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| | british columbia | Vancouver Island | |||
| Victoria | |||
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Known as the City of Gardens, Victoria is quite proud of the title. Every February Victorians celebrate with a farewell to winter: the Annual Flower Count. Locals count the blooms in their personal gardens and faithfully report them to City Hall, (while most of the rest of Canada sleeps under a blanket of snow). But there's more than gardens for kids in Victoria – this is an ocean-going city, and you're never far away from its long and rich maritime heritag |
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The Royal BC Museum – Over 100 years old, the best museum bargain in town: It's huge – like touring a dozen museums in one and very kid oriented, with dioramas, fine art, anthropology, a really fun 40 minute "undersea" adventure and a 19th century replica of Victoria the kids can walk through. Click here for more info about the museum. | ||
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Pacific Undersea Gardens – In this stationary boat, plate glass lets you look right into the heart of the Victoria Inner Harbour, where you can see octopus, crabs, sea stars, wolf eels and more. | ||
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Empress Hotel – Splurge for a memorable afternoon tea in the Tea Lobby at the grand old Empress Hotel. (I had tea at the Empress Hotel when I was girl, and I still remember those three tiered dishes of sandwiches and pastries.) Today you'll dine on scones with jam, fresh berries, tea sandwiches and pastries, children 6 -12 are half price. If your children aren't tea drinkers, you can substitute hot chocolate, but ask about it when you make your reservation. The Empress Hotel is a lovely location, so no sweatpants, flip flops, halter tops or torn jeans. Suits and dresses aren't required, but looking nice is part of the fun. Make your reservations in advance: 250.389.2727 | ||
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Whale watching – Take a boat trip to look for orcas, plus seals, sea lions, birds and porpoises. Pick up Seafun Safaris or Sea King Adventures at the Inner Harbour. |
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The Maritime Museum of British Columbia – The Maritime Museum has three floors of things oceanic, pirates and explorers, shipbuilding and shipwrecks, whales and fishing, oodles of boat models. Kids get a treasure map with a pirate's reward. Combines history with adventure. | ||
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Chinatown – This is not the huge, bustling Chinatown of San Francisco or New York but rather, like all things in Victoria, a few blocks of a separate world. Chinese shops, restaurants, and markets sit just west of downtown. One of the best things about Victoria's Chinatown is getting there through tiny Fan Tan Alley. Only one person wide at the start, this is a great way for kids to "sneak" into Chinatown from Johnson Street, about a block up from Wharf Street. You'll have to look for it – even with a street sign, blink and you'll miss it. | ||
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Miniature World (Humboldt St.) – If the weather isn't fantastic, head indoors to Miniature World, amazing dioramas of famous battles, intricate dollhouses (these are a "must-see"), a train model of the Great Canadian Railway crossing the continent, miniature saw-mill in every detail, Old London and more. |
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Emily Carr House – Visit the birthplace of one of Canada's most renowned artists, Emily Carr. She grew up in this charming Victorian wood frame house. "No work was done in the Carr house on Sunday. Everything had been frightfully polished on Saturday and all Sunday's food cooked too." A wonderful glimpse into another century. |
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Beacon Hill Park – In the heart of the city is the 123 acres of Beacon Hill Park, sloping from the middle of Victoria down to the water. With lovely paths, charming little ponds, a playground and petting zoo, Beacon Hillis a wonderful place for families to take a convenient break from the museums and shops of town. (Grab some fish n' chips or pasties from the nearby delis to have a picnic with a British flavor.) | |
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Hiking – A local favorite
is the Galloping Goose Regional Trail which starts in downtown Victoria (west end of the Johnson Street Bridge) and meanders for about 40 miles, presenting every variety of south Island scenery along the way. Do as much or as little as you like, there are lovely places to stop all along. |
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Fort Rodd Hill – For those kids in your family who like forts, this is fun. Check out this 19th century coast artillery fort with plenty of places to explore – the gun batteries, underground magazines, command points. A perfect place to place to run around, and also bring a picnic. This is also a good spot to watch the boats go by. | ||
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Butchart Gardens (Saanich) – The most famous of all Vancouver Island gardens is the 50 acre Butchart Gardens, north of Victoria, with Rose Gardens, Japanese Gardens, Sunken Gardens, etc. While Butchart Gardens is justifiably famous, to do them (and the entrance fee) justice might be too much for small children. In July and August there are fireworks in the evening on Saturday nights. | |
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Victoria Butterfly Gardens (Saanich) – Indoor tropical
garden with both common and rare butterfly species fluttering about your |
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Witty's Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin) – There's plenty of sand and warm shallow water for kids to play at the lagoon. Also, trails to explore (lovely waterfall) and a nature center. If you're a birdwatcher, bring your binoculars. Click here for a map. |
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| (More children's books on other British Columbia pages) | ||||||
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