Port Angeles, Washington -- Victoria, British Columbia
Boarding the morning ferry to Victoria
By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Published May, 2023
Photos/Videos by Gerry Barker
It's Friday, one week since we stepped aboard American Constellation in Seattle for our 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise. Hard to believe it's already almost over, but we're not going to think about that right now.
Today, passports in hand, we board the ferry in Port Angeles, Washington, for the 90-minute ride over to Victoria, British Columbia, where we will visit the world famous Butchart Gardens. The weather continues to be amazing, with a forecast high of 75 and lots of sunshine. Counting the time getting over to the gardens and back, we'll be gone virtually all day.
At last night's dinner, the room was still buzzing about my salt-and-pepper, ceramic dogs that I won playing bingo. We had a big laugh with Hotel GM Rick, who told us the backstory of the shop where he purchased them. Also, he told us he had a third "stray" shaker he would donate to our collection. A spare -- perfect!
North Palm Beach Life
Published May, 2023
Photos/Videos by Gerry Barker
It's Friday, one week since we stepped aboard American Constellation in Seattle for our 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise. Hard to believe it's already almost over, but we're not going to think about that right now.
Today, passports in hand, we board the ferry in Port Angeles, Washington, for the 90-minute ride over to Victoria, British Columbia, where we will visit the world famous Butchart Gardens. The weather continues to be amazing, with a forecast high of 75 and lots of sunshine. Counting the time getting over to the gardens and back, we'll be gone virtually all day.
At last night's dinner, the room was still buzzing about my salt-and-pepper, ceramic dogs that I won playing bingo. We had a big laugh with Hotel GM Rick, who told us the backstory of the shop where he purchased them. Also, he told us he had a third "stray" shaker he would donate to our collection. A spare -- perfect!
For those going to the gardens, the day starts at 7:30 am, when we make a short walk, or take a shuttle, to the Black Ball ferry that will take us over to Canada. Once all the cars and passengers are loaded, and we fill out the paperwork for leaving the country, our trip is under way.
Take note that getting to the gardens and back will take roughly half the total 10-hour tour time. The ferry -- which moves very slowly -- is 90 minutes each way. Once there, you have to clear customs, which takes another 30 minutes or so, before boarding a bus for the 40-minute ride to Butchart. Once we arrived, there was a slight additional delay while the excursion managers got our tickets, so some of the guests were getting a little antsy.
But as for the gardens themselves: They more than lived up to the hype of a "must-see" attraction. Built literally out of an exhausted rock quarry in the early 1900s, they are magnificent. You can easily see why they attract over one million visitors a year. One thing was immediately evident -- we dressed too warmly for the nearly 80-degree weather. In fact, the news is reporting a "heat dome" over Canada, Washington and Oregon that is pushing temps as much as 25 degrees above normal. Hello, global warming.
The ship gave each of us a $20 lunch voucher, so altogether, we had around three hours for our visit. Trusty map in hand, we made our way around the Sunken Gardens, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden (too early for the roses to bloom) and the Italian Garden. Flowers lovers must feel that found Mecca, as glorious blooms in every shape and color almost overpowered the senses. Multi-colored tulips were
everywhere, and we learn our timing is perfect -- they are going to be replaced tomorrow.
Here's a tip if you exhaust your smartphone's battery taking snaps -- you can get a recharge at the Information Booth.
Take note that getting to the gardens and back will take roughly half the total 10-hour tour time. The ferry -- which moves very slowly -- is 90 minutes each way. Once there, you have to clear customs, which takes another 30 minutes or so, before boarding a bus for the 40-minute ride to Butchart. Once we arrived, there was a slight additional delay while the excursion managers got our tickets, so some of the guests were getting a little antsy.
But as for the gardens themselves: They more than lived up to the hype of a "must-see" attraction. Built literally out of an exhausted rock quarry in the early 1900s, they are magnificent. You can easily see why they attract over one million visitors a year. One thing was immediately evident -- we dressed too warmly for the nearly 80-degree weather. In fact, the news is reporting a "heat dome" over Canada, Washington and Oregon that is pushing temps as much as 25 degrees above normal. Hello, global warming.
The ship gave each of us a $20 lunch voucher, so altogether, we had around three hours for our visit. Trusty map in hand, we made our way around the Sunken Gardens, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden (too early for the roses to bloom) and the Italian Garden. Flowers lovers must feel that found Mecca, as glorious blooms in every shape and color almost overpowered the senses. Multi-colored tulips were
everywhere, and we learn our timing is perfect -- they are going to be replaced tomorrow.
Here's a tip if you exhaust your smartphone's battery taking snaps -- you can get a recharge at the Information Booth.
Downtown Victoria
Lunch in the coffee shop made short work of our vouchers, and afterwards, we had additional time for shopping and one more look around before getting back to our bus. Returning to downtown Victoria, which is beautiful in its own right, we had some free time to explore before boarding the ferry back. Pam and I found a nearby happy hour and enjoyed a drink while watching the boats and seaplanes in the harbor.
We get back after a long travel day and have to refresh before going to dinner, where we engage in a lively conversation with four other guests about the day's activities, the ship, cruising in general and -- wait for it -- those dog shakers. Remember how Rick was going to get us that spare shaker? He waited until Pam left for the powder room and appeared with it, carefully wrapped in a basket. When she returned, the expression on her face was priceless.
We'll spend another night here in Port Angeles before leaving in the early morning hours for Port Townsend -- sad to say, the last stop on our cruise. Tonight I'll spend time going through the seemingly hundreds of photos I took at the gardens. Picking a few out is going to be a tough task.
Goodnight from Port Angeles, and stay tuned.
NEXT: Port Townsend
We get back after a long travel day and have to refresh before going to dinner, where we engage in a lively conversation with four other guests about the day's activities, the ship, cruising in general and -- wait for it -- those dog shakers. Remember how Rick was going to get us that spare shaker? He waited until Pam left for the powder room and appeared with it, carefully wrapped in a basket. When she returned, the expression on her face was priceless.
We'll spend another night here in Port Angeles before leaving in the early morning hours for Port Townsend -- sad to say, the last stop on our cruise. Tonight I'll spend time going through the seemingly hundreds of photos I took at the gardens. Picking a few out is going to be a tough task.
Goodnight from Port Angeles, and stay tuned.
NEXT: Port Townsend
Day 8 Slideshow
Day 8 Videos
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