🇨🇦 Victoria Day Trip Guide (Food + Itinerary Details)

🛳️ BC Ferries Book tickets in advance (I booked 10 days early) 🚶‍♀️ Passenger: $17 | 🚗 Vehicle: $85 Slightly cheaper for the earliest and latest sailings ⛴️ 7:15 AM – Arrive at the terminal and queue The line starts moving 20 minutes before departure 📌 Note: Check-in required between 1 hour and 30 minutes before sailing ⛴️ Sailing time: ~1.5 hours ☕️ Coffee shop on board sells breakfast pastries and cakes 🕘 9:50 AM – Arrive at Vancouver Island terminal 🌸 Butchart Gardens (10:30 AM – 12:15 PM) 🎟️ Ticket: $47 (can be purchased on-site) Three main areas: Sunken Garden: Most elaborate, widest variety of flowers, with a fountain Rose Garden: All kinds of roses 🌹 Japanese Garden: Landscape-focused, features two red bridges 🎋 🏰 Hatley Castle (12:45 – 1:30 PM) Historic castle architecture, not too crowded, great for photos 📸 ☕ Murchie’s Fine Tea & Coffee (2:00 – 2:30 PM) Tiramisu: Light, soft, with a hint of coffee liqueur Cheesecake: Tart jam, not too sweet, well-balanced Oat Latte: Slightly bitter, pairs well with sweets Great value! Also sells cups, tea, and coffee 🍵 🐟 Red Fish Blue Fish (2:30 – 3:30 PM) ⏱️ Waited 40 minutes in line—but totally worth it! Fish is super fresh, coating is crispy Fries are fried to order (only 3 portions at a time)—so fragrant! 🍟 📸 Fan Tan Alley (3:30 – 5:00 PM Not many unique shops, but worth a quick visit if time allows 🍝 Il Terrazzo (5:00 – 6:30 PM) Reservation highly recommended! It was already full at 5 PM 1️⃣ Cervo (Venison): No gamey taste, tender like steak. Side dish was a bit abstract though 😅 2️⃣ Spaghetti Carbonara with Beef: Extremely tender and flavorful! Most ordered dish (seafood pasta also popular) 📚 Munro’s Bookstore 🍫 Roger’s Chocolate Their 72% dark chocolate tastes even better than Läderach’s! 🍦 Chocolats Favoris Wanted to try but was too full… 🌇 Return Trip No traffic (maybe because it wasn’t the weekend) Navigate to: Swartz Bay (Victoria) Ferry Terminal - BC Ferries Boarded at 9 PM just in time for sunset glow 🌅 (a bit chilly on the deck!) #Canada #VictoriaIsland #VancouverTravel #VancouverLife #ExploreVancouver