Benvenuto, Italian for 'welcome', is the name the Butcharts used for their original estate, now a National Historic Site of Canada, and still privately owned by family descendants. The Butchart Gardens offers 22ha (55 acres) of wonderful floral display located in Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island. The family's commitment to horticulture and hospitality continues to this day.
This picturesque multi-use trail, formerly a railway line, moves through urban, rural and wilderness scenery on its 55 kilometre journey from Victoria to Sooke. You can cycle, stroll, run, or even ride a horse through the rural sections. Whether you're commuting to work, meandering on a weekend afternoon or pacing yourself from Sidney to Sooke, the trail is yours to enjoy and yours to protect. The Galloping Goose Regional Trail was named for the gas-powered passenger car that carried mail and 30 passengers twice daily between Victoria and Sooke during the 1920s. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail, a national multi-use trail system linking trails from coast to coast. “The Goose” intersects with the Lochside Regional Trail, a 29 kilometre former railway line from Saanich to Sidney.
Royal Athletic Park is the City of Victoria's sports stadium; this multi-purpose, fully-lit, natural grass stadium is located at 1014 Caledonia Ave. It has been used as a playing field since the early 1900's, in 1925 the City purchased the land from private owners and in 1967 the park underwent a major restoration after a large fire. It has primarily been used for soccer, softball and football, but often hosts special events, including the annual Great Canadian Beer Festival. In July of 2007 Royal Athletic Park was one of six venues selected to host the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. This spectacular event transformed Royal Athletic Park into a world class soccer venue with seating for 10,500 spectators.
The first lighthouse on Canada's west coast is still in operation! There hasn't been a keeper here since the light was automated in 1929, but every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real l9th century light, and capture some of the feeling of ships wrecked and lives saved. Built by the British in 1860, when Vancouver Island was not yet part of Canada, Fisgard's red brick house and white tower has stood faithfully at the entrance to Esquimalt harbour. Once a beacon for the British Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron, today Fisgard still marks home base for the Royal Canadian Navy. Inside the building are two floors of exhibits, dealing with shipwrecks, storms, far- flung lights, and the everyday working equipment of the light keeper a century ago. Right next to the tower stirs on the second floor, a specially-made video evokes the loneliness and isolation that was the lot of the l9th century keeper.
British Columbia’s past, present and future are alive at the Royal BC Museum. With a collection of more than seven million unique objects and documents, there’s something incredible to see every time you visit. The Royal BC Museum is a place of discovery. Through unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures. Authentic artifacts and specimens are displayed in highly realistic settings, giving visitors the experience of another time and place.
The Scratch Patch is an outdoor adventureland of gemstones, shells and gold panning. Unique in North America, the Scratch Patch is free to visit. Buy a collector's bag and choose your own treasures by hunting through millions of gems such as amethyst, agate, jade, jasper and many others. The Earth Science Interpretive Centre is free to visit. Family-oriented, it offers a range of hands-on activities that teach about geology, archaeology, paleontology, and much more. Make rocks float! Lift a Reserve Bank gold bar! Check out crystals under a magnifier! See fossil bugs trapped in amber, and much more. Is there anything as exciting as panning those gravels for an elusive treasure or sparkling pyrite? And there is plenty to be found, if you learn to do it right.
At Miniature World it is as if you suddenly became a Gulliver-like giant among the tiniest of villages... or has the world itself shrunk? You be the judge, it is a question Alice must have asked herself many times in Wonderland so enter now this miniature wonderland.
Relax, invite a friend or get the kids together for a virtual family expedition. Witness historic events or the future frontiers of Space, Fantasy Land, our amazing Victorian Dollhouses, Circus World and more!
Welcome to the amazing world of insects and spiders. A visit to this must see zoo offers visitors an excellent opportunity to view and experience multi-legged creatures from around the world in a safe, fun and friendly atmosphere. Get up close and personal with LIVE giant walkingsticks, alien-eyed praying mantids, hairy tarantulas and glow-in-the-dark scorpions, to name a few. Discover over 40 fascinating species including Canada's largest ant farm. The knowledgeable "bug guides" will reveal the exotic secrets of this hidden kingdom and provide a safe animal handling experience for the more adventurous. Imagine holding a tickling 400 leg millipede that stretches the length of your forearm! Bring your camera. It's an unforgettable, hands-on adventure. While in Victoria be sure to crawl, fly or wriggle your way to the Bug Zoo™!
Visit the amazing Pacific Undersea Gardens and GO DEEP in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. See the Live Dive Show in our exclusive Undersea Theatre on the bottom of the sea! Descend... into a world where Victoria’s reputation as the “City of Gardens” extends beneath the tide-line! Home of the largest collection of local marine life to be found anywhere! You will come face to face with the excitement, the wonder, the magic and mystery of the underwater world.
The Gardens are designed and built specifically for the hosting and breeding of tropical butterflies and moths from all over the world. During your breathtaking journey you will experience an impressive collection of flowering plants, cascading waterfalls and trees that set the stage for the indoor tropical paradise. You will enjoy a rare and unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and dazzling colours of exotic butterflies, flying-free in their own tropical rainforest environment. Over the last few years, we have introduced an exquisite orchid exhibit, a carnivorous plant section and a newly created "Foods of the World" display. A variety of birds including the rare South African Turocos and the colourful Flamingos will entertain you with their antics. Fed by waterfalls, the meandering stream is host to the Koi, tropical ducks and the magnificent Flamingos.
Victoria International Airport (Airport Code: YYJ) is the 9th busiest airport in Canada with over 1.5 million passengers per annum. Victoria is well served with more than 60 daily departures and convenient non-stop or one-stop service to every major Canadian city and many US destinations.
The airport is situated approximately 25KM (15.5 miles) north of Victoria. The drive to or from the airport takes you past the resort town of Sidney-by-the-Sea, the countryside of North Saanich, and Districts of Central Saanich and Saanich. The terminal itself is small enough to be ultra convenient yet, very modern as extensive improvements and upgrades have been completed over the last five years.
