Island Parent Family Fun Guide 2024

Page 1

FUN GUI Fa m ily

Vancouver Island

✩ Search for sea glass, shells, and driftwood at Glass Beach

Enjoy browsing and shopping in ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

Watch for seals, orca whales and

Explore the Shaw Centre for the

EXPLORESIDNEY.CA SMALL TOWN, BIG MEMORIES
MAP 1 – Greater & Downtown Victoria 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 A B C D E F A B C D E F Map data ©2024 Google

IMAX® Victoria in the Royal BC Museum

Dive beneath the waves, encounter exotic animals or explore deep space on the largest screen in BC with 12 channels of surround sound! Whether you choose the adventure of a lifetime or a scientific expedition that’s out of this world, you will feel the immersive experience of IMAX® raised to the level of magic! See the full schedule and get tickets at imaxvictoria.com | MAP 1: E2

Theatre SKAM

Theatre SKAM is the home of the beloved annual SKAMpede festival and producers of acclaimed original theatre. SKAM also runs drama camps throughout the year. skam.ca | MAP 1: D3

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

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

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

Maritime Museum of BC

Check out Museum Tots, Saturdays at 10:30 am for ages 3–5, and Salty Sundays at the Maritime Museum of BC. 744 Douglas St, Victoria 250-385-4222

mmbc.bc.ca | MAP 1: D2

MAP 2 – Vancouver 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 A B C D E F Map data ©2024 Google Island Parent Group Ltd. Inquiries: info@islandparent.ca islandparent.ca grandmag.ca westcoastfamilies.com publishers of tweensandteens.ca

Vancouver Island

A

May 10, 2024–Jan 5, 2025

rbcm.ca/ stonehenge

6 7 8 6 7 8 A B C D E F
rock solid exhibition.

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

Royal BC Museum

Discover one of the most mysterious and unique stone monuments in the world and what it meant to the people who built it with Stonehenge. 675 Belleville St, Victoria royalbcmuseum.bc.ca | MAP 1: E2

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

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

Sidney Museum

Take a walk through time and discover the natural history of the area, followed by regularly updated permanent displays on local First Nations, industry, transportation, agriculture and social history. sidneymuseum.ca | MAP 1: B5

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

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

Victoria Bug Zoo

The Victoria Bug Zoo is an incredible mini zoo that is dedicated to educating people about some of the world’s most misunderstood inhabitants. See giant walking sticks, praying mantises, glowing scorpions, hairy tarantulas and so much more. Our educators even facilitate hands-on experiences along with the tours! 250-384-2847 | victoriabugzoo.ca | MAP 1: D2

MAP 3 – Nanaimo & Cowichan Valley

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 A B C D E F A B C D E F Map data ©2024 Google
A B C D E F A B C D E F 1 2 3 1 2 3 MAP 4 Comox Valley Map data ©2024 Google
GET CLOSER the-raptors.com Ju l 12 - Aug 18 See you at Parksville Beach! Competition Jul 11-14 Gates open to public July 12 at 2 pm Exhibition Jul 15-Aug 18 Footprints Security Opening Weekend Concert featuring Trooper - Jul 13 Canadian Tire Learn to Sculpt Jul 13 & 14 Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series Jul 19, 20, 26 , 27, Aug 2, 3, 16 & 17 Art in the Park : Jul 20 & 21 Mid Island Co-op Rock the Park Music Festival Aug 9-11 Coastal Community Credit Union Sculpture Light Up! Aug 16 & 17 Quality Foods Festival of Lights Aug 17 (dusk) Quality Foods Kids Sandsculpting Competition Aug 18 Carol Riera/PREC Symphony by the Sea with the Vancouver Island Symphony - Aug 18 and more!

Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium is a summer must-sea with 120 indoor and outdoor exhibits and over 65,000 incredible animals, like rescued sea lions and otters. vanaqua.org

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

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

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

MAP 5 Tofino & Ucluelet

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: C2

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 A B C A B C
Map data ©2024 Google

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 year-round.

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. Download free digital guided tours from the Parks Canada App, including At the Ready: an accessible guided tour for interesting facts, site layout to see what is accessible with a stroller or mobility aid, and the best areas to play and rest.

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; $9.00 for adults; and $7.50 for seniors. No parks passes are required for daytime visits to the national park reserve. For camping fees, see the websites below.

Facebook: @FortRoddFisgardNHS and @GulfIslandsNPR YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=OB4Fdb6r4Lc and youtube.com/watch?v=lEPE3O7ShAI Parks.Canada.ca/FortRoddHill | Parks.Canada.ca/Gulf | MAP 1: F4

POV: you found BC’s ULTIMATE family adventure < best outdoor adventure in BC Search #AdventureCourses #Ziplines #FreeFallJump #BirthdayParties #KidsCamps SAVE 20% Code: WCF20 Book Now: +1.855.595.2251

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.