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Island Parent Family Fun Guide 2023

Your guide to fun family activities and attractions on Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Tofino and Ucluelet

Your guide to fun family activities and attractions on Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Tofino and Ucluelet

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<strong>Family</strong><br />

GUIDE<br />

FUN<br />

to Vancouver <strong>Island</strong><br />

SEE THE FILM,<br />

EXPERIENCE THE EXHIBITION<br />

JUN 2, <strong>2023</strong>–JAN 14, 2024<br />

Immerse yourself in<br />

the experience with an<br />

IMAX ® and exhibition<br />

combo ticket!<br />

RBCM.CA/ANGKOR


A<br />

1 2 3 4 5 6<br />

MAP 1 – Greater & Downtown Victoria<br />

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Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />

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WildPlay<br />

Victoria<br />

Experience 15 ziplines,<br />

over 60 aerial adventure games, a 40ft freefall jump,<br />

axe throwing and more! The ultimate outdoor adventure<br />

for families, friends, birthday parties or teams!<br />

Open February to December. Locations in Victoria, Nanaimo<br />

and Maple Ridge. Book your adventure online or call<br />

+1-855-595-2251.<br />

wildplay.com | MAP 1: F4<br />

Cultus Lake<br />

Waterpark<br />

BC’s biggest and best<br />

waterpark! Offering Western<br />

Canada’s largest selection of<br />

slides, including everyone’s favourite The Colossal Canyon!<br />

We’ve got something for everyone! Online tickets available.<br />

Check us out online:<br />

cultus.com<br />

Peninsula<br />

Country Market<br />

Bring your family to the Peninsula Country<br />

Market. Experience our Kid Zone with story<br />

time, educational activities while you shop<br />

for fresh local produce, artisan crafts and<br />

delicious food. Every Saturday from<br />

June 3–Oct 7, 9am–1pm.<br />

peninsulacountrymarket.ca | MAP 1: C4<br />

Dino Lab<br />

Incorporated<br />

See and touch real<br />

dinosaurs! Dino Lab is an<br />

exclusive opportunity to<br />

“see, touch and work” with<br />

REAL dinosaurs. Roll up your sleeves,<br />

grab a tool and help us turn back time!<br />

dinolabinc.ca | MAP 1: F5<br />

Ponies &<br />

Pipsqueaks<br />

Costumes, Ponies, Unicorns<br />

and Endless Possibilities!<br />

At Ponies and Pipsqueaks<br />

we offer a variety of one of<br />

a kind programs to peak<br />

imagination, educate and of course,<br />

develop a love for all things horsey.<br />

poniesandpipsqueaks.com | MAP 1: D4<br />

Victoria<br />

Bug Zoo<br />

The Victoria Bug Zoo is an incredible<br />

mini-zoo dedicated to educating people<br />

about the wonders of some of this<br />

world’s most misunderstood inhabitants.<br />

Come see giant walking sticks, fuzzy<br />

tarantulas, glowing scorpions, enormous<br />

beetles and so much more!<br />

victoriabugzoo.ca | MAP 1: D2<br />

Beacon Hill<br />

Children’s Farm<br />

Located within beautiful Beacon<br />

Hill Park of Victoria, BC, welcomes<br />

you to enjoy the farm animal experience! From alpacas<br />

to miniature goats, tropical birds and miniature pigs, we have<br />

all kinds of fuzzy, furry, feathered creatures, including a goat<br />

petting area and the famous goat stampedes. The farm is open<br />

seasonally—call for dates and hours. <strong>Fun</strong>ded by your donations.<br />

Interac available.<br />

250-381-2532 | beaconhillchildrensfarm.ca | MAP 1: F5<br />

Maritime<br />

Museum of BC<br />

Visit the Maritime<br />

Museum of BC to take<br />

in exhibits, join a walking tour, and/or participate in<br />

a craft workshop or Museum Tots program.<br />

mmbc.bc.ca | MAP 1: D2


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MAP 2 – Vanc<br />

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<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Group Ltd.<br />

publishers of<br />

D<br />

islandparent.ca<br />

grandmag.ca<br />

E<br />

tweensandteens.ca<br />

westcoastfamilies.com<br />

F<br />

Inquiries: info@islandparent.ca<br />

Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />

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6 7 8<br />

ouver <strong>Island</strong><br />

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See airplanes, seaplanes, helicopters<br />

and more at the BC Aviation Museum<br />

Learn about BC’s aviation history from early<br />

bush planes to water bombers and beyond!<br />

Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30:<br />

10am to 4pm, Thurs through Tues<br />

Winter Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30:<br />

11am to 3pm, Thurs through Tues<br />

For special days and events<br />

go to bcam.net<br />

1910 Norseman Road, Sidney | 250-655-3300 | bcam.net<br />

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6 7 8


Butchart<br />

Gardens<br />

Butchart Gardens is open daily<br />

9am–4pm (with viewing until 5pm),<br />

welcoming guests to take solace from<br />

this beautiful garden. Health protocols<br />

are in place, allowing for physical distancing,<br />

capacity monitoring and sanitary precautions.<br />

butchartgardens.com | MAP 1: C4<br />

Butterfly<br />

Gardens<br />

With surprises at every turn,<br />

you’ll encounter poison dart<br />

frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks,<br />

free flying tropical birds and more. Stroll through and marvel<br />

at our lush gardens including tropical flowers, carnivorous<br />

plants and fruits of the world. Your jungle adventure awaits.<br />

butterflygardens.com | MAP 1: C4<br />

Shaw Centre<br />

for the Salish Sea<br />

Dive into the biodiversity of the<br />

Salish Sea! Explore more than 30<br />

aquarium habitats showcasing<br />

jellies, sea stars, fish, a giant Pacific<br />

octopus and more.<br />

9811 Seaport Place, Sidney BC<br />

@salishseacentre | salishseacentre.org | MAP 1: B5<br />

Royal BC<br />

Museum<br />

From the coastal forest<br />

to the cryptic and colourful seashores, explore the natural<br />

beauty and the native wildlife of BC through immersive<br />

displays. Journey back to the Ice Age and come face-to-face<br />

with a full-sized woolly mammoth.<br />

675 Belleville St, Victoria<br />

royalbcmuseum.bc.ca | MAP 1: E2


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MAP 3 – Nanaimo & Cowichan Valley<br />

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Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />

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1 2 3<br />

A<br />

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Don’t Leave Without<br />

Tubing the River…<br />

B<br />

B<br />

C<br />

C<br />

…or without<br />

trying<br />

real fruit<br />

ice cream!<br />

109 S Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan 250.510.7433 cowichanriver.com<br />

D<br />

D<br />

GET CLOSER<br />

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F<br />

MAP 4<br />

Comox Valley<br />

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1 2 3<br />

Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />

the-raptors.com


The Raptors<br />

At the Raptors, we provide<br />

opportunities for visitors of all<br />

ages to get closer to wildlife, learn<br />

more about birds of prey and<br />

interact with raptors.<br />

the-raptors.com | MAP 3: F6<br />

Cultus Lake<br />

Adventure Park<br />

BC’s best theme park is<br />

open daily starting June 25th.<br />

Offering 19 rides and attractions, we’ve got something<br />

for everyone! Online tickets available. Check us out online:<br />

cultus.com<br />

North <strong>Island</strong> Wildlife<br />

Recovery Centre<br />

North <strong>Island</strong> Wildlife Recovery Centre<br />

(NIWRC) in Coombs is a rehabilitation<br />

facility, especially for raptors and black<br />

bears. The goal: to care for these<br />

animals and reintroduce them into their natural environment.<br />

See eagles, bears, owls, falcons, hawks, swans and ravens.<br />

Activities and educational programs for the whole family.<br />

Open daily 9am–4:30pm.<br />

niwra.org | MAP 3: A1<br />

Old Country Market:<br />

Goats on the Roof<br />

Just past Nanaimo, this market has<br />

great ice cream and baked foods,<br />

and carries international foods and<br />

gifts. It’s perfect for a lunch stop, and<br />

the kids will love the family of goats that<br />

graze on the grassy roof of the market.<br />

oldcountrymarket.com | MAP 3: A1<br />

See you<br />

at the<br />

beach in<br />

July 14 to<br />

August 20<br />

<strong>2023</strong><br />

Parksville BC!<br />

Gates Open Jul 14 – 2 pm | Competition Jul 14 – 16<br />

Exhibition Jul 17 – Aug 20<br />

Canadian Tire Learn to Sculpt Jul 15 – 16<br />

Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series<br />

Jul 21, 22, 28, 29 | Aug 4, 5, 18, 19<br />

Art in the Park Jul 22 – 23<br />

Mid <strong>Island</strong> Co-op Rock the Park<br />

Music Festival Aug 11 – 13<br />

QF Festival of Lights Aug 12<br />

QF Kids Sculpting<br />

Competition Aug 13<br />

Coastal Community<br />

Credit Union Light<br />

up! Aug 18 – 19<br />

RE/MAX Parksville<br />

Qualicum Symphony<br />

by the Sea featuring<br />

Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> Symphony<br />

Orchestra<br />

Aug 20<br />

parksvillebeachfest.ca


Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NHS<br />

and Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s NPR<br />

Parks Canada adventures near Victoria<br />

Don’t miss two amazing Parks<br />

Canada attractions located just<br />

20 minutes from downtown<br />

Victoria to enjoy daily or yearround.<br />

At Fort Rodd Hill and<br />

Fisgard Lighthouse National<br />

Historic Sites, explore both a<br />

century-old coast artillery fort<br />

and Canada’s oldest west coast lighthouse. Pretend to be a soldier<br />

or a lighthouse keeper: spy, march, signal your position or sound<br />

the foghorn, wave at passing ships, play on the shoreline. Stay a bit<br />

longer, camp inside a real fort in an oTENTik—a furnished part-tent,<br />

part-cabin accommodation.<br />

Plan a paddling trip or hop on a<br />

ferry to Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s National Park<br />

Reserve, a multi-island paradise<br />

that’s meant to explore. Take a<br />

relaxing hike, taste heritage<br />

apples or make beach art while<br />

spotting tiny crabs, huge whales<br />

and listening to the sound of the<br />

waves. Reserve an overnight experience in a tent by the water or an<br />

RV in a temperate rainforest.<br />

CONNECT WITH<br />

THE INCREDIBLE<br />

Discover 65,000 incredible animals like<br />

rescued sea lions, sea otters and more<br />

in the heart of Stanley Park.<br />

Book Your Visit at vanaqua.org<br />

Both locations are perfect<br />

family outings where you can<br />

learn about Indigenous culture<br />

and the region’s past through<br />

fun programs and activities, and<br />

with an Xplorer activity booklet.<br />

Admission to the national historic<br />

sites is FREE for youth 17 and<br />

younger; $8.50 for adults; and $7.00 for seniors. No parks passes<br />

are required for daytime visits to the national park reserve. For<br />

camping and oTENTik fees, see the websites below.<br />

Facebook: @FortRoddFisgardNHS and @Gulf<strong>Island</strong>sNPR<br />

parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill<br />

parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gulf<br />

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


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MAP 5<br />

Tofino & Ucluelet<br />

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Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />

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Vancouver<br />

Aquarium<br />

Connect with the incredible<br />

in the heart of Stanley Park.<br />

Explore among 65,000<br />

animals, experience our<br />

4D Theatre and discover rescued sea lions, sea otters and more!<br />

vanaqua.org<br />

Ucluelet<br />

Aquarium<br />

The Ucluelet Aquarium is Canada’s<br />

first collect-and-release aquarium<br />

treating visitors to a personal view of<br />

fish and invertebrates from the waters<br />

of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds.<br />

uclueletaquarium.org | MAP 5: C5<br />

Forged<br />

Axe Throwing<br />

Our action-packed sessions have you<br />

nailing those bullseyes in no time!<br />

Our axe throwing sessions for ages 10+<br />

and family-friendly competition will have<br />

the high fives flying! Book online.<br />

forgedaxe.ca | MAP 1: D2<br />

Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal<br />

Indigenous Gardens<br />

The Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous<br />

Gardens (formerly Tofino Botanical Gardens)<br />

provide a space to learn from nature in both<br />

natural and landscaped environments. An<br />

enchanting trail system helps visitors navigate<br />

coastal rainforest and waterfront. IISAAK—to<br />

observe, appreciate and act accordingly—the<br />

highest law of the Nuu’chah’nulth constitution,<br />

is the ethos of this place.<br />

clayoquotcampus.ca | MAP 5: A2


est outdoor adventure in BC Search<br />

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the cool parent<br />

Book Now<br />

1.855.595.2251<br />

Scan me to animate<br />

WildPlay’s new<br />

kids camp!<br />

#KidsCamps #AdventureCourses #Ziplines<br />

Save 15% off your adventure.<br />

Use code: <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>15

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