# Victoria, B.C. visit **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 20, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337 "2017-02-20T18:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/1 "2017-02-20T18:09:42Z")
I’m in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Victoria this summer or fall. If you’ve been or live there, what’s a good time of year to go, the best area to stay in, unusual things to do, etc.? I’ll be traveling with my 72 year old mom, so strenuous hikes are probably out, although botanical garden walks are fine. Thanks so much in advance!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/2 "2017-02-20T18:23:16Z")
This former San Diegan now lives in the northwest corner of Washington. I’ve only been to Victoria once, though. I’ll need to go back, since I missed out on the [Victoria Bug Zoo](http://www.victoriabugzoo.ca). We did go on a nice boat ride, though. We went one June for a long weekend, after wrapping a friend’s film. It was pouring rain when we got there, but it was sunny for the boat ride. Summer in this area tends to be sunny with temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-to-upper-80s. But, as I’ve just mentioned, it can be variable. Autumn, it always seems like someone toggles a switch in September or October. ‘OK, It’s Autumn now. Rain on.’ ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/3 "2017-02-20T18:27:19Z")
Beautiful city. I have friends and family there. The gardens are a highlight, of course. I believe there are a few low-key bus tours that might be suitable for an older participant. That might be a good starting point for other adventures. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/4 "2017-02-20T18:27:26Z")
I’m a long-time Island resident. I bet your mom would enjoy high tea at the Empress. Come in the summer when the downtown is warm, beautiful and bustling with interesting things to see and do. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/5 "2017-02-20T19:12:47Z")
> [@jellyblue](#): > > …botanical garden walks are fine. My mother liked the Butchart Gardens. I haven’t been, so I couldn’t tell you how much walking was involved. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/6 "2017-02-20T19:16:06Z")
Be sure to get a Nanaimo bar. Entirely too sweet, but since you’re on the island… ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/7 "2017-02-20T19:45:40Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > My mother liked the Butchart Gardens. I haven’t been, so I couldn’t tell you how much walking was involved. Butchart Gardens is a must see, and it’s not very strenuous at all. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/8 "2017-02-20T20:10:50Z")
Have High Tea at the Empress Hotel. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/9 "2017-02-20T20:22:42Z")
Thanks so much for the suggestions, everyone! When I looked up Victoria, the 1st 2 things I saw were “Afternoon Tea” and “Castle” and I thought, “This is it!!” :D. Besides the Empress, which seems a tad pricey, are there other places anyone could recommend to stay? Are there not-to-be-missed day excursions? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/10 "2017-02-20T20:25:13Z")
Getting there and back can be enjoyable too. Try the Blackball auto ferry Coho from Port Angeles to get there then return via a BC ferry to Vancouver - which is a beautiful sail through the Salish Sea & around many islands. In Victoria, both the Royal BC Museum and the Maritime Museum are interesting. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/11 "2017-02-20T20:47:12Z")
Speaking based on living in seattle and not Vancouver Island July and August should be almost guaranteed nice weather. September is probably good and as the summer rush slows down. October can be rainy. So, Sep would be my weather based recommendation. FWIW, do NOT eat Chinese food in Vancouver Island. It’s about as westernized Chinese food as one could expect to find. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/12 "2017-02-20T21:30:17Z")
We visited Victoria last August. I can’t speak for other times of year, but the weather was great. Butchart Gardens is amazing. The Royal BC Museum looked really interesting, although sadly the kids were cranky and we had to pass on it. We took a BC Ferry from Victoria to Vancouver and it was really great. Beautiful scenery, comfortable seating, pretty good food as well. Probably the most pleasant method of travel I’ve ever been on. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/13 "2017-02-20T22:06:36Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > FWIW, do NOT eat Chinese food in Vancouver Island. It’s about as westernized Chinese food as one could expect to find. We ate Chinese food someplace in Chinatown. I was not impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/14 "2017-02-20T23:56:23Z")
Another vote for Butchart Gardens. It’s beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/15 "2017-02-21T02:30:50Z")
Victoria is a massive retirement community. 🙂 If she likes beer, go to a pub like the Swann. You can also go on whale watching tours. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/16 "2017-02-21T03:37:40Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > You can also go on whale watching tours. Yeah, you are almost guaranteed to see orcas. They fly spotter planes beforehand so they know exactly where the orca pods are located. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/17 "2017-02-21T06:25:42Z")
Craigdarroch Castle, definitely. The home of a true Robber Baron, later a hospital and school, if I recall correctly. And…it is haunted! ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/18 "2017-02-21T07:20:31Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Yeah, you are almost guaranteed to see orcas. They fly spotter planes beforehand so they know exactly where the orca pods are located. A word on whale watching out of Victoria. If you take one of the zodiacs and the water is a bit choppy, you will get bounced around like crazy and freeze your petunias off in the resultant spray, even on a warm summer day. Not fun for an hour each way. If you go whale watching, take one of the big, slow boats where you can walk around in shelter. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/19 "2017-02-23T05:23:33Z")
Just cruising back in to thank everyone again for their thoughtful suggestions - I really appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victoria-b-c-visit/780337/20 "2017-02-23T16:52:08Z")
Perhaps you could visit the [McBarge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McBarge). More pics and info [here](http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/06/want-fries-with-that-creepy-floating-mcdonalds-that-has-been-abandoned-for-nearly-30-years-2/).