Top Things to do in British Columbia
Things to do in British Columbia, British Columbia: The Best Gardens
Discover the best top things to do in British Columbia, British Columbia including The Glades, 561 172 St, Surrey, BC V3S 9P8, The Butchart Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park, Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park, Government House, Bloedel Conservatory, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Abkhazi Garden, Grist Mill and Gardens at Keremeos, Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
Restaurants in British Columbia
1. The Glades, 561 172 St, Surrey, BC V3S 9P8
2. The Butchart Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,216 reviews
Come enjoy our breathtaking 22 ha (55 acres) of gardens year around. In Spring, countless tulips, daffodils and hyacinths will give you a buffet of fragrances and colours. You’ll be saying “wow” when you experience our Summer: The Rose Garden, evening entertainment, subtle night illuminations, the Saturday firework show, and boat tours to name a few of the delights. Perennial borders start their stunning show in late summer, and the Japanese maples turn to russet, gold, and red in the fall. Be captivated by the Magic of Christmas with its decorations, expansive lighting and outdoor ice skating rink. Top off the day with a ride on the carousel and a great meal. Come see why we’ve been designated a National Historic Site.
Reviewed By F2353OMnancyr - Mount Vernon, United States
You need at least 4 hours to take in this spectacular experience. Don't miss this opportunity! Gardens include the mind-blowing quarry, the Italian garden with reflecting pool, the rose garden, the Japanese garden, the dahlia garden, with sculptures and surprises at every turn, and many small inlets for solitude, reflection and appreciation. We were lucky to hear the Victoria Symphony rehearsing while we strolled under magnificent trees and took in the breathtaking views. This is a world-class garden.
3. Queen Elizabeth Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,325 reviews
Situated on Little Mountain - the highest point in Vancouver proper - this former rock quarry has been converted into a beautiful city park with flower gardens, public art, grassy knolls, and panoramic views over the city.
Reviewed By DrTM8 - Vancouver, Canada
The Queen Elizabeth Park is a 52-hectare park, located 152 metres above sea level. It’s the highest point in Vancouver and makes for spectacular views of the park, city, and mountains on the North Shore. It is also home to the stunning Bloedel Conservatory. There is also a gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, the arboretum with its collection of exotic and native trees, sculptures including one by internationally renowned artist Henry Moore, and diverse recreational offerings such as tennis, lawn bowling and pitch & putt. The park is also the perfect setting for fine dining at Seasons in the Park, a picnic or stargazing!
4. Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
5. Government House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 698 reviews
Government House is the office and official residence of the Lieutenant Governor and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. The house is located on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, in the heart of the Rockland neighbourhood in Victoria, British Columbia. While Government House is not open to the public and currently closed for tours, the expansive grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
Reviewed By nicole154945 - Victoria, Canada
not sure why it took me over 30 years to visit govt house. this place is beautiful. take some time to smell the roses and wander past the beautiful flowers.... check out the views of the ocean and mountains on the back side of the house, and enjoy the water ponds, and fountains.... i loved it!
6. Bloedel Conservatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 818 reviews
NOTICE: Tickets are only available online for designated time slots so we can best manage a safe capacity. Visit www.bloedelconservatory.ca to book your time slot! Experience Bloedel Conservatory, a fun, family-friendly indoor attraction located at the peak of Vancouver in Queen Elizabeth Park. Discover 120 exotic birds and over 500 kinds of tropical plants inside the dome and then explore the fountains, gardens and sculptures around Queen Elizabeth Park.
Reviewed By Betterthanboating - Vancouver, Canada
Great place on a rainy day...full season lots of lovely paths, florals & views. Our 5 year old grandson was smitten and still talking about & reviewing the bird pictures he took home. Take time, sit wander slowly & enjoy! Also good value cost for seniors & children ♥️
7. VanDusen Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,020 reviews
VanDusen Garden is open under new operation procedures to best ensure public safety. Tickets are only available online at www.vandusengarden.ca so we can best monitor garden capacity and provide a touch-free experience for our visitors. Our gift shop remains closed, and guided tours are not available. VanDusen Botanical Garden is a 55-acre oasis in the heart of Vancouver with over 7,500 plant species and varieties from around the world! Spot and photograph local wildlife, find your way through an Elizabethan hedge maze, unwind in a serene setting, dine on the patios of Truffles Cafe or Shaughnessy Restaurant, or browse the garden-themed gift shop. VanDusen has something for everyone to enjoy! The Garden's multi-award winning LEED Platinum Visitor Centre was named Most Sustainable Building of the Year in 2014. Shaped like an orchid when viewed from above, its organic lines echo the way nature and conservation have been considered at every turn.
Reviewed By sydette - Benson, United States
This is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year but Christmas, they put up over a million lights all over the gardens, it's magical, Christmas music plays throughout, every now and then by a pond, to music the lights go on and off, you can visit Santa, they have warming stations in the gardens, you can purchase hot spiced cider, hot chocolate, soups, etc...Admission includes a free carousel ride, lovely gift shop. So beautiful, it's like being a kid in a candy store. Well worth the visit. You can save a couple of dollars buying your tickets online and it avoids waiting in line.
8. Abkhazi Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 451 reviews
Created by the Georgian Prince and Princess Abkhazi, this lovely garden spans just over an acre and features native Garry oaks, Japanese Maples and splendid rhododendrons.
Reviewed By anen63
My husband and I enjoyed the Royal Abkhazi High tea service with our two kids. They were really interested in our warm scones! The food was also unusual compared the usual plain tea sandwiches. The gardens are quite lush and interesting with a turtle pond aswell. The meal felt relaxed and they were very accommodating to us. Thank you.
9. Grist Mill and Gardens at Keremeos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
The only working waterwheel-operated grist mill in Western Canada. "Grist" is clean grain ready to be milled into flour. We are open from 10am to 4pm daily until Thanksgiving. This site offers western Canada's only waterwheel-powered flour mill (built in 1877), restaurant with a lunch menu, gardens, and gift shop featuring local artisans and heritage items. Our 11 site campground has water and power hook-ups. Each site backs onto Keremeos Creek. We are close to a wide range of other activities such as fishing, hiking, and wine tasting.
Reviewed By plang - North Vancouver, Canada
Had a great day trip to the Keremeos Grist Mill & Gardens this past week! The site curator gave us a socially distant tour of the site and we learned a lot about the many varieties of heritage apples on the site and history of the water wheel. We camped for several nights at their creekside location and was relaxing to rest with the sounds of the creek and the dark starry night skies. The best part of the visit was wonderful aromas of beets being pickled on site. We loaded up our car with their crafted on site jellies, pickles and jams. Highly recomend bringing home the onion jam. A nice rich and flavorful addition to our grilled cheese sandwich once we got home. The campsite was easy to book (we just called them to reserve), clean, had electricty and was very family friendly yet adhered to all C19 protocols. Restrooms are on site and lots of day trip options. Try the Benja Thai for take out in Keremeos (about a 5 minute drive away from the Grist Mill), there is a Buy Low supermarket in town (also a 5 minute drive away) to pick up any incidentals you might need for campsite cooking. As the fruit stands can get very very busy this time of year, we went to Sandersons early in the morning to pick up our fruit before heading home.
10. Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,075 reviews
A Vibrant Jungle Experience. A unique opportunity to experience the beauty and curiosity of a tropical jungle up close. Meet our family with surprises at every turn. You’ll encounter tortoises, large iguanas, poison dart frogs, free flying tropical birds and more. Enjoy tropical fish, ducks, flamingos and koi fish in our serene pond and stream circulated by a stunning waterfall. Thousands of tropical butterflies (up to 70 species) fly through our large facilities the size of almost 3 basketball courts. Stroll through and marvel at our lush gardens including tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and fruits of the world. Wander in our newest Exhibit, the Insectarium, full of impressive insects & invertebrates from around the world. Your jungle adventure awaits.
Reviewed By caligirl0105 - California, United States
As you walk into the gift shop, you are welcome by the most amazing ant colony, at first it’s hard to identify what you are looking at, since it is such a captivating spectacle... then all of a sudden, it hits you and you are in awww to see the difference in body size that they are capable of carrying in such an organized manner. Nature has a way of surprising you... but that’s just the beginning... as you walked through the double doors, you will actually feel as if you are in the middle of a forest. The melodies of running creeks, birds, warmer and humid climate, butterflies from all sort of colors and sizes flying freely, turtles eating flowers and humans actually smiling.... it is such a beautiful and educational place. My sever year old loved every moment we were there, she was able to explore, ask questions, feed the turtles and take lots of pictures. She didn’t want to leave... but now it is something we are looking forward to going back to.
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