Island Parent Family Fun Guide 2022

Family
GUIDE
FUN
See airplanes, seaplanes, helicopters
and more at the BC Aviation Museum
Learn about BC’s aviation history from
early bush planes to bombers and beyond!
Winter Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30:
11 am to 3 pm, seven days a week
Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30:
10 am to 4 pm, seven days a week
Covid Restart Hours:
Thursday to Monday 10am to 3pm
Please check our website bcam.net
for updates and current hours
1910 Norseman Road, Sidney | 250-655-3300 | bcam.net
to Vancouver Island
TOGETHER
A visit to the Gallery is an
engaging, one-of-a-kind
experience for families
and friends. The diversity
of exhibits and programs
is welcoming for all and
there’s always something
new to discover.
Come see us soon!
1040 Moss St | aggv.ca

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VICTORIA • NANAIMO • MAPLE RIDGE
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ANOTHER DAY AT
THE PLAYGROUND?
DO
THIS
INSTEAD.
ADVENTURE COURSES • ZIPLINES • 40FT JUMP
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Island Parent Group Ltd.
publishers of
islandparent.ca
E
grandmag.ca
SCAN
TO JOIN
THE FUN!
OPEN FEB-DEC
ADVENTURES
FOR AGES 5+
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westcoastfamilies.com
Inquiries: info@islandparent.ca
BOOK NOW!
+1-855-595-2251
Map data ©2022 Google
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MAP 1 – Vancouver Island
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Art Gallery of
Greater Victoria
A visit to the Gallery is a
one-of-a-kind experience.
The diversity of exhibits and
programs is welcoming for all
and there’s always something new to discover.
aggv.ca | MAP 2: F5
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
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 2: D2
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 2: C4
Esquimalt
Farmer’s Market
Join us and a variety of local make,
bake or grow vendors for fresh
produce and food trucks every
Monday and Thursday, 4:30–7:30pm!
communications@esquimaltmarket.com
esquimaltmarket.com | MAP 2: F4
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 2: F5
IMAX Victoria
in the Royal
BC Museum
WOW! That’s the first word expressed by most kids when
they walk into the IMAX Theatre and the most often repeated
throughout their visit.
The theatre is located within the Museum complex. Shows
play hourly throughout the day with full-length feature films in
the evening. Find the full listing of films and schedules online:
imaxvictoria.com | MAP 2: E2
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 2: C4

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MAP 2 – Greater & Downtown Victoria
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Malahat SkyWalk
Malahat SkyWalk is Vancouver
Island’s newest attraction. It is
an incredible, fully accessible
experience that conveys to guests the authentic beauty of
Vancouver Island. A 600m elevated walk leads to a 40m
sightseeing tower offering breathtaking views and a special
connection to nature. May 2 to Oct 9 admission is 9:30am–
5pm. Open year round!
malahatskywalk.com | MAP 2: B3
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 2: B5
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 2: D2
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 2: F4
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 centuryold
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
fortrodd@pc.gc.ca | gulfinfo@pc.gc.ca | MAP 2: F4

Victoria
Royals
The Victoria Royals are a Canadian
major junior ice hockey team
currently members of the B.C.
Division of the Western Conference
in the Western Hockey League.
Regular season runs October through April!
victoriaroyals.com | MAP 2: F5
BC’S BEST!
Pacific FC
Pacific Football Club is a Canadian
professional soccer club based in
Greater Victoria, British Columbia.
The club competes in the Canadian
Premier League, playing home
matches at Starlight Stadium located
in Langford.
pacificfc.canpl.ca | MAP 2: F3
Nanaimo
NightOwls
The Nanaimo NightOwls,
an expansion entry in the
West Coast League for collegiate summer baseball, have their
2022 schedule ready for activity in planning for visiting teams,
special promotional events and welcoming mid-Island fans to
historic Serauxmen Stadium.
nanaimonightowls.com | MAP 3: D2
Victoria
HarbourCats
The Victoria HarbourCats
are a collegiate-level,
summer baseball team, playing in the 16-team West Coast
League (WCL). Home games are at Wilson's Group Stadium
at Royal Athletic Park.
harbourcats.com | MAP 2: F5

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MAP 3 – Nanaimo & Cowichan Valley
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WildPlay
Nanaimo
The ultimate Vancouver
Island adventure: 19 ziplines, over 60 aerial adventure games
(including a dedicated Kids Adventure Course!), a 150ft Bungy
Jump, 140km/hr Primal Swing and more! Ages 5+. Open February
to December. Locations in Victoria, Nanaimo and Maple
Ridge. Book your adventure online or call +1-855-595-2251.
wildplay.com | MAP 3: C4
Tourism Nanaimo
The Visitor Centre team is ready
to help plan your stay, help with
reservations or answer questions
about Nanaimo and Region. Check
out our family friendly activities
and itineraries.
2450 Northfield Road, 250-751-1556
info@tourismnanaimo.com, @TourismNanaimo
tourismnanaimo.com | MAP 3: C1
Camp
Qwanoes
Jump into the adventure and
let friendship fill each day!
Experience a world of discovery
all in a spectacular oceanfront
setting with a staff team from
around the world.
qwanoes.ca | MAP 3: E6
14 Best Beaches
on Vancouver Island
Chesterman Beach Tofino | MAP 5: A2
Cox Bay Tofino | MAP 5: A2
Long Beach Pacific Rim National Park | MAP 5: B3
Rathtrevor Beach Parksville | MAP 3: A2
Parksville Beach Parksville | MAP 3: A2
Saratoga Beach Comox | MAP 4: A2
Kye Bay Comox | MAP 4: B3
China Beach Juan De Fuca Provincial Park | MAP 1: F7
Qualicum Beach Qualicum Beach | MAP 3: A1
Pachena Bay Bamfield | MAP 1: E6
Mystic Beach Juan De Fuca Provincial Park | MAP 1: F7
Sandy Island Comox | MAP 4: C3
Hesquiat Provincial Park Estevan Point | MAP 1: D4
French Beach Juan De Fuca Provincial Park | MAP 1: F7
Parksville
Beach Festival
Known to locals as “Beachfest,”
this 5½ week-long family-oriented
festival runs July 15 to August 21,
2022, includes the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting
Competition & Exhibition, Tim Hortons summer concert
series, buskers, artisan market and sculpture Light Up!
parksvillebeachfest.ca | MAP 3: A2

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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: F5
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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
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Comox Valley
Map data ©2022 Google
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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

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MAP 5
Tofino & Ucluelet
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Ucluelet
Ucluelet, on the west coast
of Canada, is a place of spectacular, rugged beauty. Dreams
come to life along our wild, rocky coastline, where the spirit
of adventure was born and imagination takes flight. Here on
Yuułu?ił?ath First Nations traditional territories, awe meets
wonder and forever memories are forged. Visit a place
beyond your wildest dreams.
discoverucluelet.com | MAP 5: C5
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
Tofino
Tofino is a small coastal village at
the western edge of Vancouver Island.
Our community is diverse, but united in
our determination to protect the awe-inspiring natural and
cultural environments that surround us. After all, everything
in Tofino is connected: from the kelp in the Pacific Ocean, to
the black bears of the rainforest, to the people who call this
place home. This is how we thrive. There’s an energy to Tofino,
something you can’t quite shake once you’ve experienced it. If
you’re like us, we think you’ll love it.
tourismtofino.com | MAP 5: A2

It all starts here
GET CLOSER
Thinking about your next family getaway?
Nanaimo is the perfect place for your next Island
adventure. With biking, kayaking, shopping,
ziplining and incredible parks and playgrounds
at every turn, the affordable family fun is
endless in Nanaimo. From the moment you
take the bikes off the roof rack, get onto the
water, or stumble upon that first Nanaimo Bar,
come #ExploreNanaimo with the kids and see
why it all starts here.
the-raptors.com
tourismnanaimo.com/StartHere
@TourismNanaimo