Oh, it's been 13 years since I went there, and I had a cranky 10 year old boy with me that day. Wish I could go back

Wow, those are beautiful. Are those Japanese Maples? They're not quite hardy here. Maybe, after a few more years of global warming.

Ron

Steph, beautiful pictures, The fall colors are so intense. Victoria is a great city. We have only been there in the summer when the Butchart Garden flowers were in full bloom and so colorful. Seeing your pictures it's just as pretty in the summer or fall, I bet you had a wonderful vacation. The Empress is such a great place..

Yes, Ron, most of the colorful trees are Japanese Maples, but there were some other trees with pretty colors...but you can't beat the colors on those Maples.

We have a few of them here in my yard (red ones) but the colors aren't near as vibrant.

The Empress was beautiful. The service was fabulous. They left chocolate covered strawberries in our room the first night.

Hope you had a nice restful mini-vacation. The pictures are gorgeous!

Georgous pictures!

Looks beautiful... almost magical! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

My older sister lives in Victoria. I'm so jealous! Our older sister went to visit her just about 2 weeks ago. She took pictures of the Empress Hotel with all the vines covering it and the leaves changing colour. It was so beautiful! I asked her if she had tea at the hotel and she said, "No, it was too expensive. But I did see a teacup!" LOL

Your pictures are very beautiful! Victoria is more a city than a town though. :o)

Thanks Steph for these wonderful pictures. Victoria is definitely on my list of places to see if I ever make it to Canada. I would love to go in the autumn. Beth

debby, oops....shows you how much I know...town, city...sorry! But your right, it is more city like...I guess it just felt really quaint to me, and when I think of quaint, I think of town, not city. Nonetheless, it's very nice.

We didnt do the tea at the Empress...neither of us are tea drinkers and it really isn't our thing, but I hear it's a nice experience.

Here's a picture of the Empress. The vines growing on it are really pretty.

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Beautiful pictures! So glad you have a great time.
Thanks for sharing.
And I thought the colors in Yosemite were beautiful....

did you visit the museums or government building? i'd so love seeing it again...

Those trees are beautiful. Glad you had a good time.

susan, we did visit the museum (dont know the name of it, it's right across the street from the Empress). It was really nice.

I love your photos. My aunt and uncle went there once and told me how pretty it was. I'll have to go there someday.

Those are gorgeous pictures! My favorite thing is the color of fall trees. I know how happy you mest have been to get home to see Grant again though!

I visited Victoria once,it was lovely!

Beautiful gardens!

Wow! How gorgeous!

Gayle

I was born and raised in Victoria, I get soo home sick when I see those pictures, I used to go to the gardens twice a year, in the Summer and the Fall, that's when the gardens are the most beautiful, I went in the Spring one year, it's not as nice as the other seasons.We try to get back to Victoria every few years, we also stayed at the Empress Hotel we were there for 4 days, I felt like a tourist in my own home town.I sure miss the gardens and the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, the colours all around are here now are so beautiful.

I love this time of year here and this year seems to be even more colourful and pretty.

Empress Hotel does two different teas, one that is casual so that anyone from the street can go in and its been quite awhile but I heard then it was $40.00
Then the other one you dress up I heard cost $75.00.
Yes, it is expensive.

Gorgeous pics. I miss fall in the Midwest this time of year. It's been in the 80's & 90's here for so long this year that I'm really sick of it.

Kathleen - is that $40/$75 per person??? Wow, and I thought tea in San Francisco was a lot yrs. ago at something like $25.

When my dream comes through, I get to ride the Pacific Coast highway, from Canada to Mexico.

I want to go a few days early, and visit those gardens. They are right at the top of my things to see list for that trip.

Hopefully it will happen in 2010.

Moni

Oh, you just brought back the most wonderful memory of a trip I took ages ago with an old boyfriend - it must have been in the mid-80's. We went to Butchart Gardens, which I'd never heard of before. Just amazing.

We had tea at the Empress, too. I remember it, because we made up stuffy British names for each other. Buffy Newington and Quentin Gladstone III, was it?

We were there this summer, but we didn't stay at the Empress. It must have been fun to stay there.

Butchart is really stunningly beautiful. We loved it.

Here's a good link on the Gardens, there's some good information there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Butchard Gardens

I found this on the internet of the tea at Empress Hotel.

Afternoon Tea
Indulge in one of Victoria's grandest traditions - Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress. For almost a century, the majestic lobby of this landmark hotel has played host to England's most beloved ritual - the taking of Afternoon Tea.

Award-winning Pastry Chef D'Oyen Christie works his magic, ensuring an authentic and memorable experience - from your very first sip of our secret Tea at The Empress blend tea, right through to his freshly baked raisin scones served with clotted cream and strawberry preserves.

Served in the relaxing atmosphere of the elegantly restored Tea Lobby, overlooking Victoria's sparkling Inner Harbor in the stately Harborside Room or under the hand-painted ceiling of the Library, Afternoon Tea is an absolute 'must do' for all who visit Victoria.

Afternoon Royal Tea

As you take your seats in the opulent surroundings of the Empress Tea Lobby, treat yourself to a glass of award winning Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay Brut with the unrivalled selection of sandwiches, cakes, scones, pastries & teas...you'll feel like royalty. Afternoon Royal Tea is subject to our regular tea pricing, plus an additional $12.00 CAD per person charge, plus taxes.

Menu:

Tea at The Empress blend tea*
Fresh seasonal fruit topped with Chantilly cream
Tea sandwiches; cucumber with light horseradish, smoked salmon pinwheel, mango and curried chicken, carrot and ginger, multigrain crostini topped with a mixed mushroom pate.
Traditional English raisin scones served with clotted cream and strawberry preserves
Delicate bite-size pastries, lemon curd tarts with glazed berries, Battenburg cake, Earl Grey tea shortbread, chocolate cake and a marble chocolate tulip
*Tea at The Empress blend is a selection of seasonal, quality teas, created exclusively for The Fairmont Empress by the Metropolitan Tea Company. With components from Assam (thick malty and full bodied), Kenya (floral-like flavor and a golden coppery infusion), South India (superb fruity and sprightly flavor), Ceylon (airy, almost piquant flavor), and China (burgundy depth with light oaky notes), it is truly one of the finest blends in the world.
From Our Chef:
'I believe in creating a balance between the flavor and presentation of my desserts, it adds a personal touch I feel leaves guests with a lasting impression.'
~ D'oyen Christie, Pastry Chef ~

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Seatings:
Afternoon Tea: Daily seatings starting from 12:00 p.m.

Pricing:
Afternoon Tea ranges in price from $49.00 - $60.00 CAD, per person, plus taxes. Prices fluctuate based on seasonality, please contact hotel for exact pricing.

*Afternoon Royal Tea is subject to our regular tea pricing, plus an additional $12.00 CAD per person charge, plus taxes.

Dress Code:
Smart casual (no torn jeans, short shorts, beach wear or flip-flops, jogging pants or tank tops).
Reservations:
Reservations are required and should be made direct with the hotel, one to two weeks in advance to avoid disappointment. Tables are held for ten minutes after reservation time.

Please contact Resort Reservations at (250) 389-2727 or book on-line with a room reservation.

Please Note:
For the comfort of those around you, it is requested that cell phones be turned off during Afternoon Tea.