Island Parent Family Fun Guide 2023

Family
GUIDE
FUN
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!
RBCM.CA/ANGKOR

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MAP 1 – Greater & Downtown Victoria
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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
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
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
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
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
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

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MAP 2 – Vanc
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Island Parent Group Ltd.
publishers of
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islandparent.ca
grandmag.ca
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tweensandteens.ca
westcoastfamilies.com
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Inquiries: info@islandparent.ca
Map data ©2023 Google
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ouver Island
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See airplanes, seaplanes, helicopters
and more at the BC Aviation Museum
Learn about BC’s aviation history from early
bush planes to water bombers and beyond!
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
1910 Norseman Road, Sidney | 250-655-3300 | bcam.net
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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

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MAP 3 – Nanaimo & Cowichan Valley
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Don’t Leave Without
Tubing the River…
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…or without
trying
real fruit
ice cream!
109 S Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan 250.510.7433 cowichanriver.com
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GET CLOSER
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MAP 4
Comox Valley
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the-raptors.com

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
See you
at the
beach in
July 14 to
August 20
2023
Parksville BC!
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
parksvillebeachfest.ca

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.
CONNECT WITH
THE INCREDIBLE
Discover 65,000 incredible animals like
rescued sea lions, sea otters and more
in the heart of Stanley Park.
Book Your Visit at vanaqua.org
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

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MAP 5
Tofino & Ucluelet
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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
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
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
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

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