May 6 - May 13, 2025
Starting at
3,699
British Columbia
Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens
Program No. 2679RJ
Discover the botanical beauty of Victoria and Vancouver, where a blend of Asian, First Nation and European aesthetics combine to create some of the world’s most stunning gardens.
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800-454-5768
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DATES
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PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 6 - May 13, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
8 days
7 nights
16 meals
7B 4L 5D
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Vancouver, British Columbia
2
Intro to Vancouver, Van Dusen, Queen Elizabeth Gardens
Vancouver, British Columbia
3
Plant Presentation, Nitobe, UBC Botanical Gardens, Free Time
Vancouver, British Columbia
4
Butchart Gardens
Victoria, BC
7
Horticulture Centre, Abkhazi Garden, Afternoon Tea
Victoria, BC
8
Program Concludes
Victoria, BC
At a Glance
Cradled by sheltered waters and dramatic mountains and freshened by a gentle coastal climate, Vancouver is a city filled with parks and forests whose gardens reflect the city’s blend of cosmopolitanism, natural beauty and art. Across the Strait of Georgia, on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria’s Edwardian architecture accentuates the city’s Britannic refinement, of which no lovelier example exists than the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Explore both cities and their gardens, uncovering rich history, natural beauty, First Nations heritage and more.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 3 - 4 miles over some rocky and hilly terrain.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Discover Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden, a classical Chinese garden.
- Join a horticulturalist who will take you behind the scenes to the elegant Queen Victoria Gardens to experience the area's colonial past.
- Explore the renowned Butchart Gardens where some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October.
General Notes
You may enjoy our easier paced Signature City program, "Signature Cities Vancouver & Victoria" (#20578).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
John Adams
John Adams is the author of “Old Square-Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas.” Part historian and part storyteller, John has turned a passion for the past into a long career in history. His family-owned business, Discover the Past, provides a variety of historical educational programs for the community. His natural, lively, humorous and clear style makes his presentations both informative and memorable.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
John Adams
View biography
John Adams is the author of “Old Square-Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas.” Part historian and part storyteller, John has turned a passion for the past into a long career in history. His family-owned business, Discover the Past, provides a variety of historical educational programs for the community. His natural, lively, humorous and clear style makes his presentations both informative and memorable.
Phil Foster
View biography
A lover of math and physics, Phil graduated from Exeter University in England with a teaching degree. His long career in education has spanned three continents; he spent time in small communities and cities throughout England, Australia and Canada teaching and learning about each country’s unique culture. Truly passionate about spreading knowledge to others and about travelling, Phil loves nothing more than taking people on educational walks through historic Victoria, showing them what makes his home special.
Chris Adams
View biography
Chris was raised in Victoria and attended the University of Victoria where he received his BA in history. Chris spent many years of his early adult life in the UK and received a diploma in human ecology from Strathclyde University in Glasgow. He and his wife now live in Victoria with their two children. Chris is a historian, storyteller and interpretive leader. In his spare time, he is a hard-working urban farmer, tending flocks of chickens, ducks and quail, along with many hives of bees.
Alasdair Butcher
View biography
Alasdair Butcher is a Vancouver-born and based local expert, community organizer, and educator. He has a B.A.H. in human geography from the University of British Columbia and a master's in urban studies from Simon Fraser University. In 2008, he founded Vancouver DeTours with the aim of reclaiming travel as an act of educational empowerment. Since then, he has taken more than 100,000 guests on explorations of Vancouver's social history, architecture, urban planning, public art, and contemporary topics through an approach he calls "pedestrian pedagogy."
Lori Snyder
View biography
Lori Snyder is an Indigenous Metis herbalist and educator with a deep knowledge of wild, medicinal, and edible plants that grow in everyday spaces. Through Lori’s eyes, our immediate surroundings take on a new life and offer a wealth of untapped nutritional and ecological resources. Through Indigenous methods, Lori leads people of diverse backgrounds in reconnecting to the Earth’s wisdom. Lori's vision is to continually co-create insightful dialogues, and to remediate and reconcile with Indigenous plants as we reintroduce them into urban landscapes.
Suggested Reading List
(11 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens
Program Number: 2679
Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form
An in-depth analysis of the form, shape and texture of the art of the Northwest Coast Indians by an artist, teacher and expert in the field, illustrated throughout.
Snow Falling on Cedars
A beautifully wrought, extremely evocative novel set on San Piedro Island in Puget Sound in the 1950s. Readers are rewarded not only with some fine storytelling and beautiful prose, but also with a vivid glimpse of island life.
The Raven Steals the Light
A classic collection of 10 Haida myths and legends with accompanying black and white etchings by Vancouver artist Bill Reid. These stories capture the storytelling traditions of the Haida.
Art of the Northwest Coast
A survey of Pacific Northwest art and artistic traditions from Puget Sound to Alaska, featuring thought-provoking essays by art historian Jonaitis along with 152 illustrations, 89 in color.
The Island Within
A beautifully written tribute to the Pacific Northwest. Drawn from the author's journals, this is an account of the natural and cultural history of an island in the waters of Haida Strait, focusing on geology, marine life, wildlife, habitats and Koyukon heritage. Much in the tradition of Barry Lopez, the author focuses on the relationship between people and the land.
Exploring Vancouver: Ten Tours of the City and its Buildings
Harold Kalman and Robin Ward, long-time chroniclers of Vancouver, offer an authoritative and highly readable book about Vancouver’s most interesting places and explain how, why and by whom the city’s urban environment was created.
The West Beyond the West, A History of British Columbia
PAPER, 834 PAGES, $32.95
A general history of the Canadian province from the 18th century to the mid-1990s. (Item no. CND116)
Vancouver Then and Now
This installment in the Then and Now series takes stock of Vancouver’s evolution by placing antique photographs side-by-side with contemporary ones. It peels back the years so that readers can see city fixtures as they once were.
Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest: A Complete Guide, Second Edition
Discover more than four hundred bird species in Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, the quintessential guide for serious birders or those who are ready to take their bird-watching to the next level. Now in its Second Edition, this bestselling field guide is fully updated to conform to recent comprehensive revisions to taxonomic standards and sequencing of avian families, making it consistent with the most current print and online resources.
Great Bear Wild
A colorful photographic journey through the Great Bear Rainforest that follows the coast from Vancouver Island to southern Alaska; McAllister captures the spectacular landscapes and wildlife, including wolves, whales and bears.
The Last Great Sea, A Voyage Through the Human and Natural History of the North Pacific Ocean
A wide-ranging conservation history of British Columbia and the North Pacific Ocean. Glavin lives in the Gulf Islands, where he writes frequently about fisheries and environmental issues facing the region.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
8 days
Program Begins
Vancouver, British Columbia
Program Concludes
Victoria, BC
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
16
| 7B |
4L |
5D |
Activity Level
Cradled by sheltered waters and dramatic mountains and freshened by a gentle coastal climate, Vancouver is a city filled with parks and forests whose gardens reflect the city’s blend of cosmopolitanism, natural beauty and art. Across the Strait of Georgia, on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria’s Edwardian architecture accentuates the city’s Britannic refinement, of which no lovelier example exists than the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Explore both cities and their gardens, uncovering rich history, natural beauty, First Nations heritage and more.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Discover Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden, a classical Chinese garden.
- Join a horticulturalist who will take you behind the scenes to the elegant Queen Victoria Gardens to experience the area's colonial past.
- Explore the renowned Butchart Gardens where some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October.
General Notes
You may enjoy our easier paced Signature City program, "Signature Cities Vancouver & Victoria" (#20578).
Featured Expert
John Adams
John Adams is the author of “Old Square-Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas.” Part historian and part storyteller, John has turned a passion for the past into a long career in history. His family-owned business, Discover the Past, provides a variety of historical educational programs for the community. His natural, lively, humorous and clear style makes his presentations both informative and memorable.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Phil Foster
A lover of math and physics, Phil graduated from Exeter University in England with a teaching degree. His long career in education has spanned three continents; he spent time in small communities and cities throughout England, Australia and Canada teaching and learning about each country’s unique culture. Truly passionate about spreading knowledge to others and about travelling, Phil loves nothing more than taking people on educational walks through historic Victoria, showing them what makes his home special.
Chris Adams
Chris was raised in Victoria and attended the University of Victoria where he received his BA in history. Chris spent many years of his early adult life in the UK and received a diploma in human ecology from Strathclyde University in Glasgow. He and his wife now live in Victoria with their two children. Chris is a historian, storyteller and interpretive leader. In his spare time, he is a hard-working urban farmer, tending flocks of chickens, ducks and quail, along with many hives of bees.
Alasdair Butcher
Alasdair Butcher is a Vancouver-born and based local expert, community organizer, and educator. He has a B.A.H. in human geography from the University of British Columbia and a master's in urban studies from Simon Fraser University. In 2008, he founded Vancouver DeTours with the aim of reclaiming travel as an act of educational empowerment. Since then, he has taken more than 100,000 guests on explorations of Vancouver's social history, architecture, urban planning, public art, and contemporary topics through an approach he calls "pedestrian pedagogy."
Lori Snyder
Lori Snyder is an Indigenous Metis herbalist and educator with a deep knowledge of wild, medicinal, and edible plants that grow in everyday spaces. Through Lori’s eyes, our immediate surroundings take on a new life and offer a wealth of untapped nutritional and ecological resources. Through Indigenous methods, Lori leads people of diverse backgrounds in reconnecting to the Earth’s wisdom. Lori's vision is to continually co-create insightful dialogues, and to remediate and reconcile with Indigenous plants as we reintroduce them into urban landscapes.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 3 - 4 miles over some rocky and hilly terrain.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(11 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
16 meals | 7B | 4L | 5D |
4 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Meals:
D
Stay:
Coast Coal Harbour
Activity Note
Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 pm.
Afternoon:
Program registration begins at 4:00 pm. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner:
Enjoy a welcome dinner at 6:00 pm in the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Day
2
Intro to Vancouver, Van Dusen, Queen Elizabeth Gardens
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Coast Coal Harbour
Activity Note
Getting on and off a motorcoach. Walking for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km)
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will be joined by a local expert for a lecture focusing on the history and evolution of Vancouver into a modern and progressive city. Next, discover the VanDusen Botanical Garden with a local expert. This 55-acre garden features a Scottish shelter in the Heather garden, a hexagonal Korean Pavilion, and an Elizabethan Maze made of 3,000 pyramidal cedars.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
This afternoon we visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, named after the man considered the father of modern China. This garden is the first Chinese “scholar’s” garden built outside of China and is an authentic representation of the garden tradition that reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Next, we will explore the stunning Queen Elizabeth Park with the group leader. This beautiful park is the highest point within the city, with incredible views and 130 acres covered with flowers, gardens and trees.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day
3
Plant Presentation, Nitobe, UBC Botanical Gardens, Free Time
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Meals:
B
Stay:
Coast Coal Harbour
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile (1.6 km) on pavement and stone walkways, some periods of standing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will start our day with a presentation from a local Indigenous Herbalist. Learn about the wild, medicinal and edible plants that grow in the Vancouver area. We will then explore the Nitobe Memorial Garden with a local expert. The garden is designed as a traditional Japanese Garden and celebrates the memory of Dr. Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933), who strove to create an understanding of Japanese culture in the West. We then visit the UBC Botanical Gardens and learn about plants from all over the world, and wander through a variety of gardens including a woodland garden, food garden, and Carolinian forest garden.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At your leisure.
Day
4
Butchart Gardens
Location:
Victoria, BC
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hotel Grand Pacific
Activity Note
Getting on and off a motorcoach and ferry. The ferry to Victoria is 24 nautical miles and takes approximately 1.5 hours; participants will be responsible for boarding and disembarking the ferry with their luggage. Walking up to one mile (1.6 km) on paved paths and groomed trails. Some standing, and stairs with railings.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We'll transfer by coach and ferry from Vancouver to Victoria.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like on the ferry.
Afternoon:
A local expert will join us on the coach to introduce us to the Butchart Gardens. Learn about the history of the gardens, and the garden’s namesake, Jennie Butchart. Explore the Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site with 55 acres of floral displays and expansive lawns. Wander through the Sunken Garden, see the Ross Fountain, and the Japanese, Rose, and Italian gardens. Maps and flower guides will be provided on arrival for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At your leisure.
Day
5
History of Victoria, Inner Harbour Walking Tour, Free Time
Location:
Victoria, BC
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hotel Grand Pacific
Activity Note
Walking 1.5 miles on gravel paths, and mostly flat ground.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, learn about the historic city of Victoria with a local historian who will explain the social economic forces which shaped the city and gave it a sense of British charm. Then, explore Victoria’s Old Town and Inner Harbour on foot, and see the Victorian architecture on display on Wharf Street, the historic Empress Hotel, as well as the British Columbia Parliament buildings.
Lunch:
At a sea side restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. You might like to take a walk along historic Government Street, have tea at one of the numerous tea houses or the spectacular Empress Hotel, or explore Inner Harbour.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to continue exploring local sites, take a horse-drawn carriage ride or harbor ferry exploration, explore Beacon Hill park, walk along the seaside trail, just relax.
Day
6
Government House,City Tour, Beacon Hill Park, Private Garden
Location:
Victoria, BC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Grand Pacific
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles (4.8 km) on pavement, packed gravel, and some uneven ground; standing during field trips.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Roam the gardens of Government House, home to the Lieutenant Governor, the Queen’s Representative in British Columbia, and marvel at the dozens of distinctive gardens, from an extensive rockery, to a formal tapestry planting of Mediterranean herbs. Next, embark on an exploration by coach of Victoria’s iconic landmarks and neighborhoods, including the Government House, Mile Zero, Beacon Hill Park, Oak Bay, the University of Victoria, Mount Tolmie and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Lunch:
Taste local cuisine at a nearby restaurant.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we will explore Beacon Hill Park, a Victorian Park which includes bridges, lakes, ponds, and an alpine garden. A local expert will walk the grounds with us as we see the numerous species of ducks, birds, and peacocks which roam the grounds of Garry Oak, Arbutus, Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar, birch and maple trees. Then we will have an exclusive visit to a private garden in the James Bay neighbourhood.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At your leisure.
Day
7
Horticulture Centre, Abkhazi Garden, Afternoon Tea
Location:
Victoria, BC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Grand Pacific
Activity Note
Getting on and off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles (3.2 km) on uneven terrain in public and private gardens, concrete and gravel paths; standing during field trips. Variable weather conditions.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
Today we will visit the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific with a gardening expert. This non-profit gardener’s garden is devoted to conservation, research, and life-long learning. There are more than a dozen specialist and seasonal gardens cared for by staff, students and volunteers.
Lunch:
Enjoy afternoon tea service, including fresh baking and delicate savouries at the Abkhazi Garden Tea House.
Afternoon:
Explore with an expert the Abkhazi Gardens which features splendid rhododendron displays, and Japanese maples situated on glaciated rocky slopes surrounding a heritage house.
Dinner:
Enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
Reminisce with your fellow Road Scholar travelers and share your favorite memories during our final evening together.
Day
8
Program Concludes
Location:
Victoria, BC
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out is at 11:00 am.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
16 Meals
7 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- May 06, 2025 - May 13, 2025
- May 06, 2025 - May 13, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- May 20, 2025 - May 27, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Jun 03, 2025 - Jun 10, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Jun 17, 2025 - Jun 24, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Jul 15, 2025 - Jul 22, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Aug 05, 2025 - Aug 12, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Aug 19, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
- Sep 09, 2025 - Sep 16, 2025 (Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, BC)
Participant Reviews
Based on 31 Reviews
Sort By:
Parts of the trip were excellent. Once we only were allotted 15 minutes to see one garden. Another time we only had 45 minutes to see one of the best gardens on the trip. I think maybe visiting fewer sites would have been beneficial. IMHO you could skip the Chinese garden in Vancouver, it was a bit run down. I liked the UBC botanical garden, but other ones were even better.
Let's talk about the accommodations. In Vancouver they were top notch! I was super impressed with the hotel. But our hotel was switched on us in Victoria and it was ancient, run-down, and didn't have A/C. My room was on the sunny side of the hotel where the sun beat down (it was quite hot the first day) and my room was probably 85 degrees. There was poor airflow as well, so my room never really cooled down until the next day. There was a big window, but no screen, so the bugs had easy access to my room. Not everyone had rooms as uncomfortable as mine. They gave me two fans, almost as old as the hotel, to make up for the lack of AC, but blowing hot air around just doesn't cut it.
For some reason about 5 of our meals had almost identical pre-fix menus. I got pretty tired of the same choices over and over.
A nice hotel had been booked but they switched us to the ancient and decrepit Royal Scott. No refund or compensation for what was probably a money saving move.
If they hadn't done the bait and switch on the hotel and had given us a bit more variety in menus, I would've been much happier with the trip. The leader was fine, the lectures were good -- some even great by my reckoning. Most of the gardens were really awesome.
— Review left August 16, 2024
I live close enough to travel to Vancouver by myself, but I saw many more gardens than I would have on my own. And the garden experts they arranged for really made the gardens become more meaningful.
— Review left July 5, 2024
Even a non-gardener will enjoy this trip. Nice mix of lectures and gardens. Fantastic friendly group of tour members. Julia was a great tour leader.
— Review left June 27, 2024
A trip to cherish - Glorious Gardens of Vancouver and Victoria Tour!
— Review left June 7, 2024
This was a wonderful trip to a beautiful place. Our Guide, Sharon, was great and the group was great too. We saw many beautiful gardens and learned so much. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left October 26, 2023
As a Road Scholar newbie, this trip made a delightful first impression. The gardens were all top notch and curated to each offer something different and unique. The tour leader and local guides shared great stories about each location, making the garden and history theme flow right on through. Logistics were well managed, leaving time to enjoy each stop without having to sweat the details. Tour members were all great company, making each day more fun and interesting than the day before. While I usually travel independently, this tour relieved me of the usual travel responsibilities without having to sacrifice sightseeing opportunities. I actually saw and learned more in less time than if I had traveled on my own.
— Review left October 5, 2023
The gardens are every bit as wonderful as you anticipate...Maybe more so. The cities of Vancouver and Victoria are treasures, and definitely fun to explore. Well conceived and organized programs.
— Review left September 23, 2023
Our program was accurately described in the Road Scholar materials. The level of physical activity described in the brochure was exactly what we experienced on our trip. Our Group Leader and all of our Instructors were professional and approachable. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We will come back to Road Scholar for more adventures !!
— Review left September 2, 2023
Great program. I loved both hotels. ALL the gardens are worth visiting but Butchart gardens ranks among the most beautiful I have ever seen. Vancouver is a great city to visit but I was charmed even more by Victoria.
— Review left September 2, 2023
You will be kept on your toes, thinking about gardens that range from showstoppers to backyard roosts. The vexing history of gardens on the Pacific Coast and the present-day social pressures that shape this environment are a big part of the story. Our guides were great story-tellers. They easily held our attention, taught everyone a lot, and never fell into the role of local boosters.
— Review left August 24, 2023
This was a nice trip. The travelers on the tour were really nice and we enjoyed the trip more because of them. However, the guide was just going through the motions and seemed very disconnected with the participants. Having been on other RS tours with wonderful guides, it was notable. Julia was nice enough, just not interested in getting to know our names or anything about us. She was competent but appeared to not have a sense of humor, which helps a lot.
The gardens were very nice. Buchart gardens was lovely, particularly the sunken garden and the Japanese gardens were peaceful and serene. I really didn't need to know the name of every flower and leaf in every garden, but did come away knowing more than before. The guides at each site were great.
The first hotel in Vancouver was excellent but the second in Victoria was old and weird, with tons of furniture in each room. It didn't feel very clean and there were silverfish running through periodically.
The meals were good except we had to wait for our meals, sometimes over an hour. This was strange, because we ordered way ahead of time and were the first ones in the restaurants (at Finns) The breakfasts were fine.
Over half of our group, out of 23, got COVID, and we have been really sick, in spite of being vaccinated. Unfortunately, this puts a cloud over the whole trip and we wish we would have stayed home.
— Review left August 11, 2023
Canadians love to garden and this trip tours several lovely and unique gardens in a beautiful part of the world!
— Review left July 19, 2023
You will be amazed by the beauty of the flowers and landscapes in Vancouver and Victoria. If you love gardening or the outdoors, this is the tour for you.
— Review left July 13, 2023
Great leader, well organized, and was exposed to a lot of great and beautiful gardens.
— Review left June 17, 2023
Great gardens in a great setting. Optimal experience.
— Review left May 30, 2023
Really fantastic trip! we went to numerous interesting and beautiful gardens, all of which had great, knowledgeable guides. Hotels were comfortable, clean and near the main areas of interest. If i were asked to improve this trip I would prefer to get up for breakfast at 8 instead of 7. I know they wanted us to eat before the other travelers came in, but that schedule was just too tiring. Maybe pick a hotel with a bigger dining area?
— Review left November 7, 2022
Many wonderful activities in addition to touring beautiful gardens (but you don't need to be a master gardener to appreciate this trip!) I really gained a deeper understanding of First Nation culture.
— Review left August 10, 2022
The cities of Vancouver and Victoria were just gorgeous. As interesting and lovely as the gardens themselves. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and thoughtful. Both of the lodgings were nice with great locations. I would love to visit the cities again.
— Review left July 31, 2022
This program offers a tour of many gardens, and in Vancouver/Victoria, they are especially terrific. Accommodations were good, food was plentiful and delicious and usually varied, time was well proportioned. I learned interesting and enlightening information about the Japanese and Chinese gardens in Vancouver. Free time was ample and allowed me to walk miles in Vancouver and Victoria. You don't have to know about individual plants in order to appreciate the esthetics of gardens, their blend of colors, textures, and even aromas.
— Review left July 18, 2022
My bucket list dream trip that exceeded expectations. I want to do it again in a different season.
— Review left July 13, 2022
Enjoyed visiting all the Botanical and Rose gardens in Vancouver & Victoria BS. Well worth the price of the trip. A must see tour.
— Review left July 6, 2022
This program is wonderful. The gardens are superlative, the organization of the trip is excellent, and I greatly enjoyed getting to know the other participants.
— Review left July 1, 2022
If the weather cooperates, this program can be highly recommended.
— Review left June 10, 2022
If you love gardens, this trip is for you.
— Review left June 3, 2022
Be wary of a Covid infection and the complications it can cause when traveling internationally.
— Review left May 25, 2022
Touring the beautiful gardens of Vancouver and Victoria was a delight to the eyes and spirit. Every single day we were treated to unbelievably beautiful gardens, led by knowledgeable, friendly tour guides. I want to go back for more!
— Review left October 14, 2019
Road Scholar is a wonderful educational traveling experience. Well organized, friendly and knowledgeable guides. The West Coast Garden experience in Vancouver and Victoria is an experience I will cherish. Thank you!!
— Review left August 28, 2019
If you love gardens and being by the ocean, great food and interesting fellow-travelers, then this program is for you.
— Review left June 18, 2019
A great program if you are a gardener and would enjoy seeing many diverse gardens. Docents at all gardens except Butchart Gardens where you have 3 hours on your own. An intense experience as you are doing 2-3 field trips every day. Also a chance to enjoy Vancouver and Victoria.
— Review left June 18, 2019
The tour of Vancouver and Victoria is perfect for any garden enthusiast. I had no idea there were so many gardens. I loved learning about the gardens, especially from instructors who were so knowledgeable.
— Review left June 7, 2019
Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens was as wonderful as I had hoped it would be. While Butchart Gardens might be the star everyone has heard about, numerous other stars became part of our tour. It was a visually, intellectually, socially stimulating week. Very glad I attended.
— Review left June 7, 2019
