~ Carmen
Victoria is the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Â It is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and is on Canada’s western side of the Pacific Ocean.
One of my earliest travel memories involves a visit to Victoria, British Columbia at part of a LONG road trip from Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Washington State to visit my cousins. Â It was my first trip out of the United States, and for a little girl from rural Arkansas, the trip was like stepping into a storybook. Â It was 1977. Â I know at that time I didn’t need a passport. Â It wasn’t until 2009 that US citizens were required to have a passport to travel to Canada. Â What I remember most was the ferry ride from Washington State to Victoria, the elegant Empress Hotel, and how green everything seemed.

My first visit to Victoria as seen through the lovely photography of 1977!
Some things about Victoria have definitely changed since 1977. Â However, the Washington State Ferry System will still get you from Anacortes, Washington (about an hour north of Seattle) to Sidney (30 minutes north of Victoria) in about 2 hours. The Empress Hotel is still serving tea and taking guests, and in the summertime, everything is GREEN, GREEN, GREEN! Â Keep reading to find out what to see and do in Victoria!
Want to island hop on your way to visit Victoria?  Read San Juan Islands Road Trip- Washington State & British Columbia.
Click here for Victoria hotel deals!
What to See & Do in Victoria, British Columbia
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Victoria and 12 miles (9 km) south of the Sidney ferry terminal and Victoria International Airport.  The Sidney ferry terminal is where ferry visitors from Anacortes, Washington arrive.  It makes for a convenient first stop when visiting Victoria.

The Butchart Gardens
The gardens were started over 100 years ago by the Butchart family and now host more than 1,000,000 visitors annually. During peak summer months, the earlier you can arrive the better. Â Prices varying according to season from a low of $18 to $33 in the summer. Â The gardens get very crowded! Â Don’t let the crowds or price deter you from visiting. Â The National Geographic has named The Butchart Gardens as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Â Plan to spend 2-3 hours.

Butchart Gardens covers mover than 55 acres. With over 1,000,000 bedding plants and 900 varieties, there are flowers blooming from March to October!
British Columbia Parliament Buildings
If you like history and architecture, you’ll want to visit these gorgeous buildings.  They are located close to the harbor and convenient to other Victoria attractions.  You can download a self-guided tour or take a free guided tour (in English or French).  Tours last about 30 minutes.  Be sure to grab some lunch at the Legislative Dining Room.  Come back at night to see all of the buildings beautifully lit up.

Get some lunch at the Legislative Dining Room or picnic on the expansive grounds.
The Fairmont Empress Hotel High Tea
Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to go inside the Empress Hotel and sip tea. Â I remember asking my daddy if that is where a princess lived. Â The hotel is an icon of Victoria. Â Built in 1908, it has gone through many renovations. Â Most recently, (May 2017), the hotel completed a $60 million transformation.

The Empress before the ivy was removed.
We hadn’t planned on having high tea at The Empress, but when Joe heard about my life long desire to feel like a princess sipping tea at the grand old hotel, he jumped into action. Â He quickly made a reservation and we rushed to make our allotted time. Â Be forewarned, there is a dress code for high tea (we didn’t plan for this). Â Since we weren’t told when we made the reservation, the hostess let us poorly dressed peasants cross over to “fancy world”. Â I would have felt more comfortable in a dress, but sometimes you just have to make do!

To experience high tea at The Empress, make reservations and dress better than us (business casual)!
High tea at the Empress is an expensive, once-in-a-lifetime (at least for us) experience.  We spent little over an hour sipping and eating.  High tea starts at $75 per person. A bump up to champagne tea with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut rises to $108.  Yup, I bumped up to the champagne tea!  Was it worth it?  To someone who has wanted to be treated like royalty since first eyeing the Empress 40 years ago, yes it was!  I’m sure Joe could have cared less.  He earned some major brownie points with this special treat!
Victoria Inner Harbor
After you spend all your money on tea and little sandwiches, head across the street to the Inner Harbor. Â Walking along the harbor, you will feel like you’re in a quaint European city. Â It is easy (and cheap) to spend a couple of hours leisurely walking around, watching the boats and sea planes. Â The harbor is lined with a variety of shops and restaurants.

Victoria Inner Harbor
Have you been or want to go to Victoria, British Columbia?  Please share by commenting below!  Any questions?  Please ask!
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California GlobetrotterNovember 10, 2017 1:20 am
That’s so awesome your dream came true to have high tea! That;s a bummer you didn’t know about the dress code but glad they still let you in! #FeetDoTravel
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 11, 2017 7:32 am
The hostess told us we’d have to wait about 10 minutes until the manager went on break then she could seat us. It worked!
SarahNovember 10, 2017 5:00 am
I never realised that before 2009 U.S citizens didn’t need a passport to get into Canada. I haven’t been to Victoria, British Columbia. But spent a couple of days in Vancouver and loved it. We are trying to go back next year, I might have to add another stop on the itinerary. #feetdotravel
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 11, 2017 7:36 am
On one of our trips to Seattle, we did a Seattle-Vancouver-Victoria loop. About 45 minutes southwest of Vancouver is a ferry port. Take the Swartz Bay, BC – Tsawwassen, BC ferry. The ferry ride is about 2 hours long.
RuthNovember 10, 2017 3:27 pm
Oh Carmen, what a gorgeous place! I want to go so bad. We have been to Vancouver and want to go back. Next time we will make sure we spend some time in Victoria. I kind of get an European feeling form it.
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 11, 2017 7:41 am
We have done a road trip loop from Seattle to Vancouver to Victoria. From Vancouver the ferry port is about 45 minutes away. Then take the Take the Swartz Bay, BC – Tsawwassen, BC ferry. It’s only a 2 hour ferry ride. Victoria definitely feel European.
TracyNovember 11, 2017 3:37 am
Oh wow I have so many photographs standing in exactly the same place as you!! We love Victoria and I have an old school friend who lives there. We haven’t yet had high tea at the Empress as my friend took us somewhere else (a bit cheaper!). We took the boat ‘vomit comet’ to Seattle but luckily the ride was pretty smooth.
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 11, 2017 7:48 am
I’ve ridden on that ship! We had some choppy water, and I turned green!
MarcelleNovember 11, 2017 8:32 am
Every little girl’s dream is to feel like a princess sipping tea at a luxury hotel! The Empress is surely one of these old Grand Hotels which give the right feel to it. Also as a big girl I’d love to be invited to such a pleasure 😀
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:19 am
It was wonderful to get to experience high tea at The Empress!
JamesNovember 11, 2017 2:02 pm
I went to Victoria years ago, but not quite 1977. High Tea at the Empress looks like a once in a lifetime experience!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:22 am
Well, we’re just a tad older than the average travel blogger! 🙂 Tea was quite memorable!
Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)November 12, 2017 9:32 am
How beautiful Victoria British Columbia looks. Definitely, the Butchart Gardens looks like a must visit place along with high tea. I have not been to Victoria yet, but I will have to make a trip there. Saved this for later use. Thanks for sharing! #feetdotravel
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:26 am
Hope you can visit this beautiful city soon!
FloNovember 12, 2017 11:22 pm
The gardens look amazing, I can’t believe they cover 55 acres! I’d love to try that high tea, and I’d definitely upgrade to the champagne option as well. BC sounds like a fantastic place to explore!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:30 am
The gardens were started in an old quarry. Knowing something so beautiful was created from scarred earth is such a good feeling!
ToniNovember 12, 2017 11:28 pm
That looks so historic and just lovely. Added to bucket list, check!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:30 am
So glad to here it’s made it to the bucket list!
YogitaNovember 13, 2017 12:21 am
Wow, what a beautiful blog, loved reading it, loved the information and ideas you have shared. Nice photos too. I can not wait to visit Victoria , BC and try these out, especially the high tea 🙂 and The Butchart Gardens
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:31 am
Thank you so much!
MarviNovember 13, 2017 8:28 am
Awww.. I love your photos from 1977.. I’m sure it brought back a lot of memories! 😉 And the tea! It was very sweet of Joe to fulfill your desire of having high tea at The Empress, too.. 😉 The Butchart Gardens look really lovely, btw. I love how it is still beautifully maintained after a hundred years ago! Just wow!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:32 am
It did! I couldn’t believe I finally got to experience high tea at The Empress!
Ana Rose | Roads and PagesNovember 13, 2017 10:51 pm
Thank you for sharing to us your wonderful experience. Good to see your old photos dated 1977. That is such a long time. Good thing is that you were able to keep that photo of yours. Congratulations of being able to sip tea in the splendid “Empress.” You are so blessed.
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 14, 2017 6:33 am
When I started looking for the pictures, I was about to give up when I finally found them! Great memories!
BarryNovember 15, 2017 1:17 am
I love the design of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. Will have to arrange a trip to see them one day as from the pic BC looks great. The bear is very interesting too!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:33 pm
Victoria feels like you’re in Europe!
ShonaNovember 16, 2017 8:57 pm
We only had a day in Victoria on the end of an Alaskan cruise, but absolutely fell in love with it.
Happy you got to your High Tea, the Empress is certainly impressive.
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:34 pm
I felt like royalty!
Angie (FeetDoTravel)November 16, 2017 10:13 pm
What story about your trip and return to Victoria, and what better way to celebrate than with Champagne High Tea! I love high tea and would definitely do this, love the green ery of BC as well. Pinned for the future #feetdotravel
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:34 pm
Yes, I definitely felt like a princess!
Punita MalhotraNovember 16, 2017 11:28 pm
We are planning a trip to British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies next year. Do you recommend a 2-3 day trip to Victoria for exploring all these lovely sights? How would October be as the time to go to this part of the world?
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:36 pm
I think 2-3 days would be plenty in Victoria. The weather will be a little chilly in October, but it should still be fairly pleasant.
Russian voyagesNovember 18, 2017 12:06 am
Sounds like a great adventure! So nice to had a chance to revisit a place after so many years and get a lot of new memories. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:36 pm
Thank you for stopping by!
nehaNovember 19, 2017 12:47 am
Lots of awesome things to do in Victoria. I am sure the garden in particular will be a favorite amongst kids. And my kid would totally love it.The inner harbor definitely reminds one of Europe. Would love to visit here.
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:37 pm
It definitely feels like you’re in Europe.
IvyNovember 19, 2017 12:17 pm
I live in Vancouver and haven’t visited Victoria since I was in Grade 4, can you believe that?! I remember going to Buchart Gardens as a kid but that’s all I remember. I need to hop on a ferry over to check out the afternoon tea!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 19, 2017 3:39 pm
On one of our trips to Victoria, we were on a “loop” road trip from Seattle > Vancouver > Victoria. Go grab that ferry!
Scarlett BegoniasNovember 19, 2017 9:11 pm
“Poorly dressed peasants”, haha, that made me laugh! I love high tea, and would definitely do that when we get to Victoria. We are only about 6 hours south and didn’t make it when we visited BC. I definitely want to get here next year, it looks amazing! 🙂
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 24, 2017 8:58 am
You’re so close! Definitely plan a trip. It’s so easy with the ferry system.
Kreete TokmanNovember 25, 2017 7:38 pm
You have made me dream about the high tea now! What a wonderful time you guys had! The ferry system sounds so easy and convenient. Will pin this for later!
Pack Your BaguiosNovember 26, 2017 10:17 am
We love Victoria! Hope you can experience high tea there someday soon!