At a Glance
Ferry times | Seattle, WA to Victoria, BC: 8 a.m. departure, 11 a.m. arrival Victoria, BC to Seattle, WA: 5 p.m. departure, 7:45 p.m. arrival (2-hour, 45-minute journey each way) |
Shuttle duration | 45 minutes from the Victoria Clipper Terminal at Pier 69 |
Trail difficulty | Easy to moderate/ relatively flat descent through the forest |
Looking for the best day trip to Victoria BC? It should include one of the top attractions: The Butchart Gardens. Plus, your visit can easily be combined with a walk along a scenic trail that leads to a secluded beach. While few outside the area know about it, there’s a hidden trail behind the gardens that connects to an isolated sandy beach where you can relax and admire the picturesque water views. All you need to know is how to get from Seattle to Victoria, and from the FRS Clipper Terminal in Victoria to The Butchart Gardens. Even better? When you book directly on our website, we’ll pick you up at the terminal, bring you to Butchart, and back again.
BOOK your ultimate Seattle to Victoria, BC day trip here
We’ll fill you in on how easy it is to accomplish this (and more), ensuring the perfect 1-day outdoor itinerary in Victoria, BC.
FRS Clipper from Seattle to Victoria
The journey is all part of the fun when you ride the Seattle Victoria Clipper Ferry. Your day trip begins by heading to Pier 69 (2701 Alaskan Way) along the Seattle waterfront. Hop on the elegant Victoria Clipper V, a high-speed catamaran, and look forward to the two-hour and 45-minute ride. Enjoy the scenery from indoors or out. You’ll pass forested islands while gliding across the Salish Sea. Keep watch for all sorts of wildlife, including sea otters, seals, and sea lions. Occasionally, bald eagles soar overhead. If you’re lucky, you might even spot an orca or a humpback whale.
Victoria Clipper Terminal to The Butchart Gardens
Upon arrival at the terminal in Victoria, you’ll depart on a motorcoach for the narrated 45-minute drive to The Butchart Gardens. If you visit the gardens in the spring, thousands of flowers, shrubs, and trees will be bursting into bloom, making it the best time for Butchart Gardens photography. That said, there is plenty of color throughout the summer too. Plus, you can often enjoy the grounds under a warm glow of sunshine. Autumn also sees a stunning array of hues, including the golden, red, and russets of the Japanese maples.
Our Favorite ‘Hidden Gem’: The Trail to the Beach
Even if you’ve explored the gardens before, you’re probably not aware of the hidden path called the Tod Inlet Trail. Accessible from the back of Butchart, the short route makes a gentle descent through ferns, a canopy of tall pine, cedar, and fir trees, and around a stream, connecting the gardens to a secluded beach. Once you reach the bottom of the trail, you’ll find the beach and benches right along the water’s edge for relaxing with a view.
Returning to Downtown Victoria
You’ll have at least two hours to explore the gardens and visit the ‘secret’ beach before catching the motorcoach back to downtown Victoria, depending on the season. Drop off is in front of The Fairmont Empress on the Inner Harbour. You’ll typically have about an hour to wander before heading back to the Clipper Terminal for your return. You might want to admire the opulence of the historic hotel. Or, take a short stroll around the area to shop and enjoy views along the waterfront. There are so many things to see and do in this beautiful BC capital, you might find yourself planning the next day trip from Seattle to Victoria via the FRS Clipper as soon as you return!