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The Butchart Gardens is 55 acres of gardens and a National Historic Site. It began with Jennie Butchart in 1912, when she started to transform a limestone quarry into today’s Sunken Garden. Generations of Butcharts have expanded the garden and added attractions such as an evening fireworks show in the summer and the children’s carousel. The current owner is Robin-Lee Clarke, who is Jennie Butchart’s great-granddaugther.
In May, ticket prices are $31.45 for adults, $15.75 for youths 13-17, and $2 for children 5-12. Admission is good for the whole day and re-entry is permissible with a stamp. You can also bring your ticket back the very next day and pay only $3.50, $2.50 or $1.00 for adults, youths and children, respectively. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Since online tickets have no dates assigned, note that you will be charged the highest rate (summer) and only be refunded the difference when you enter. We recommend buying tickets at the door.In May, admission is open between 9am and 5pm. As long as you enter before 5pm, you will be able to wander around the gardens until 6pm.
During the conference, the garden will be well in its “Spring” season. To see a regularly updated blog of plants growing now, see:https://www.butchartgardens.com/category/gardening/. Currently, the gardens has tulips in bloom, lots of bulbs and blossoms on trees. They also have some nice dining options, however, their dinner service does not begin until June 1. Instead, their formal service restaurant, the Dining Room (https://www.butchartgardens.com/restaurant/the-dining-room/) is currently open for afternoon tea from 11am to 4pm daily as well as lunch from 11am to 3pm. They also have a more casual restaurant, The Blue Poppy (https://www.butchartgardens.com/restaurant/blue-poppy-restaurant/), serving lunch from 11am to 4pm.
The address is 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8. It is accessible by car (free parking), public transit and with transportation companies.For car or public transit, click here for Google Map directions from the Conference Centre to Butchart Gardens. Driving takes about 30 minutes without traffic. Check Google Maps for bus schedules.CVS Tours offer regular service from Downtown Victoria to the Gardens starting at $70 (includes admission and roundtrip travel). Tours leave hourly from 9am to 3pm in front of the Empress hotel and there are also return buses every hour. There is a stop at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens (add $10 for admission) which is near the Butchart Gardens. The trip takes about 40 minutes one-way, including this stop.
We have over 25 years experience sharing Victoria and Vancouver Island’s marine ecosystems. SpringTide’s Whale and Marine Nature Tours will take you through some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery that British Columbia has to offer. Join us on our comfortable 61ft Covered Yacht, or for a more adventurous ride hop aboard one of our high speed open Zodiacs.
Enjoy a Whale Watching tour Wednesday morning during our break (tours at 2 p.m.) or any other time. In order to receive the $30 discount just reserve directly with SpringTide. Click this link https://www.victoriawhalewatching.com/whale-watching-booking-form/ and enter the word “CONFERENCE” in our promo code section of the booking form and the discount will automatically be applied. The cool thing about this promo code is that is extends to all attendee’s family & friends and it is valid all year round! If you would like to reserve over the phone with Springtide, you can do so by calling either 1250.384.4444 or 1800.470.3474 and their awesome staff will book you in!
Victoria is a beautiful area to cycle and it is very bike friendly, with many bike paths and bike lanes. A few rules to keep in mind:
The Pedaler Cycling tours:
Cycle BC Rentals and tours
Sports Rent
The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) is Canada’s national telescope, and has been continuously used for research for 101 years this month. Conference attendees are welcome to visit DAO during their free afternoon on Wednesday. DAO is about 30 minutes drive from the Victoria Convention Centre. Carpools to DAO are being organized HERE. DAO Director James Di Francesco will lead a free tour of the DAO’s 1.8-m Plaskett Telescope and dome at 3:30 pm, and afterwards visitors can explore NRC’s Centre of the Universe, adjacent to the Plaskett Telesscope. Come see some of Victoria’s astronomy history and see the great views of the local countryside this Wednesday!