Sold Out! Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, has an extensive park system to enjoy during the two days you’re in this city, continually voted by CNN Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazine as a top destination in North America. After arriving in the beautiful cosmopolitan city, stop in Hastings Park to visit Il Giardino Italiano, the Japanese-styled Momiji Gardens, and ponds surrounded by boardwalks that are perfect for bird watching. Later, we’ll check into our conveniently located, downtown hotel and head out for an included dinner to toast our arrival in western Canada.

Three amazing parks will delight you today: Queen Elizabeth Park, with its Quarry Gardens, Dancing Water Fountains and Bloedel Conservatory; the VanDusen Botanical Garden, with its miles of paths taking you through a variety of plantings, stands of trees, and an Elizabethan Maze; and the Dr. Sun Yet-San Chinese Garden, the first Chinese garden built outside of Asia. Your evening is free to spend as you choose, perhaps in the Gastown Neighborhood, known for its iconic Steam Clock, shops, art galleries, and trendy food and drink scene.

After a morning visit to the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, we’ll board a ferry to cross the Strait of Georgia and arrive at Vancouver Island. Here, the lush valleys, forested mountains and seaside environment create a unique microclimate for growing grapes and making wine. We’ll stop at a local winery for a tasting and dinner before continuing south to the city of Victoria and our hotel.

Staying in the center of charming, walkable Victoria allows us to explore on foot the James Bay Farmer’s Market, the Carr House (birthplace & childhood home of famed writer & artist Emily Carr), and the Royal British Columbia Museum, including its display of totem poles in Thunderbird Park. This afternoon and evening will be devoted to one of the highlights of this tour: a visit to the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Not only will you be entranced by the stunning gardens, but special features on Saturday evenings in the summer are musical entertainment and a fireworks show. 

The 14 acres of Government House Gardens are a sight to behold, with their numerous themed gardens, the formal areas of flora & fauna, and native woodlands. They are across the street from Craigdarroch Castle, a Scottish baronial mansion built in 1890, that you can tour at your leisure. Afterward, return to the hotel to change for High Tea at the Fairmont Empress hotel. Ladies may wear fancy tea hats or fascinators if they wish, but it's not required. You are free to further explore Victoria on your own once you’ve finished your finger sandwiches, scones and pastries.

Bright and early this morning we’ll depart for a whale-watching cruise. Peak season for seeing both resident and transient orcas, as well as humpback whales, is May to October, so be sure to bring your camera. Back on dry land we’ll tour the Parliament Building and have one last free afternoon in Victoria before gathering for dinner in a local restaurant.

We’ll head north from Victoria, back towards the ferry terminal, stopping to visit the Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific along the way. With a mission to connect people with plants, they offer tours, gardening tips, and classes for both children & adults. Then it’s time to board the ferry back to the mainland, arriving back in the Vancouver area and checking into our hotel close to the airport. This is to make it convenient for your departure in the morning, to give you enough time at arrive at the Vancouver airport (YVR) in plenty of time for your international flight. There will be many options for your dinner tonight, and you may want to explore the local Chinese & Japanese restaurants, as Vancouver is known for its Asian food. 

Have breakfast at your leisure, either at the hotel or at the airport, take the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to the airport, and as you fly home, recall the fabulous experiences of your tour with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.