EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Enjoy the highlights of Victoria and visit the spectacular Butchart Gardens. Departing Ogden Point your guide will point out the highlights including the majestic legislative buildings, Empress Hotel, Royal British Columbia Museum, and Beacon Hill Park.

At Butchart Gardens, see how the Butchart family transformed a barren rock quarry into what is now one of the world’s best-known horticultural attractions, covering more than 55 acres. The gardens are a lush paradise of flowers, rare trees and winding paths, that were created more than 100 years ago. Enjoy the cascading fountains and footbridges connecting you to the many themed gardens, including the beautiful Sunken Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. Multi-language maps will assist you on your self-guided tour.

The gardens are illuminated by thousands of hidden lights in the evening.

OVERVIEW

Spend a delightful evening enjoying the quintessential Victorian tradition of tea and savory treats – but with an alluring twist – at the Fairmont Empress, an iconic hotel that has graced the shores of the Inner Harbor since 1908. Over the years, a Who’s Who of royalty, dignitaries and celebrities have enjoyed afternoon tea at the Empress. But this after-hours affair is quite different as their signature Empress tea will be served iced, not hot, noting special alcoholic cocktails are available for purchase. The culinary offerings will be equally memorable as they will likely include a warm white cheddar & chive biscuit, Vegan Mushroom pate, gluten free tapioca violet mousse. Afterwards, you will have free-time to enjoy the inner harbor, including the domed Parliament Buildings, which dominates the skyline, especially in the evening when it is beautifully illuminated.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Savor a special after-hours tea at the Empress Fairmont hotel, an icon since 1908.
• Sip special seasonal iced teas, rather than hot teas.
• Enjoy a driving tour around the Inner Harbor, which will be dramatically illuminated at night.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Join in the fun at a traditional Canadian sports bar while snacking on local specialties, where you will see firsthand just how passionate fans can be. Multiple sporting events will be playing on the TVs and the pub patrons will be swatting baseballs in the batting cage, trying to roll strikes in the bowling alley and generally just having a good time. Marvel at the 50 greatest hockey goal display, showcasing some of the most memorable moments in hockey history. Explore the Canadian Hockey card display, featuring a variety of hockey trading cards. Enjoy a glass of wine, a mug of draft beer or try a Bloody Mary-like drink known as a Canadian Caesar. They all go great with poutine – a dish of French fries and cheese curds with brown gravy. If you prefer a sweet treat, you can substitute a dessert poutine made with sugary doughnut fries topped with chocolate drizzle, ice cream and whipped cream. Then, hit the batting cages yourself. On the return drive, the city lights will be twinkling, illuminating Victoria and landmarks like the Fairmont Empress hotel.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy the fun-loving atmosphere at a Canadian sports bar.
• Try a local snack like poutine and pair it with your favorite drink.
• Swing for the fences in the bar’s batting cage.
• Drive through Victoria at night, when the city is beautifully illuminated.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour provides you an in-depth look into some of the best sights that Victoria has to offer, plus visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Your tour sets out through James Bay through the city's beautiful Beacon Hill Park, home of the world's tallest freestanding totem pole, then a fully narrated tour to the world famous Butchart Gardens. A National Historic Site and spread over 55 acres, there are walking trails that connect lavish floral gardens, cascading fountains, ponds and rock gardens. Here, amidst an enchanting floral aroma, you can enjoy a 2- hour self-guided tour through many themed gardens, including The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, The Italian Garden and Butchart’s famous Sunken Garden.

After taking in this impressive attraction, continue to Victoria’s Inner Harbor to view the iconic Empress Hotel and BC Legislative Buildings, passing through the “Gates of Harmonious Interest” to see historic Chinatown, the second oldest in North America. You’ll travel past Old Town making your way back to the cruise terminal, or use the optional drop downtown to make your own way back to the ship, if time in port permits.

Stroll through fragrant Butchart Gardens at your leisure after stopping for a snack at Tim Hortons, a Canadian institution named for the legendary hockey player that co-founded it. A hot beverage and a few tasty Timbits – the franchise’s bite-size donuts – will get you started on the right foot. Once you reach Butchart Gardens, you can wander about as you please. Once a barren rocky quarry, the site has been transformed into a botanical wonderland, beginning in 1912 when Jennie Butchart started depositing top soil by horse and cart. Over the past century or so, gardens have been added and others expanded to allow for the plants to be grouped by the areas in the world where they are indigenous. Upon arrival, our driver will provide you with a pass and maps, ensuring you have everything you need to explore the gardens at your own pace. You'll have a generous 2 hours to stroll through the magnificent displays of flowers, charming pathways, and serene landscapes. Remember to hold on to your pass carefully, as replacements cannot be printed, and losing it will prevent entry into the garden.Join us on this extraordinary Butchart Gardens and Tim Hortons Adventure for a memorable tour that combines natural beauty, culinary delights, and unforgettable sights.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Meander through Butchart Gardens, a designated National Historic Site of Canada.
• Try a local snack like poutine and pair it with your favorite drink.
• Stop and smell the roses – literally, as there is a garden devoted to these aromatic flowers.
•Drive past landmarks such as the Fairmont Empress hotel and the Parliament building.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

A visit to Victoria would not be complete without a trip to Butchart Gardens and you’ve not seen anything like the Victoria Butterfly Garden’s lush tropical world. Enjoy the city sights as you make your way out to the rural home of both these beautiful gardens. The Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site with a 55- acre wonderland of flowers, rare trees, winding paths and cascading fountains. Explore the many themed gardens; the Italian Garden, Sunken Garden, the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden.

The other main attraction on this tour is Victoria Butterfly Gardens. This beautiful warm tropical garden has thousands of exotic, free flying butterflies, as well as an impressive insectarium, flamingos, dozens of other tropical birds and reptiles, and Koi swimming in the stream and pond. A 12,000 sq. ft. enclosure, the Gardens features 200 species of orchids and thousands of tropical plants including Foods of the World and Carnivorous Plant displays. Reboard your coach to see the highlights of Victoria, including North America's second oldest Chinatown, historic Old Town, and the Inner Harbor, home to the iconic BC Legislative Buildings and the Empress Hotel.

Experience Victoria's highlights and the two most popular attractions, a 19th century Victorian castle and the world famous Butchart Gardens. Your tour will start by motor coach through the city's Beacon Hill park before arriving to Craigdarroch Castle. Now a National Historic Site, the castle gives visitors a rare glimpse of what privileged life was like during the reign of Queen Victoria. Your informative self-guided tour will take you through many of the castle’s 39 lavish rooms and up the stairway to Craigdarroch’ s signature tower. Continue the Highlights of Victoria to your next must see stop, the Butchart Gardens, spread over 55 beautiful acres. Here, amidst an enchanting floral aroma, you can take a self-guided tour through many themed gardens, including The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, and the picturesque Sunken Garden.

We then travel through Chinatown to the downtown Inner Harbour, Victoria’s centerpiece and home to The Royal BC Museum, the BC Legislative Buildings, and the iconic Empress Hotel. Take advantage of the optional drop off downtown to further explore on your own (if time in port permits) or enjoy the highlights back to the ship.

View picturesque Victoria on this entertaining 2 hour and 15 minute tour with a distinctly Canadian flavor.

Take in the city's iconic landmarks along the way.

See the oldest Chinatown in Canada, and the stately Empress Hotel and Legislature building in Victoria's beautiful Inner Harbour.

Heading up Mount Tolmie, you'll encounter a wonderful panoramic city view, followed by a drive through the University of Victoria, where the original campus design has an interesting American connection.

What's the big deal about Tim Horton's? You're about to find out as you stop for coffee and a small snack at this Canadian institution -- a fast-food chain that is virtually synonymous with Canadian citizenship.

A Canadian trivia quiz will entertain you along the way -- with prizes, of course -- ensuring that you learn a little about our northern neighbor and adding some variety to your outing. You'll pass through downtown en route back to the pier. Guests have the option to stay downtown and make there own way back to the pier if they would like.

A Canadian goodie bag is yours to enjoy, with chips, a chocolate bar and maple candy at the end of the tour.

Enjoy a panoramic drive through Victoria’s inner harbor in the evening, when the city lights are twinkling brightly, and the urban landscape is spectacularly radiant. You will first pause at the Canadian institution Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a few tasty Timbits, the franchise’s bite-size donuts. Then just settle in and admire the sights, perhaps the most famous being the grand Fairmont Empress, a château-style hotel built in 1908 that overlooks the waterfront. The domed Legislative Assembly of British Columbia dominates the skyline because it is outlined in brilliant white lights. Other landmarks that look more dramatic at night include the Maritime Museum and Royal BC Museum. Throughout the trip, the tranquil waters of the inner harbor will reflect the city lights, making the setting all the more memorable. As a parting gift, you will receive a classic Canadian goodie bag.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through Victoria’s inner harbor at night, when it is beautifully illuminated.
• Pass landmarks such as the Parliament complex and the Fairmont Empress hotel.
• Enjoy coffee and donut morsels from Tim Hortons, a Canadian institution.
• Play Canadian trivia for prizes during the drive and receive a goodie bag.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take an insider’s tour of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, a national historic site that is more commonly known as the Centre of the Universe. The observatory perches on Little Saanich Mountain high above Victoria and has been instrumental in studying the night sky since opening more than a century ago. Its two telescopes has contributed significantly to our understanding of the Milky Way, magnetic stars and distant quasars and galaxies. But you don’t have to be an astronomer to appreciate the observatory’s research and findings. An enlightening planetarium show will make even the most complex astronomical concepts easier to understand. You will see the original model of the telescope that journeyed to the world’s fair in 1915. You will also see the original 2.2 ton mirror for the telescope, world events at the start of the 20th century made the journey of this mirror quite special.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tour the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, also known as the Centre of the Universe.
• Watch an enlightening presentation in the planetarium.
• Gain an understanding of the discoveries made at the observatory over the past century.
• Travel through Victoria’s beautiful downtown on the way to and from the observatory.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Victoria is one of the most picturesque cities in North America – it exudes old world charm and has a distinctively British flair. You’ll discover the heart and soul of the “City of Gardens” on this tour and appreciate why so many visitors from around the world come each year to visit. Starting at Ogden Point you’ll head into the residential neighborhoods, complete with manicured lawns, abundant flowers of all shapes and sizes, and million dollar views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountain range.

Your tour will continue through the city's impressive Beacon Hill Park, complete with free flying peacocks and the world's tallest freestanding totem pole. After enjoying the sites of old town and Chinatown, you’ll enter Victoria's Inner Harbor. This lively area is home to the Royal British Columbia Museum, numerous street performers, craft vendors, food stalls, legislative buildings and the world famous Fairmont Empress Hotel.

There are fewer cities more spectacularly suited for a walking tour than Victoria. This delightful two-hour excursion will commence at the cruise terminal and start out along the seawall that is lined with the well-manicured lawns and gardens of those lucky enough to live with a view of the Strait of Juan De Fuca and the Olympic Mountain Range.

Stepping away from the bustle of the cruise terminal, you will walk down into the heart of downtown, which is full of shopping, restaurants, nightclubs and much more. The Inner Harbor of Victoria is a bustling and vibrant area with regular seaplane departures to the surrounding islands, street performers, local crafts and food vendors. This is also the location of the Royal BC Museum, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the world-famous Fairmont Empress Hotel with its façade of century-old ivy- covered walls. As you make your way through the city, your experienced local guide will share with you the inside stories and history of the area and a true insider's knowledge of all things unique to the City of Victoria.

Your guided tour concludes on the lawns of the Empress Hotel and you are encouraged to further explore Downtown on your own before heading back to the ship at your leisure. For those who don't wish to walk back, a shuttle will be available.