If you are considering visiting Victoria this summer and are looking for things to do with kids, you’ll be delighted to know there are many fantastic family-friendly things to do!
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Located just off the southern end of Vancouver Island on Canada’s Pacific Coast, Victoria is often known as ‘Canada’s Garden City’ due to the abundance of beautiful parklands and gardens and for having the perfect climate to grow an array of dazzling flowers.
Alongside Victoria’s colorful gardens, this charming city has a laid-back, friendly feel and offers plenty of fun and exciting attractions year-round. Thanks to being one of the warmest places in Canada, Victoria is a fantastic summer holiday destination where you can shake off those coats and explore the picturesque city in the sunshine.
Victoria has many exciting and fun things to do, and many of these fantastic attractions are catered towards children – it’s the perfect family-friendly destination!
Let’s have a look at the top 5 things to do with your family in Victoria, Canada:
Enjoy waterfront delights at Fisherman’s Wharf
Wander around the wharf and its boardwalk with its colorful floating houses, shops, and restaurants set against the backdrop of the ocean. There are gardens to enjoy and playgrounds for little ones to run around in.
There are plenty of cool things to see here, including cute harbor seals if you’re lucky! When everyone’s tired and hungry for lunch, there’s a fantastic selection of fish and chips shops and gloriously indulgent dessert bars to satisfy empty bellies.
Discover history at the Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum is one of the best family-friendly attractions in Victoria. Explore the city’s fascinating past through the many galleries and exhibits, many of which are interactive and suitable for children of all ages. Kids between the ages of 3-5 go free, which helps to keep the costs down!
The museum is one of the best rainy day activities as it’s also the home of the biggest IMAX cinema screen in British Columbia. Settle down to watch the latest blockbuster after an enjoyable afternoon of learning and discovering.
Watch a goat race at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm
For toddlers and small children, the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, located in the beautiful Beacon Hill Park, is a fantastic attraction. The farm features a range of farm animals, such as goats, pigs, miniature donkeys, ducks, alpacas, and many more.
One of the best things to see is the daily goat run, where everyone cheers along as the goats run from the barn to the petting area, ready to greet visitors. The cost to visit the farm is a donation-based attraction, and although it’s important to support local businesses where you can, it’s a great affordable day out if you are on a budget and looking to keep costs down.
Spot gentle giants on a whale-watching tour
British Columbia is one of the prime whale-watching spots in Canada, and the waters here are home to humpback whales, orcas, and grey whales, among many other fantastic sea creatures. There are plenty of whale-watching tours to choose from in Victoria, and kids will love spotting these majestic giants.
Alongside whales, Victoria’s marine life is fantastic; you can spot seals, sea lions, porpoises, jellyfish, and much more. An excellent activity for the entire family that gets you up close to Victoria’s spectacular wildlife!
Ride a ferry at Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is at the heart of this waterfront city, and many beautiful attractions and sights can be spotted with a walk along the harbor paths, but an even better way to see the city is from the water.
The Victoria Harbour ferry connects passengers with various points in the city for a quick (and fun!) way to explore the city’s highlights without tiring little legs. Hop on and hop off the ferry boats and enjoy bobbing along the water as you admire Victoria’s gorgeous views.
If you are visiting in the summer, be sure to head down on the weekend to see a synchronized ferry dance along to music – a quirky display that pays homage to this fantastic form of transport for the city.
