystery waiting to be discovered for professional cavers. Some believe that it is the largest cave in Greater Victoria. Don't waste your time hesitating and pack your bag for a challenge.