The Butchart Gardens located in Victoria, BC recently unveiled the much anticipated Rose Carousel in the Children’s Pavilion at the beginning of December 2009. The only one of its kind on Vancouver Island, the Rose Carousel has nearly thirty hand-carved, hand-painted animals that reflect the international variety of travellers who visit The Butchart Gardens each year.

There are also two specially designed chariots to accommodate disabled visitors. The Children’s Pavilion, designed by well known Victoria architect Terence Williams, will be a domed 7,500-square-foot pavilion with an event room and the reconstructed Coffee Bar West.

The Children’s Pavilion has incorporated LEED design principles and criteria, exemplified by such features as the living green roof planted with native mosses and sedum, which allows the architecture to blend into the existing landscape of the nearby Rose Garden. Other sustainable design features include radiant floor heating produced by an on-site water to water geothermal heat pump, the use of natural light and natural ventilation techniques to offset energy consumption. The Rose Carousel is sure to appeal to the young and the young at heart, while at the same time leaving a child-sized carbon footprint.

For more information visit www.butchartgardens.com

Sooke Harbour House is a bastion of secluded romance, perched on a rugged cliff above pacific waves, and offers 28 luxurious, uniquely designed guest rooms, an award winning dining room and wine cellar, their Sea-renity Spa and art gallery.

Dedicated to following environmentally friendly practices, Sooke Harbour House uses a state-of-the-art water reclamation and recycling system, a breathable grass parking lot, hotel maintenance policies, onsite organic gardens and they support locally produced organic products. They also use energy efficient lighting and biodegradable products, among many other things! www.sookeharbourhouse.com.

The Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites is the first hotel in British Columbia’s capital city to offer their guests Bird Friendly, Frog Friendly, Certified Organic and Fairly Traded Sustainable in-room coffee service.

Located just steps from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the locally owned and operated hotel was awarded with a 4 Green Key Eco Rating in 2008 by the Hotel Association of Canada, and with the addition of the new “frog friendly” program proves that they remain diligent in their quest to continually enhance their social, economic and environmental programs. The Oughtred Rainforest Alliance Certified, UTZ Certified, sustainable in-room coffee program allows the hotel to offer its guests a high quality product that tastes great while continuing to show that they care about the environment in which they live and work.

The new program is the first of many initiatives to come; the Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites is also in the process of developing their first of many green floors. For information visit www.chateauvictoria.com.

Located in downtown Victoria, BC, Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is the capital city’s newest place to stay. Found at the edge of Victoria’s residential neighbourhood nicknamed the Humboldt Valley, steps away from Victoria’s urban green space and family favourite, Beacon Hill Park and the picturesque Inner Harbour, the resort hotel opened in August 2009. The 126-room hotel offers guests the latest in first-class amenities in a refined, sophisticated atmosphere. Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa, affiliated with The Registry Collection, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide Family is a completely sustainable resort hotel and is leading Canada in innovative green resort hotel development and design by targeting LEED® Platinum Certification, the highest rating available. For more information visit www.parksidevictoria.com

Located 30 minutes west of Victoria, Cougar’s Crag Extreme B&B is geared to both the casual, nature-loving visitor and the serious eco-tourist. Perfectly situated for exploring Southern Vancouver Island’s many regional and provincial parks, Cougar’s Crag works cooperatively with local operators to offer rainforest nature walks, sea-kayaking, cycling tours, aboriginal culture tours, llama trekking, wildlife viewing and Victoria sightseeing tours to guests.

Cougar’s Crag also offers add-ons such as drop-off and pick-up at trailheads, parks and sightseeing venues, mountain bike rentals, doggie daycare and wash facilities, as well as airport and ferry transfers.

Cougar’s Crag Extreme B&B believes in environmental causes and donates a percentage of profits to a different environmental organization each month. For more information visit www.cougarscrag.com.