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 and European aesthetics combine to create some of the world’s most stunning gardens.
Participant Reviews
Based on 42 Reviews
SHOWING
This is a beautiful extensive tour of Vancouver and Victoria and the large number of gorgeous varied gardens within. It was an extremely enjoyable trip in all ways. Savoring two high teas were a highlight also.
— Review left October 7, 2025
If you want to take your time and enjoy beautiful gardens and learn a few things about Canadian history this is the trip for you.
— Review left August 24, 2025
The various gardens we visited in British Columbia were fantastic. Our leader and instructors wove history, culture and current events into the presentations so we were able to appreciate what we were seeing in context. I loved being able to see not only public, formal gardens but gardens at private homes with small yards as well. Even though I live in an entirely different climate, I came home with lots of ideas of ways to change our own gardens and an appreciation of each site we visited. The size of our group (21) was about right and our leader Joan was wonderful - she facilitated the "pre-orders" for meals, organized all events and times and was always there to answer questions! She touched base with us all frequently to see that we all were ready for the next experience and to address anything that came up.
— Review left August 16, 2025
I really enjoyed all the different types of gardens we saw. The guides were knowledgeable and fun, hotels excellent, food delicious, and weather perfect! Exceeded expectations.
— Review left August 1, 2025
Canada was amazing! Definitely must see Vancouver and Victoria Island!
— Review left July 30, 2025
This program was a delight for serious gardeners or those who just enjoy beauty! We saw formal gardens to backyard originals; all
filled with beauty and inspiration!
— Review left July 25, 2025
Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Garden was a magnificent program and would highly recommend to any lover of plants. Gorgeous gardens, great foods, and everyone on the tour was splendid. I enjoyed all the days in the multiple extraordinary places we attended.
— Review left July 2, 2025
This is a terrific trip for gardening enthusiasts or folks who just love to look at beautiful gardens. Nice balance of organized touring with plenty of free time to enjoy Vancouver and Victoria. It is a nice context in which to see these two lovely cities. I would also add that going with Road Scholar allowed us to see these cities that are rather expensive in a way that was within our price point!
— Review left June 25, 2025
The trip to Victoria and Vancouver gardens was enjoyable and beautiful.
— Review left June 25, 2025
What a wonderful, well-planned experience, with beautiful vistas, gorgeous blooms, historic landscape designs, and informative research gardens. To stay in 2 very walkable, safe cities was a real treat! And while all of the meals were great, the afternoon tea experience in Victoria was extraordinary. Our group leader and all of the resident experts were interesting, knowledgeable, and experienced. Overall, a top-notch RS program, one of the best I've participated in.
— Review left June 13, 2025
The program titled 'Victoria and Vancouver: Glorious West Coast Gardens" was an outstanding program for us. Three of us in our family were planning for 4-5 years to participate in this program. We are glad we fulfilled our wish. Every aspect of the program was well organized. We highly recommend this program to anyone interested in gardens and experiencing Victoria and Vancouver.
— Review left June 6, 2025
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