Victoria, 7pm-midnite on 9/21: viewing options

[HImom]

What can you do between 7pm and midnight on a port stop in Victoria, September 21? Is anything even open? Is it safe wandering around on our own? Is there any public transit running? Are taxis available? Is Butchart gardens open--what hours? Any decent tours in that brief window?

 

All suggestions most welcome!

Thanks!

[cruising cockroach]

That's around the autumn equinox so I imagine it'd be dark, or at least close to dusk, at 7p. Transit will be running on evening schedule by that time and taxis will be available, but forget about Butchart Gardens at that time.

[HImom]

Are stores open? What would be open between 7 & midnight? Is it best to take a taxi to a busier area & then walk around or just walk around near the port? Where would you recommend taking a cab or other transit to & what would you suggest doing in that brief time we're in port? Thanks!

 

Around Honolulu, not much that I like is open between 7 & midnight near our port where cruise ships dock, but if you take a short taxi ride, you can get to good shopping & food places.

[Langley Cruisers]

Hi there; this is discussed often here so here are some links to those threads:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1581162&highlight=victoria

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1566412&highlight=victoria

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1637165&highlight=victoria

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1616834

 

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[scottbee]

What can you do between 7pm and midnight on a port stop in Victoria, September 21? Is anything even open? Is it safe wandering around on our own? Is there any public transit running? Are taxis available? Is Butchart gardens open--what hours? Any decent tours in that brief window?

 

Getting to and from Butchart Gardens would be a push, as it's about 30 minutes out of town. The cruise ship docks in mostly residential area, downtown is about a mile away. The local transit (notably the #31 bus) runs past the cruise terminal and into downtown for $2.50, or it's a pleasant walk along the waterfront. A taxi would be under $10, and the cruise companies offer a shuttle (which isn't really worth it -- grab a couple of people and share a taxi).

 

This map should help you get your bearings: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212770407613531027445.0004665d7f3e28f06866d&msa=0&ll=48.42023,-123.370156&spn=0.014127,0.042272

[HImom]

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. Just noted that sunset will be around 6pm, so suggestions requiring visibililty l& daylight won't work well for us. Many things are closed as well, but did check out the websites. Don't feel like being rushed, so may well decide to just walk around & explore Victoria in a leisurely manner. We will have our MDR dinner @ 5:30, so a post-dinner stroll might be just the thing.

 

Will review & consider the other options if we feel more adventurous, get into port earlier, or our companions are looking for more adventure.

[Langley Cruisers]

This map should help you get your bearings: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212770407613531027445.0004665d7f3e28f06866d&msa=0&ll=48.42023,-123.370156&spn=0.014127,0.042272

 

Wow, so funny - looking at that map brought back so many memories for me, especially Beacon Hill Park when I was a youngin' who got the car on a Friday night. Man oh man. LOL!

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[Keith1010]

You can walk around the downtown area which is located just a few minutes from the town by shuttle for a couple of hours.

 

Keith

[Putterdude]

It would appear that Butchart Gardens are only going to be open until 9 pm starting 9/16 so that is pretty much out of the picture. The downtown core is compact and really quite lovely in the evening; I would suggest that you may want to see our legislature building illuminated, the Empress Hotel, and take a short walk on Government Street. Below you will find a link to some self-directed walking tours. You will find that the majority of passengers take the shuttle or a cab into the downtown area.

 

 

http://www.downtownvictoria.ca/index.php/downtown-maps/walking-maps