sweettooth

What I want to do in Victoria are:
1. Butchart Garden Tour
2. Don Mee dim sum lunch in Downtown
3. The White Heather Tea Room (or alternative spot) for afternoon tea
4. BC Museum

I'll enter Victoria on Monday from Vancouver using PCL.
At first it looks easy taking PCL's "Butchart Gardens Tour & Victoria Highlights Tour", however I noticed the tour might finish around 3 or 4p.m. as it departs Vancouver only at 9:30a.m. This means I would miss dim sum, right!?

In this case, after checking-in the hotel do you think I can enjoy/have time to explore BC Museum? Must be hungry though...

Here's another plan:
If I leave Vancouver i.e. 7:30a.m. taking a regular bus/ferry ride, I'll be in Victoria at 10:30 so that I won't miss dim sum.
At 1p.m. there's a Gray Line bus tour for Butchart. I'll be able to be back to the city around 5p.m.

Do you think I pack my itinerary too much?

Another must-do in Victoria is afternon tea. As The White Heather closes on Mondays, I should go there on Tuesday.
Well it starts afternoon tea at 1:30p.m. how long does it usually take enjoying full afternoon tea time - 1.5 hours or 2 hours?

April

I don't think it's too much for two days.

If you had a car on the second day you could easily go to Butchart's - early before it gets too crowded, and then go to the White Heather in the afternoon.

If that isn't an option, it might be worth checking into the regular city bus schedule, which is cheaper than a tour to Butchart's although perhaps more of a challenge.

traveller69

Just so you know PCL runs a bus on a regular basis to the gardens. You do not have to take the tour you can take the bus there and back at your convenience. However, I don't know the schedule but it runs several times a day. The other thing I recommend is having tea at Murchies downtown. It is in my opinion better than White Heather and you don't need a car to get there. Murchies is on Government St just a few blocks from the Royal BC Museum.

http://www.murchies.com/ They have two seatings and you can make a reservation. If you go to their website and click on Victoria location and then afternoon tea you can see their tea menu. Believe me it is wonderful and you are not nearly as cramped as the White Heather.

scljkl

We are going from Seattle to Vancouver. Should we consider stopping in Victoria? Is it on the way?

californialindy

Victoria is one of my favorite cities. You can take the public bus to Butchart Gardens - as I remember it was direct with no transfers. Cheaper, and you can enjoy the neighborhoods you pass through. Don't miss the BC Museum - it is fabulous! Takes you through the history of British Columbia. And take a peek at the Empress Hotel. I think tea there is over-rated, but the lobby is worth a quick look. Have a great trip!

Cruiseryyc

Victoria is not on the way to Seattle, unless you want to take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria and then another ferry to get to Vancouver.

If you want to go the White Heather for tea, you will need a reservation as it is busy all year round. Another option for tea is out at Butchart's, the main restaurant serves tea daily, again a reservation would probably be required.