Excursions & Extras

Craigdarroch Castle

In addition to teatime, we'll have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of the city's flavors and traditions:

• Butchart Gardens -   The Butchart Gardens is one of the world's premier show gardens, and a designated National Historic Site of Canada. Admission is included in the overall cost of this tea tour
• Chinatown -  Behind the Edwardian Classical and Renaissance building facades are private interiors and secret passageways, concealed residents, remnants of opium factories, gambling dens, brothels. The original structures house restaurants and stores connected by a labyrinth of alleys still unseen by outsiders. This "east meets west" portal helped establish and develop Canada. Founded during the Manchu or Qing (ch-ing) dynasty, Old Chinatown retains many gracious traditions and customs. Chinese festivals and celebrations along with the arts and recreation continue as they have for many generations. A century old Chinese School (est. 1909) runs full time and an ancient temple, herbal medicine shops, vegetable markets, music clubs and acupuncture clinics are among the services in this community.
• *Craigdarroch Castle museum home - Craigdarroch Castle is an example of a “bonanza castle”, massive houses built for men who became wealthy because of the industrial transformation of North America. $13.75 CAD
• *Harbor-side Horse-drawn Carriage ride -  Tally-Ho is Victoria's original horse-drawn tour company that has been creating unforgettable memories for visitors and locals alike since 1903!
• *Hidden Dragon Lantern Walk - tour of old Chinatown, with lanterns! 1.5 hours. $29 CAD
• *Miniature World - located in the Empress Hotel complex, this attraction features doll houses, The Great Canadian Railway, an Enchanted Valley of Castles, and many more minis to delight and enthrall you. $15 CAD
• Parliament Building -  Visitors are welcome to join a free public tour or to explore the building on their own self-guided tour. Guided tours begin from the waiting room inside of the Main Entrance and are offered regularly throughout the day. Tours are available 9am-5pm and last approximately 30 – 45 minutes
• *Royal British Museum - "The Royal BC Museum Corporation is one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures. The museum was founded in 1886; the Archives, in 1894. In 2003, these two organizations joined to become British Columbia’s combined provincial museum and archives, collecting artifacts, documents and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history, safeguarding them for the future, and sharing them with the world." Open daily 10am-5pm. $23 CAD

We also have a full list of additional options on our Off-the-Books page.