Victoria’s Butchart Gardens – Keep Calm and Wander

Butchart Gardens - Keep Calm and Wander

At Butchart Gardens in Victoria (British Columbia), the flowers will happily welcome you. This is one of Canada’s largest gardens with a designation as a National Historic Site. As you can guess from its name, there are gardens within this huge garden that was made possible by Jennie Butchart, wife of a Canadian businessman who manufactured Portland Cement. Today, the garden receives one million visitors every year and these pictures below will tell you why.

Taking a bus to Butchart Gardens

On a beautiful Spring day, I spent my whole morning strolling from one garden to another. From downtown Victoria, I took a bus early to avoid the heat that was predicted that day. It took me around 45 minutes to arrive there. Though the bus won’t stop at the gate of Butchart Gardens, the bus driver was kind to drop me off at the exact stop/location and walked from there.

Before coming here, it is better to check out the gardens’ virtual tour on their website. If you want to be surprised, then avoid doing it. However, once you arrive and pay your entrance fee, remember to get a map so you will be guided on where to start and go. The dominant flowers here were tulips of different colours.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Southern Vancouver Island Gay Travel Resources

Gay Vancouver Island for Romance – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Vancouver Island for Romance - The Nomadic Boys

Vancouver Island is a fabulous place for a romantic weekend getaway in British Colombia – Canada’s westernmost province. Despite the name, it’s actually far from Vancouver downtown and involves either a short plane ride, or car/ferry ride to reach it. We came here for a weekend retreat during our trip in Vancouver and completely fell in love. There are many highly rated restaurants, beautiful sceneries to explore, and even a few wineries to check out. Yup – Canadian wine is a thing!

Following our trip, we’ve put together our 5 favourite romantic things to do in Vancouver Island, which we hope will inspire your trip. Please note the island is huge, and we only saw a glimpse of it, so there are of course many many more things one can embellish this list with!

The Hydropath at the Pacific Mist Spa

One of the most relaxing things we did as a couple on Vancouver Island is the Hydropath circuit at the Kingfisher hotel. We chose it because every local we asked for tips on what to do in Vancouver Island, suggested this. This is a guided circuit in what feels like an underwater sea cave. The circuit took us around various wellness pools including a mineral massage pool, waterfall massage, steam cave, tidal bath and more. Our favourite was the final bath, which included a sand and seaweed body scrub, presented on a large scallop shell.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Vancouver Island Gay Travel Resources