Victoria suggestion

[jfu]

We will be visiting Victoria, BC on 5/25 from 2pm to 9pm. I would like to get some suggestions on what to do. I heard that Butchart garden is very beautiful but it close at 5pm. Do we have enough time to see it if it close at 5pm? We have a group of 7 ppl, should we rent a van? How far is it from the cruise port to the rental car company?

If we do Butchart garden and leave there at 5pm, where else should we go if we rent a Van? We plan to return to the ship before 8pm for dinner.

[scottbee]

We will be visiting Victoria, BC on 5/25 from 2pm to 9pm. I would like to get some suggestions on what to do. I heard that Butchart garden is very beautiful but it close at 5pm. Do we have enough time to see it if it close at 5pm? We have a group of 7 ppl, should we rent a van? How far is it from the cruise port to the rental car company?

If we do Butchart garden and leave there at 5pm, where else should we go if we rent a Van? We plan to return to the ship before 8pm for dinner.

 

If there is a cruise ship in town, Butchart will be open later. There is a lot to do in Victoria, so a single suggestion might not work

 

What sort of things are you interested in ?

 

• History: Royal BC Museum, Fort Rodd Hill
  
• Gardens: Butchart, Beacon Hill Park, Hatley Castle, Lt Gov Mansion
  
• Ocean walks: Beacon Hill / Clover Point
  
• Views: Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Mt Doug
  
• Science: Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
  
• Nature: Whale Watching
  
• Shopping: Downtown, Antiquing on Fort St etc etc),
  
• Beer: great local brewpubs (Spinnakers, Swans)
  

[cole]

We will be visiting Victoria, BC on 5/25 from 2pm to 9pm. I would like to get some suggestions on what to do. I heard that Butchart garden is very beautiful but it close at 5pm. Do we have enough time to see it if it close at 5pm? We have a group of 7 ppl, should we rent a van? How far is it from the cruise port to the rental car company?

If we do Butchart garden and leave there at 5pm, where else should we go if we rent a Van? We plan to return to the ship before 8pm for dinner.

 

I sure hope the previous poster was correct about the gardens being open longer than 5 pm if there is a cruise ship in port because we have a van rented for 6 of us to go there! We rented from Avis and they said their office is a 15 minute walk from the port. Call them to see if they will pick you up at the port if you rent from them. I believe Mapquest said the gardens were 20 miles from the port (we will be using our trusty GPS to get there). So let's see if any other posters have additional information about closing time.

B. Cole

[Putterdude]

The Gardens is ordinarily open late for cruise ship passengers per the attached link which also provides a 1-800 number to confirm that link as if I recall correctly they did do some early closings last fall. However, that aside, 5 pm is only when they stop selling admissions, anyone still in the Gardens may stay and enjoy the Gardens... so anyone there by 3pm or so would have no trouble having 2.5 hrs in the Gardens which tends to be regarded as the optimal time to enjoy them.