Vancouver Island

Just off the coast of Canada, we will take the ferry over and spend 2 nights there.  We will get in to Victoria BC in the evening so enough time to have dinner and check in to relax for the night.  The next morning after a leisurely breakfast, we will head up to our next adventure.

Butchart Gardens

What started out as a mining site, is now one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.  It will be Spring so the flowers should be in full bloom.  We will spend the day there then head back to sightsee in the city of Victoria.  Check out some pictures at their website http://www.butchartgardens.com/scenes.html

Royal BC Museum

An interesting museum with exhibits on the natural world and the ancient inhabitants of the area.  An IMAX theater and of course the required gift shop are there too.  Here's a description of what to expect there:

In one afternoon you can see all of British Columbia. Descend into its offshore ocean depths, walk along its beaches, peer into its tide pools, step through forests and view its soaring mountains and vast plains and marvel at the wealth of wildlife around you. You can travel through time along the cobbled streets of a turn-of-the-century town, enter a First Nations Bighouse and step back 12,000 years to when this was the land of the mammoth. Special sound effects, lighting and film transport visitors into the ocean depths beyond the coastal shelf and among the marine life that inhabits it and listen to to their mysterious calls and signals.

http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/index_vi.html

Victoria BC

Shopping!  We will have the evening to go shopping and sightseeing in town.  Take advantage of the strong US dollar against Canadian.  Just make sure you keep your receipts for the border crossing, and also you can get a tax refund from Canada for the taxes you pay while there!

We will spend another night in Victoria and after a nice breakfast catch the first ferry back to Anacortes Washington and the tulips!  Along the way we will pass through the beautiful San Juan Islands and if we are lucky, we may get to see wild orcas as they play in the sound.

Deception Pass

Heading towards Whidbey Island, we will come to the bridge across Deception Pass.  A beautiful sight as we stop for pictures, then head to the "beach" on the island.  This is the island where we dig for those giant clams!

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Ah yes, the most beautiful valley in Spring!  We will pass by fields full of tulips, irises and daffodils.    Our main stop there will take us right into the fields to walk among the multi-colored tulips.  We will also see an indoor display of the different types of tulips.