Butchart Gardens like a local

Unless you are going to be in Victoria for only a few hours — and maybe even then — you should find a way to get to Butchart Gardens. In my experience, when you get home, people will ask you if you went to (a) the Empress for tea and (b) the gardens, so you might as well do both. But the gardens are one of the few attractions you can't walk to. So how should you get there?
If you happen to have a car, it's easy: drive. The route from downtown to Butchart is easy and scenic, and there is plenty of parking once you get there.
When I came back from Seattle on the Victoria Clipper recently, they were signing people up for bus tours, which seemed to me like a pretty good deal. You could board the bus right off the ferry for a quick tour of the city, then head off to Butchart Gardens, and finally be taken right to your hotel for check-in.
Cruise ship passengers can get a good deal on the Cruise Victoria buses, too. And you can get to the gardens on Gray Line and similar tours. If that kind of sightseeing is to your liking, you'll have no trouble making arrangements.
You might want to consider another more adventurous option, though: public transit. If you really want to see Victoria like a local (and save some loonies), this is the way to go. Victoria's city buses are safe, clean and (usually) punctual. And a one-way fare is only $2.25 (you'll need correct change, or you can get day passes that will let you ride anywhere).
To get to Butchart Gardens via BC Transit, you catch the No. 30 bus downtown to the Royal Oak Exchange (ask for transfers when you get on; you have to change buses at Royal Oak). The 30 runs up Douglas Street about every 15 minutes, and Royal Oak is the end of the line. At Royal Oak, you use your transfer to take the No. 75 to the gardens. To get back downtown, you reverse the process; don't forget to ask for transfers. If you have questions about the bus, the staff at your hotel should be happy to answer them. See the BC Transit website for more details.
Two more things about the gardens: They have fireworks on Saturday evenings. BC Transit runs a bus into Victoria after the fireworks. Times vary, so call BC Transit at 250-382-6161. Press 0 when the recorded message begins and ask the attendant for the time on the night you wish to visit. And if you are going to be here at Christmastime, the gardens are a must. The lights are spectacular, and you can enjoy ice skating and holiday music in the evenings as well.