This week we set out on a Quest to visit our neighbors to the North in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We started out our journey from Seattle aboard a Victoria Clipper ferry early in the morning which gave us the entire day to explore our first stop, Victoria, BC.
We arrived in Victoria around mid-morning, and as soon as we checked into our room at the Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, and picked up our rental car, we headed directly for Butchart Gardens! Ever since I began planning our trip to Victoria I had been daydreaming about setting foot in the Butchart Gardens. Spoiler alert, it did not disappoint!
Come along with us as I show you just a glimpse of the majestic gem that is the Butchart Gardens!
The Butchart Gardens is one of Victoria’s most visited attractions and has a long-running list of accolades such as one of the Top 10 Magnificent Gardens by National Geographic and the 8th best attraction in Canada.
The Gardens are comprised of over 55 acres of breathtaking gardens that you can visit year round. Even when we visited in October there was plenty to do and see including Fall themed décor throughout the gardens.
The Sunken Gardens were my absolute favorite part of the entire gardens. Have you ever squeezed your eyes closed really tightly and wished that when you opened them that you would have fallen down the rabbit hole into an Alice in Wonderland-esque place?
Well, that is the feeling I had when as Sunken Garden came into view from the lookout point and as I ventured throughout the twists and turns of the garden. You could tell that Roo loved the gardens because she made a point to sniff each and every flower that she encountered, captivated by the vast array of flowers varieties.
We meandered through the Sunken Gardens for close to an hour, investigating not only the flowers, but the flowering trees, intricate sculptures, and water feature.
We emerged from the Sunken Gardens onto the Concert Lawn, where Roo immediately spotted the Rose carousel and the two towering totem poles!
As we walked along the Concert Lawn path we met some of the most gorgeous dahlias I have ever seen. You may be thinking that at this point Roo’s olfactory system must have gone into hyperdrive as she attempted to sniff each of the dahlias right? Well, I didn’t have the heart to tell the kid that the majority of the Dahlia species don’t produce scents lol.
In between sniffs Roo caught a glimpse of the Dragon Fountain and dashed over to get a closer look. The fountain, which was a gift from the People’s Republic of China, signifies the wishes of peace and prosperity. We observed several people with their backs to the fountain, clutching a coin in their hands; they would then kiss the coin, and throw it into the fountain over their shoulder.
As we made our way down the winding paths of the rose garden we could see the remnants of this season’s blooms, and I can only imagine how gorgeous it was in full bloom.
Just when I thought we had witnessed all the splendor of the gardens we happened upon the bright beaming red Torii gates to the entrance of the Japanese Gardens. As I entered this tranquil space I found myself surrounded by colorful Japanese Maple trees, a bubbling stream, and lanterns.
At this point in our stroll around the Butchart Gardens, the girls were getting cold and the novelty was starting to wear off a bit, so we made our way quickly through the Italian Garden, and headed towards the exit.
But not before stopping to give “Tacca” a rub on the snout for good luck.
If you are in Victoria and only have time to do one thing you must run, not walk to Butchart Gardens, you will not regret it!
Autism Spectrum Travel Tips:
- Butchart Gardens offers their maps in over 21 languages. If your kiddo likes maps like Roo, let them be the navigator. The map was easy to read and had a lot of the landmarks in picture form.
- Be sure to stop by the Info center and grab a Flower & Plant Guide so that you can identify as you go along. This was helpful for us to tell her what she was smelling, but it also kept her engaged in the experience.
- Depending on the crowd levels, take frequent breaks. The gardens weren’t a sound trigger for Roo when we went, but during peak season the sensory stimulation from crowds may be overwhelming.
- Bring water! Even taking a leisurely stroll through the gardens can work up a thirst. Bring your reusable water bottle and refill it at water stations around the gardens.
- Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes.
- Butchart Gardens is very stroller and wheelchair friendly with clear placards for accessible pathways.
Disclosure: Thank you to the Butchart Gardens for hosting our family’s tour of the Gardens. We were provided complimentary admission, however as always, all opinions are my own.
