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
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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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<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Group Ltd.<br />
publishers of<br />
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islandparent.ca<br />
grandmag.ca<br />
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tweensandteens.ca<br />
westcoastfamilies.com<br />
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Inquiries: info@islandparent.ca<br />
Map data ©<strong>2023</strong> Google<br />
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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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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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Don’t Leave Without<br />
Tubing the River…<br />
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…or without<br />
trying<br />
real fruit<br />
ice cream!<br />
109 S Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan 250.510.7433 cowichanriver.com<br />
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GET CLOSER<br />
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MAP 4<br />
Comox Valley<br />
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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
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1.855.595.2251<br />
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kids camp!<br />
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Use code: <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>15