Victoria Butterfly Gardens
A SARA LONGWING BUTTERFLY (HELECONIUS
SARA) AT VICTORIA BUTTERFLY GARDEN.
If one is limited to the beauty of Victoria but they want to
view and experience the true allure of the tropics, the Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a must visit. When one roams freely
through this garden of butterflies, these colorful beauties
aren’t the only animals to discover. Many fish inhabit the
streams such as koi, goldfish, jack dempseys, albino oscars,
tetras, barbs, jaguar cichlids, and plecos. Around the fish
are Australian whistling tree ducks, flamingos, and red
eared slider turtles. To keep the tropical feel for the visitors
and the animals, Victoria Butterfly Gardens controls the
environment so that the plants can flourish away from their
native tropical rainforest. The organic soil of the Victoria
Butterfly Gardens contains many different foods including
Vanilla bean, ginger, coffee beans, pineapple, and papaya
trees. This herbicide and pesticide free compilation of trees,
bushes and vines is a mere five minutes from the internationally known Butchart Gardens.
MORE INFORMATION 1461 Benvento Ave., Victoria,
250-652-3822, 877-722-0272. www.butterflygardens.com.
Open daily 10 am to 4 pm. Admission $16.00 adults, $11.00
seniors, $11.00 students (13-17), $5.00 children (5-12).
Fairmont Empress
LOOKING AT THE INNER HARBOUR, THE
FAIRMONT EMPRESS IS ONE OF VICTORIA’S
OLDEST AND MOST LUXURIOUS HOTELS.
Located on Government Street, looking at the Inner Harbour, stands one of Victoria’s oldest and most luxurious
hotels. The Empress, a well known Victorian landmark,
has been designated as a National Historic site of Canada.
The hotel’s 477 rooms all enjoy a view of either the Inner
Harbour or the hotel’s rear courtyard gardens. Fairmont
Empress has four restaurants and features a world renowned English afternoon tea. If you’re feeling stressed
out at the end of the day, you can book a service at the
serene Willow Stream Spa. This luxurious hotel was given
several awards including Travel + Leisure Best Hotels of
the World and was placed on the Conde Nast Gold List.
The Empress was recognized as Victoria’s first Five Green
Key hotel for its sustainability practices.
MORE INFORMATION The Empress, 721 Government St.,
Victoria, BC, V8W 1W5, 250-384-811. www.fairmont.com/
empress. Reservations required for afternoon tea.
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