Continuing on with #ChooseCruise month, I’m back to share another cruise port. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada is a popular port on Alaska Sailings. I’m excited to head back there on our own Alaskan cruise next summer. This quaint little city is the perfect cruise stop before heading on to Alaska, and was the perfect place for us to visit on a quick trip from Seattle.

There are so many great sights to see in Victoria, and I’ve put together a few favorites that are perfect for your cruise stop. Whether it is exploring beautiful gardens & historic castles or walking along the harbor, Victoria will have you smitten in just a short stop there. Here are my top sights to see in this quaint Canadian town. 

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Craigdarroch Castle
The wood work, the stained glass, I can’t even put into words just how stunning this castle is. You definitely won’t be disappointed by putting this castle on your itinerary. Though the outside facade doesn’t leave much to be desired, I was blown away, and the stained glass was something right out of Beauty & the Beast! 

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Butchart Gardens
Head outside of the city for a trip to the stunning Butchart Gardens. There must be billions of plants here in all varieties. From stunning florals to lush ferns, there is something to catch everyone’s eye!
Butchart Gardens was one of the highlights of our trip. It’s just a little ways outside of Victoria, and the drive is beautiful so it is worth the time to make your way out there. Since we visited in late Spring, the gardens were in full bloom, and we were given quite the show! We spent about half a day strolling around Butchart Gardens, and probably could have spent longer. The flowers, the trees, the vines, so many beautiful plants to admire.

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Victoria Harbor
You might also want to head down to the beautiful harbor in Victoria. You can feed seals at Fisherman’s Wharf, have high tea at the Empress Hotel, or explore the grounds of the British Columbia Parliament Building. We enjoyed all of the above, and look forward to doing many of the same activities next summer.

There are so many other spots to see in Victoria, but these are some great options to catch before you depart for your cruise. Are there any other spots you’d want to see in NYC?