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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » Things to Do in Victoria BC: 5 Family-Friendly Activities

    Published: June 7, 2016 / Updated: December 24, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Things to Do in Victoria BC: 5 Family-Friendly Activities

    107 shares

    Victoria British Columbia is a beautiful vacation spot in southwestern Canada that is perfect for families with children of all ages. Here are my top five family-friendly things to do in Victoria BC! 

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Victoria BC Travel Content

    • Reasons to love Victoria BC
    • Butchart Gardens
    • Craigdarroch Castle
    • Family Cooking Class with The London Chef
    • Whale (and Wildlife) Watching Tour
    • Beacon Hill Park

    Reasons to love Victoria BC

    Victoria BC Canada is a beautiful city with a European feel.

    Just some of the many reasons we love visiting Victoria BC:

    • It's a walkable city
    • The stunning architecture
    • The city is full of rich history
    • So many delicious food & beverage options
    • Many family-friendly outdoor adventure opportunities

    We were so pleased to discover just how family-friendly Victoria BC really is on our recent trip up north. Our whole family truly loved our time in Victoria and we can't wait to go back!

    While you could fill an entire month discovering the many family-friendly things to do in Victoria BC, here are my top five favorites.

    Butchart Gardens

    Many will argue that no trip to Victoria British Columbia is complete without a visit to the Butchart Gardens.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada: Butchart Gardens on UrbanBlissLife.com
    flowers at Butchart Gardens

    This centuries-old Victoria BC landmark is a lush space popping with color and thousands of different plant and flower varieties.

    water feature at butchart gardens

    Walk through and admire the beautiful floral work in different themed gardens. There's a Japanese garden, Mediterranean garden, Rose garden, Sunken Garden, and more.

    kids crossing pond at Butchart Gardens

    Kids will enjoy a visit to Butchart Gardens as much as adults! They can take a ride on the carousel, spotting fun greenery sculpted into the shapes of different animals, and learning about the various stories behind the sculptures throughout the gardens.

     girl touching boar statue at Butchart Gardens

    Be sure to touch the boar's golden nose for good luck!

    Butchart Gardens

    The Butchart Gardens is located on Vancouver Island, 23 km (14 mi) north of Victoria and 20 km (12.5 mi) south of the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.
    800 Benvenuto Ave
    Brentwood Bay, BC V8X 3X4
    HOURS: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm every day from June 1 - 14th; 9:00am - 10:00pm June 15 - September 3
    RATES: Mar 20 - June 14: Adults $29.90/Youth 13-17 $14.95/Children 5-12 $2.00/Seniors $26.91
    June 13 - Sept 30 Adults $32.10/Youth 13-17 $16.05/ Children 5-12 $3.00/Seniors $28.89

    Be sure to visit their website for full hours, rates, event info and visitor tips:
    http://www.butchartgardens.com/

    Craigdarroch Castle

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada: Craigdarroch Castle on UrbanBlissLife.com

    At first glance, you might think this Victorian mansion is a great spot just for adults interested in historical buildings. But, Victoria BC's Craigdarroch Castle is actually a lot of fun for kids, too!

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada: Craigdarroch Castle on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Built between 1887 and 1890, with 39 rooms and more than 20,000 square feet of interior space, the imposing mansion sits in the middle of a quiet residential area, on a hill overlooking the city of Victoria.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada: Craigdarroch Castle on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Upon entering, children are given a brochure containing photos of various objects that they are to find in each room, along with a brief explanation of the objects.

    This I Spy-like game is an engaging way to involve kids (I would say ages 4-12) in the tour of the castle. It is a beautiful walk through time and it's a great opportunity to talk with kids about how people used to live back then.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada: Craigdarroch Castle on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Craigdarroch Castle

    1050 Joan Crescent
    Victoria, BC V8S 3L5
    HOURS: 10am – 4:30pm; extended hours 9am - 7pm June 15th to September 6th
    RATES: Adults  $13.95 / Seniors  $12.95 / Students  $8.95 (13+ with Valid ID) / Children  $5.00 (6-12)
    Children 5 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
    https://thecastle.ca

    Family Cooking Class with The London Chef

    Travel to Victoria BC: The London Chef Cooking class on UrbanBlissLife.com

    When traveling, don’t forget to go beyond museums and sightseeing tours. Family vacations are a great time to grow and learn as a family, and learn more about the destination from the perspective of a local! 

    My family's favorite activity of our Victoria BC vacation was the pasta making class with Dan Hayes, AKA The London Chef. We all had the best time!

    kids rolling out dough

    Chef Hayes is wonderful with children. My kids not only learned a lot, but they gained an even greater appreciation of fresh homecooked meals.

    You can read all about our family cooking class in this separate post. 

    Victoria BC: The London Chef

    The London Chef
    953 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
    (250) 590-1865
    TheLondonChef.com

    Whale (and Wildlife) Watching Tour

    Whale & Wildlife Watching Tours in Victoria BC on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The whole family will enjoy heading out onto the waters surrounding Victoria BC to search for whales and other marine wildlife.

    This was definitely one of our favorite things to do in Victoria BC. The waters surrounding Victoria BC have the world’s highest concentration of killer whales and other whale species, including humpback whales and gray whales.

    Whale & Wildlife Watching Tours in Victoria BC on UrbanBlissLife.com

    There are several tour companies that provide a variety of tours: from one-hour to four-hour tours; some are on open-air boats while others offer larger, closed and open boats. No matter how old your children are, you are sure to find an option that is right for you.

    For more details plus tips on bringing your family on a whale watching or wildlife watching tour, you can read all about my family's 3-hour wildlife watching tour in this previous Things to Do in Victoria BC post.

    Whale & Wildlife Watching Tours in Victoria BC on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours
    1-800-708-9488
    https://www.eaglewingtours.com/

    Beacon Hill Park

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Beacon Hill Park is a 200-acre park that offers families all of the standard park amenities. Plus there are beautiful lakes, a bandshell for concerts, a petting zoo with pygmy goats, roaming peacocks, and more. It's a beautiful park close to the waterfront.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Because we live close to farms and our kids see goats, chickens, and horses on a regular basis, we opted to quickly go by the zoo. We spent more time along the nearby Dallas Road Waterfront Trail.

    This long stretch of trail that follows the edge of the waterfront as you leave the city. It includes miles and miles of paved paths for running, walking, cycling, dog walking, and several different beaches and viewpoints along the way.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada on UrbanBlissLife.com

    It's a great place to bring a picnic, fly a kite, or just skip some stones onto the water and enjoy the view. After a busy nonstop day of sightseeing, my family really enjoyed this breathing space just outside of the main city.

    Family-friendly Things to Do in Victoria BC Canada on UrbanBlissLife.com

    There are many, MANY more things for families to do and see in Victoria BC. What would you add to this list, or which one of these activities appeals most to you?

    More Canada travel articles

    Traveling to Canada soon? Be sure to check out all of our Canada Travel Guides.

    Some of our faves include Where to Eat in Victoria BC, Portland, Oregon to Victoria BC Family Road Trip Tips, and Things to Do in Granville Island.

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      Comments

      1. Monica Louie says

        June 09, 2016 at 2:59 am

        First of all, you captured such AMAZING photographs!!! Secondly, I've never been to Victoria, but I have heard how gorgeous it is, and your pictures proved that point. I would love to see Craigdarroch Castle! We are heading up to Vancouver, BC next month so maybe we'll have to extend our trip to visit beautiful Victoria!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 09, 2016 at 11:52 am

          Oh thank you so much, Monica! I really appreciate it. I hope you have a great time in Vancouver next month! I have a few Vancouver BC posts coming too. We hopped over there on our way back home :) Have a great trip!

      2. Vet Leow says

        June 08, 2016 at 9:41 pm

        The castle is nothing short of amazing! Victoria BC looks so wonderful to visit...cute chef too!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 09, 2016 at 11:51 am

          The castle was surprisingly more fun than any of us would have guessed! It's a great place to visit. Hope you get to visit sometime, Vet!

      3. Rachel Lloyd says

        June 08, 2016 at 2:26 pm

        My parents took us to Victoria when I was about 12, I still remember it to this day- it was SUCH a beautiful place. I think it's so amazing you get to have these adventures with your family. They will remember it forever. Such fun memories.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 09, 2016 at 11:49 am

          I love that you remember your trip to Victoria with your family! Thanks, Rachel! :)

      4. Mary @ Vindulge says

        June 08, 2016 at 11:01 am

        I'm loving all these Victoria posts. I really really want to take my family there soon (possibly this summer?). I'm pinning all of them for easy reference for when we plan our trip. I'd love to try that cooking class. Looks so fun!! Just wondering if 5 years old is a bit too young to take the kids? I"m sure they'd be fine, but just curious??

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 09, 2016 at 11:47 am

          Thanks so much, Mary! I think 5 might be too young for some kids in a cooking class, but since yours have been helping you in the kitchen here and there, I think they would love it! I would see if you could book a private class versus join a larger class, though, since those might have a mix of ages. Or, maybe see if he's got a class specifically for younger kids when you visit - I know he offers a lot of different classes that change all the time!

      5. Rosie from Blog To Taste says

        June 08, 2016 at 12:33 am

        Sounds like a great trip. I would love to do all those things!

        Reply
      6. Pech says

        June 07, 2016 at 11:57 pm

        As an adult I also want to take part in the I Spy game at Craigdorroch Castle.

        Reply
      7. Melissa says

        June 07, 2016 at 7:00 pm

        Looks like amazing trip! Cooking & castles? Sounds great to me.

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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