Intimate Suites with Housemade Breakfast Delivered Each Morning

It's hard to believe the plots of exotic plants and flowers at The Butchart Gardens were once a limestone quarry and cement company. But back in the late 19th century, while pioneer Robert Pim Butchart ran his factory, his wife Jennie busied herself by planting blossoms and shrubbery around the estate. Over time, Jennie added a rose and vegetable garden and filled in the pit left by the depleted quarry with white poplars and persian plums. Word of the gardens spread quickly, and the Butcharts hosted visitors from all over, naming their home “Benvenuto”, which is Italian for “welcome.” Today, The Butchart Gardens is one of Canada’s major attractions. Located just steps away, Benvenuto Bed and Breakfast draws on the area’s storied history, occupying its own natural wonderland near Gore Nature Park.

With just three suites at the B&B, it's easy for innkeeper Carrie Coleman to attend to every guest’s needs. Each morning she picks fresh herbs and vegetables from the onsite garden to make a seasonal breakfast that can feature entrees such as baked blueberry french toast and vegetable frittatas. Carrie delivers the breakfast to your doorstep in a wicker picnic basket, and you can eat by the relaxing glow of the electric fireplace in the Loft or Rooster's Den suites. All suites include a mini kitchenette for making your own snacks or meals.

Brentwood Bay, British Columbia: Secluded Seaside Town with Exotic Gardens Just North of Victoria

Roughly 12 miles (20 km) north of Victoria, the small town of Brentwood Bay occupies a quiet stretch of coast that curls around Saanich Inlet on Vancouver Island. The seaside locale affords access to a range of water-based recreation, including deep-sea fishing for halibut, salmon, and trout. British Columbia's waters are also home to orca whales; you can sometimes spot them while canoeing and kayaking in the bay.

Farther inland, the most popular attraction is the 55-acre Butchart Gardens, which flourishes year-round with more than a million flowers and ancient trees. Head to the nearby Victoria Butterfly Gardens to see koi fish, flamingos, and thousands of colorful butterflies that make a home here.

Drive about 30 minutes south to Victoria, which is known the City of Gardens for its abundant botanical gardens. As British Columbia's capital and one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, Victoria is rife with culture and history. Downtown, you'll find more than a dozen art galleries, intimate teahouses, centuries-old churches, and museums.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.