One of the most fun things you can do in Victoria at Christmastime is to visit Butchart Gardens. Actually, it is a great place to visit any time of the year, but it’s particularly exciting at night during Christmas when they present the Magic of Christmas. The whole place is aglow, and it really is magical.
The Magic of Christmas is based on the 12 Days of Christmas, so you get to guess which display is which. From Maids ‘A Milking and A Partridge in a Pear Tree, it’s fun to make a game of it with children. Besides an ice skating rink, they offer fun extras for kids. This year, if a child 12 or under brings in a homemade snowflake cutout, they get a complimentary hot chocolate.
My favorite part of the gardens was in the beginning, you walk through a magical fairy forest and it looks like there are fireflies or fairies all around you. Everyone around us was also oohing and ahhing. It was spectacular and other-worldly. I could have spent an hour right there watching the tiny lights twinkling.
When you get to the big open spaces, you can see the magnitude of the gardens. It looked so different at night from the last time I went in the spring. Even though it is massive, there are plenty of resting spots where you can just sit and take in the views while sipping on hot cider. It’s not too much to take on at all, so I would recommend it for all ages from toddlers to the elderly. It’s the perfect thing to do to get you in the Christmas mood, or as an activity to enjoy during winter break. There are several dining options available, so it’s easy to make an evening of it. Find out more on the Butchart Gardens website.
