Island Parent Family Fun Guide 2023

FUN GUIDE Fa m ily

to Vancouver Island

SEE THE FILM, EXPERIENCE THE EXHIBITION

JUN 2, 2023–JAN 14, 2024

Immerse yourself in the experience with an IMAX® and exhibition combo ticket!

MAP 1 – Greater & Downtown Victoria

WildPlay Victoria

Experience 15 ziplines, over 60 aerial adventure games, a 40ft freefall jump, axe throwing and more! The ultimate outdoor adventure for families, friends, birthday parties or teams! Open February to December. Locations in Victoria, Nanaimo and Maple Ridge. Book your adventure online or call +1-855-595-2251.

wildplay.com | MAP 1: F4

Peninsula Country Market

Bring your family to the Peninsula Country Market. Experience our Kid Zone with story time, educational activities while you shop for fresh local produce, artisan crafts and delicious food. Every Saturday from June 3–Oct 7, 9am–1pm. peninsulacountrymarket.ca | MAP 1: C4

Ponies & Pipsqueaks

Costumes, Ponies, Unicorns and Endless Possibilities!

At Ponies and Pipsqueaks we offer a variety of one of a kind programs to peak imagination, educate and of course, develop a love for all things horsey. poniesandpipsqueaks.com | MAP 1: D4

Victoria Bug Zoo

The Victoria Bug Zoo is an incredible mini-zoo dedicated to educating people about the wonders of some of this world’s most misunderstood inhabitants. Come see giant walking sticks, fuzzy tarantulas, glowing scorpions, enormous beetles and so much more!

victoriabugzoo.ca | MAP 1: D2

Cultus Lake Waterpark

BC’s biggest and best waterpark! Offering Western Canada’s largest selection of slides, including everyone’s favourite The Colossal Canyon! We’ve got something for everyone! Online tickets available. Check us out online: cultus.com

Dino Lab Incorporated

See and touch real dinosaurs! Dino Lab is an exclusive opportunity to “see, touch and work” with REAL dinosaurs. Roll up your sleeves, grab a tool and help us turn back time! dinolabinc.ca | MAP 1: F5

Beacon Hill Children’s Farm

Located within beautiful Beacon Hill Park of Victoria, BC, welcomes you to enjoy the farm animal experience! From alpacas to miniature goats, tropical birds and miniature pigs, we have all kinds of fuzzy, furry, feathered creatures, including a goat petting area and the famous goat stampedes. The farm is open seasonally—call for dates and hours. Funded by your donations. Interac available.

250-381-2532 | beaconhillchildrensfarm.ca | MAP 1: F5

Maritime Museum of BC

Visit the Maritime Museum of BC to take in exhibits, join a walking tour, and/or participate in a craft workshop or Museum Tots program. mmbc.bc.ca | MAP 1: D2

Vancouver Island

Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30: 10am to 4pm, Thurs through Tues

Winter Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30: 11am to 3pm, Thurs through Tues

For special days and events go to bcam.net

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens is open daily 9am–4pm (with viewing until 5pm), welcoming guests to take solace from this beautiful garden. Health protocols are in place, allowing for physical distancing, capacity monitoring and sanitary precautions. butchartgardens.com | MAP 1: C4

Butterfly Gardens

With surprises at every turn, you’ll encounter poison dart frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks, free flying tropical birds and more. Stroll through and marvel at our lush gardens including tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and fruits of the world. Your jungle adventure awaits. butterflygardens.com | MAP 1: C4

Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea

Dive into the biodiversity of the Salish Sea! Explore more than 30 aquarium habitats showcasing jellies, sea stars, fish, a giant Pacific octopus and more.

9811 Seaport Place, Sidney BC @salishseacentre | salishseacentre.org | MAP 1: B5

Royal BC Museum

From the coastal forest to the cryptic and colourful seashores, explore the natural beauty and the native wildlife of BC through immersive displays. Journey back to the Ice Age and come face-to-face with a full-sized woolly mammoth.

675 Belleville St, Victoria royalbcmuseum.bc.ca | MAP 1: E2

MAP 3 – Nanaimo & Cowichan Valley

The Raptors

At the Raptors, we provide opportunities for visitors of all ages to get closer to wildlife, learn more about birds of prey and interact with raptors. the-raptors.com | MAP 3: F6

Cultus Lake Adventure Park

BC’s best theme park is open daily starting June 25th. Offering 19 rides and attractions, we’ve got something for everyone! Online tickets available. Check us out online: cultus.com

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) in Coombs is a rehabilitation facility, especially for raptors and black bears. The goal: to care for these animals and reintroduce them into their natural environment. See eagles, bears, owls, falcons, hawks, swans and ravens. Activities and educational programs for the whole family. Open daily 9am–4:30pm. niwra.org | MAP 3: A1

Old Country Market: Goats on the Roof

Just past Nanaimo, this market has great ice cream and baked foods, and carries international foods and gifts. It’s perfect for a lunch stop, and the kids will love the family of goats that graze on the grassy roof of the market. oldcountrymarket.com | MAP 3: A1

AugustJuly14to

Gates Open Jul 14 – 2 pm | Competition Jul 14– 16 Exhibition Jul 17– Aug 20

Canadian Tire Learn to Sculpt Jul 15– 16

Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series

Jul 21, 22, 28, 29 | Aug 4, 5, 18, 19

Art in the Park Jul 22– 23

Mid Island Co-op Rock the Park Music Festival Aug 11– 13

QF Festival of Lights Aug 12

QF Kids Sculpting Competition Aug 13

Coastal Community

Credit Union Light up! Aug 18– 19

RE/MAX Parksville Qualicum Symphony by the Sea featuring Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra

Aug 20

CONNECT WITH THE INCREDIBLE

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NHS and Gulf Islands NPR

Parks Canada adventures near Victoria

Don’t miss two amazing Parks Canada attractions located just 20 minutes from downtown Victoria to enjoy daily or yearround. At Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, explore both a century-old coast artillery fort and Canada’s oldest west coast lighthouse. Pretend to be a soldier or a lighthouse keeper: spy, march, signal your position or sound the foghorn, wave at passing ships, play on the shoreline. Stay a bit longer, camp inside a real fort in an oTENTik—a furnished part-tent, part-cabin accommodation.

Plan a paddling trip or hop on a ferry to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, a multi-island paradise that’s meant to explore. Take a relaxing hike, taste heritage apples or make beach art while spotting tiny crabs, huge whales and listening to the sound of the waves. Reserve an overnight experience in a tent by the water or an RV in a temperate rainforest.

Both locations are perfect family outings where you can learn about Indigenous culture and the region’s past through fun programs and activities, and with an Xplorer activity booklet. Admission to the national historic sites is FREE for youth 17 and younger; $8.50 for adults; and $7.00 for seniors. No parks passes are required for daytime visits to the national park reserve. For camping and oTENTik fees, see the websites below.

Facebook: @FortRoddFisgardNHS and @GulfIslandsNPR

parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill

parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gulf

fortrodd@pc.gc.ca | gulfinfo@pc.gc.ca | MAP 1: F4

Vancouver

Aquarium

Connect with the incredible in the heart of Stanley Park. Explore among 65,000 animals, experience our 4D Theatre and discover rescued sea lions, sea otters and more! vanaqua.org

Forged

Axe

Throwing

Our action-packed sessions have you nailing those bullseyes in no time!

Our axe throwing sessions for ages 10+ and family-friendly competition will have the high fives flying! Book online.

forgedaxe.ca | MAP 1: D2

MAP 5 Tofino & Ucluelet

Ucluelet

Aquarium

The Ucluelet Aquarium is Canada’s first collect-and-release aquarium treating visitors to a personal view of fish and invertebrates from the waters of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds.

uclueletaquarium.org | MAP 5: C5

Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens

The Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens (formerly Tofino Botanical Gardens) provide a space to learn from nature in both natural and landscaped environments. An enchanting trail system helps visitors navigate coastal rainforest and waterfront. IISAAK—to observe, appreciate and act accordingly—the highest law of the Nuu’chah’nulth constitution, is the ethos of this place.

clayoquotcampus.ca | MAP 5: A2