Lesson 3: Attractions
Saanich
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto Avenue
Just outside of Victoria along Highway 17, this 50-acre world famous garden was once a limestone quarry. The pathways lead to featured sites such as the Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and the Rose Garden. Open all year round, there is something to see. In the summer, the gardens are illuminated in the evening and visitors can enjoy nightly music entertainment with fireworks every Saturday. During the Christmas season, the garden is decorated with lights and other adornments. Musical entertainment is also provided during this season. If you are not renting a car, there are shuttle buses in the downtown area.
Photo by Howard Deutch of Garden Adventures
Butterfly Gardens
1461 Benvenuto Avenue
Located on the same road as Butchart Gardens, it is recommended to visit both gardens in one trip. This indoor tropical rainforest is home to butterflies and birds along with spectacular foliage. The waterfalls and streams add a pleasant touch to the scene of fluttering butterflies. Visitors will learn everything there is to know about the life cycle of butterflies. The garden is closed from November to February because the butterflies require more sunlight than what is available at that time of year.
Horticultural Centre of the Pacific
505 Quayle Road
Set on 103 acres in a rural environment, there are 5 acres of demonstration and teaching gardens. The remaining land is untouched for the purpose of preserving the natural plant and animal habitat. The Pacific Horticulture College on site offers accredited courses in landscaping and horticulture. There are workshops for home gardeners and guided tours for the general public.
Heritage Acres
7321 Lochside Drive
The Saanich Historical Artifacts Society is in charge of this property and is dedicated to the preservation of the Island's heritage. The ever-growing exhibits include a museum building, log cabin, mills, carpentry and blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, vehicles and trains. The Moody Building is believed to be the oldest building in British Columbia. This is a fine trip through yesteryear.
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Hwy 17A (West Saanich Road)
Perched on top of Little Saanich Mountain, this observatory was built in 1918. It is the center for optical astronomy research in Canada and the headquarters for the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics. The exhibit hall, the planetarium and the Plaskett Observatory & telescope are open to the public. On weekends, the observatory is open late for night sky viewing.
