What are the 'must see' activites/sights in Victoria if we only have 1 day? We're arriving at 11 AM and leave the next day at the same time. We'll be travelling with 2 boys (ages 7 and 10).

I was thinking...tea at the Empress (12-2 PM), Butchart Gardens (2-5 PM) and tour Craigdarroch Castle (5-7PM) and then wander around town until we collapse into bed (staying at the Empress). More wandering around town in the morning.

Can this work or am I packing it in too tight? Any other suggested itineraries?

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

Based on what our kids enjoyed in Victoria, my suggestions are to skip the Empress tea (dd loved it ,but it would have been torture for ds) and Craigdarroch Castle. Instead, keep Butchart Gardens on the schedule and add in the Royal BC Museum (excellent, and kids love it too), take a float plane ride (they leave from the inner harbour area), Beacon Hill Park(lots of good areas within the park), and walk to Barb's for some fish n chips.

I agree, skip tea and the castle and do the museum and the gardens. If you have extra time a whale watching trip would be a lot of fun (they run 2-3 hours).

Another suggestion that is a hit when we have young male visitors is the Bug Zoo http://www.bugzoo.bc.ca/ Its not my cup of tea but the kids love it. Agree to skip the castle it isn't what kids would regard as a castle actually. The RBCMuseum is a must. They have a lot of hands on displays for kids - very very well done. (not that I am predjudiced - I was with the Museum for many years)

I agree, skip tea at the Empress and Craigdarroch Castle. You can still pop into the Empress for a quick look though - it's across the street from the Royal BC Museum. I really think the museum will be the highlight of Victoria for your kids - it's not your typical museum. The exhibits are life-sized replicas - almost film-sit size - of the different eras of BC history. Think walking through Cpt George Vancouver's ship, a gold rush town, a logging mill site, a First Nations long house, downtown Victoria during the 1800's, etc. You could easily spend 3+ hours there.

I also would skip the tea, especially as you have boys. You are staying at the hotel so that will be good enough. Your schedule is tight. If you are taking the ferry to/from Vancouver then plan the Buchart Gardens either coming or going to the ferry. They are about an hour out of town (each way). You would spend the better part of the day just doing that. My boys would expect torture chambers if I said we were going to a castle and would be very dissapointed in Craigdaroch.
I agree to do the museum, bug place and maybe they would enjoy a double decker bus tour of Victoria or a horse drawn carriage tour. There is also the wax museum, undersea gardens all within walking distance of your hotel and the museum is a great place for kids.
The empress has a great swimming pool too if you have time.

I'm going to chime in with the others and advise skipping tea at the Empress. It's not fun for kids, and it's a big ripoff anyway - there are much nicer and cheaper places for afternoon tea. The bug zoo is a great place, and they'll love the museum - my grandkids spent the afternoon there and wanted to go back.

Yup, the tea appeals to seniors - it would torture a kid. Heck, it would bore me and I'm a middle aged woman. If the kids are active, take a walk to Beacon Hill Park. Make a 1/2 day of it by walking along the waterfront on Belleville, around Laural Pt Inn, continue along Dallas Road to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch or snacks, then continue down Dallas where and they can explore the ocean beach area.
Beacon Hill park will be a great place to visit as you cut back up to Douglas and Belleville. I'd do this in place of the Empress and Castle in a heartbeat with kids (maybe even instead of the Gardens)
http://www.tourismvictoria.com/Map.aspx

http://fishermanswharfvictoria.com/

http://british-columbia-travel.suite...ds_in_victoria

Maybe take a ride on the ferry boats for a harbour tour. The ferry can be used to get to Fisherman's, but IMHO, the walk is worth it if you are active!