Traveling outside of Canada is still crazy with the ever changing rules, flight cancelations, testing and sometimes still having to quarantine. Staying in Canada for your summer plans may still be the best option. Victoria, B.C. is the perfect family vacation because it has the mildest climate in Canada, beautiful beaches, and loads of activities. It is known to some as Canada’s Hawaii!
With cool historic buildings, iconic tourist sites, stunning beaches, family-friendly activities, fantastic eats and treats, there is something for everyone! There are also plenty of types of accommodations in Victoria including forested campgrounds, hostels, stunning hotels, bed & breakfasts, and unique AirBnB’s. Our family has traveled the world, and in our opinion, Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities to visit.
Here are 5 family friendly activities to do while in Victoria:
1. Take a whale watching tour
Victoria is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Many types of whales including humpbacks, gray, minks, and Orca (killer) whales can be spotted here. The whale watching season is from April to November, but summer is definitely the best months to see them. Victoria’s coastal waters are also home to dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, and much more!
There are many companies that offer whale watching tours in Victoria and most have good ratings. The tours are approximately 3-4 hours. Do your research to find which company is the best fit for you and your family.
2. Bike the Lochside Regional trail
This is one of our favorite trails! It’s a 33 km (20.5 mi) former railway line and multi-use trail that runs from Victoria to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal near Sydney. What I love about this trail is the ever-changing landscape passing through beaches, farmland, wetlands, and rural roads.
We recommend you park in the parking lot located at 4050 Lochside Drive. The ride from here to Sydney is 21 km (13mi) which is quite far, especially if you have kids. Our recommendation is to ride as far as you are comfortable with and turn around.
One stop you’ll want to make along the way is Sweet Ashley’s cookies, a cookie stand along the trail, which has freshly baked cookies for purchase. We used this as a motivator for our kids and it was a nice treat along the way. The cookie stand is about 3km (1.86mi) north up the pathway from the parking lot and takes about 8-10 minutes to get there. Payment is on the honor system so be sure to bring some cash!
3. Go to Cadboro-Gyro beach
This is an ideal beach for families because it has one of the largest beach and play park areas in Victoria. The park was donated to the Saanich district in 1954 and had major renovations in 2014 including installations of new play equipment. One of the play equipment is called “Cadborosarus”, named after a mythical sea creature that was said to have been spotted in the 1930s. There are other unique play structures including an octopus, salmon, a ship, and a shipwreck. There is also a fun zipline that our kids enjoyed. This park has even been listed among 11 unique playgrounds around the world by Fodor’s travel.
The beach itself has typically calm waters, a pebbly shoreline, and some sandy sections. As with most beaches in Victoria, there is plenty of driftwood to create forts. We often go there to relax.
There is a parking lot, washrooms, picnic tables, and a boat launch at this beach. It is only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Victoria.
4. Visit the Malahat Skywalk
A 32m (105ft) cylinder shape structure with a spiral ramp leading all the way to the top sits at the edge of the forest, 250 meters above sea level. This sightseeing lookout gives stunning views of the Ocean including the Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker, and the Coast Mountains. You can often see sailboats below.
The cool part of this structure is that there is a huge slide at the top that takes you down to the bottom. It’s quite the thrill ride as you go much faster than you think! I don’t think I’ve screamed that loud in a long time. Our daughter loved it and could have stayed all day. Getting there is fun too as you walk along a 600-meter (1969ft) raised boardwalk through the beautiful Arbutus tree forest to the Skywalk. Along the path, you will see some amazing driftwood art sculptures of animals made by artist Tanya Bub.
It takes about 35 minutes to get there from downtown Victoria and there is plenty of parking.
We’ve traveled around the world and this is one of the most spectacular sites we’ve ever been to!
5. See Niagara & Goldstream Waterfalls
These two beautiful waterfalls residing in Goldstream Provincial Park are easy to see in one day. Set aside about 3-4 hours to see both falls. It’s about a 25-minute drive from downtown Victoria.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls just outside Victoria, bearing the same name as the famous waterfalls in Ontario, stands at 47.5 (156 ft) and is just a short 15–20-minute hike from the parking lot. After parking, head north away from the picnic area, following the wide gravel trail. Turning left at the junction you will come to a bridge with a tunnel on your left that goes underneath the highway. Take the tunnel and then follow the trail to the waterfall. This tunnel is dry in the summer but filled with water in the spring and fall so if you are here during these seasons, you will have to park on the other side of the highway.
Upper Goldstream Falls
Goldstream Falls trail is a fantastic loop and a great hike to do with the family. The beautiful trail takes you through a serene rainforest of Cedars, Douglas firs, and ferns with a waterfall reward.
The hike begins at the Goldstream Provincial Park Campground near the gatehouse where you will park. The trail is 5.5km (3.4mi) long and fairly easy, taking about 1-1.5 hours to do. After hiking along the trail, you’ll approach a long set of stairs leading down into the canyon to the waterfall. Pouring into a natural pool at the bottom, the water is cold but is a popular place to take a dip in the summer. Bring your bathing suit and water shoes to enjoy this energizing experience.
We have written two detailed Victoria travel guides that include a fully customizable 2 Week Itinerary of fun family activities. The Active Family Guide details amazing hikes, walks, biking trails, and other awesome activities like whale watching and ziplining. The Family Guide details the best iconic tourist spots, must-see beaches, awesome family activities, and some of our favorite places to eat. These guides make your trip planning easy with expert advice from a local. Lots of options for the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. You’ll see why Victoria, B.C. is the perfect family vacation!
We have also created a Free Itinerary Template to help make your trip planning easier. Simply add your activities and budget to customize your trip.
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