Street Busker, Victoria

Vancouver Island offers a range of activities and attractions that will keep everyone entertained and excited - it's a children's paradise! Don't waste a perfectly sunny day inside, as there are many parks and sights to explore! Yes, it does rain here, which is why the trees are tall and the gardens so lush - rain or no rain, there's no shortage of things to do.

Greater Victoria
Just a short walk south of downtown Victoria is Beacon Hill Park, with its manicured gardens and many attractions. Top of the list for kids and adults alike is the Beacon Hill Children's Farm; lots of baby animals, pot belly pigs, zebu, miniature horses and other critters to meet and pet - and don't miss the goat stampede at closing time!

Victoria Bug Zoo: Discover the amazing world of insects at this unusual and fascinating zoo - there's even an ant farm! While the Maritime Museum of BC will have the pirates in search of treasure, a visit to Cosmic Reality Laser Tag will get the kid's hearts pumping.

Pacific Undersea Gardens: Take a walk beneath the waves of Victoria's Inner Harbour - right down to the ocean floor! Kids will love the Crystal Gardens, located in an early twentieth century swimming pool building converted into a glass conservatory, where thousands of tropical plants line meandering paths that lead to ponds, along a stream and to a cascading waterfall. See the world's smallest monkeys, an avian world of brilliantly coloured tropical birds, Madagascan lemurs and in summer, free flying butterflies - a fine place to spend a rainy day.

The whole family can enjoy an IMAX film at the National Geographic Theatre, next to the Royal British Columbia Museum in downtown Victoria. Plan a morning or afternoon to experience this museum, where you can see what it was like in the gold rush days - much of BC's history is captured here.

Miniature World's Circus Exhibition

Miniature World is well worth a visit, for adults to put things back into a kid's perspective. There are over 80 attractions for the whole family, including the world's smallest operational sawmill - a miniaturized extravaganza that continues to thrill and delight the young and young at heart.

Visit Miniature World's Wonderful World of the Circus and return to those nostalgic days when the circus came to town. Feel the magic, the wonderment of the Grand City Parade, the Big Top, the Wild Beasts and the death defying High Wire Acts.

Horse drawn carriages take you on various tours around many of Victoria's exciting sites and sounds. From the beautiful Inner Harbour and the Ivy Covered Empress hotel and our magnificent Parliament Buildings to many notable Heritage Homes, through Beacon Hill park and much much more.

Stroll amid lush vegetation at the fascinating Victoria Butterfly Gardens, an indoor tropical garden filled with hundreds of dazzling free-flying exotic butterflies and colourful birds. Whether you enjoy hiking, cycling, roller blading, horseback riding, or just going for a stroll, the Galloping Goose Trail and peninsula trails are the places to be.

If you're looking for a great beach, try Oak Bay's Willows Beach. Farther along Beach Drive, past Uplands, there is also Cadboro Bay Beach. The sea air, playgrounds, and sandy beaches are sure to melt away any worries and delight both young and old. Visit the Oak Bay Marina to see the antics of harbour seals in their natural habitat.

Playzone Adventures entertainment centre offers 3 stories of tunnels and tubes, giant slides, laser tag and more. All Fun Recreation Park with its thrilling water slides is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day.

Stroll through the Olde English Village and see replicas of famous buildings from England, including Anne Hathaway's Thatched Cottage, the birthplace home of William Shakespeare.

Stroll through peaceful meadows at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, overlooking Esquimalt Harbour in Colwood, a coastal artillery site built to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base - operational from 1878 to 1956. Located on the large grounds of Fort Rodd Hill is Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on Canada's rocky west coast, built in 1860 by the British when Vancouver Island was still a crown colony.

The town of Sidney is home to family attractions as well. At the foot of Beacon Avenue is the Sidney Whale Museum, an impressive display of models, skeletons and murals, which traces the remarkable story of the biology and evolution of whales. Explore the habits of undersea creatures at the Marine Ecology Station - special programmes are offered in the summer.

Discover the incredible world of gems and minerals at Mineral World and Scratch Patch. A very popular attraction for children, the Scratch Patch is an outdoor adventureland designed to turn anyone into an enthusiastic rockhound. Pick and choose from millions of beautiful semi-precious stones and tropical shells, or try panning for gold!

The ocean around Vancouver Island abounds with spectacular marine life, you can see these magnificent creatures up-close; whale watching tours with marine naturalists are a "must do" for any visitor to Victoria. Sidney is also a good spot for this popular activity.

South Island
The British Columbia Forest Museum located in Duncan portrays the history of BC's forestry industry through indoor and outdoor exhibits. Board the steam locomotive that travels through a turn-of-the-century farmyard and a logging camp.

Explore the sculpted sandstone tidepools at the world-famous Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, a wonderful place for appreciating marine biology and viewing intertidal life - it's a thrill to experience.

Central Island
Budding young golfers can receive personalized instruction and attend spring and summer Junior Golf Camps at the Brent Morrison Golf Academy located at the luxurious Crown Isle Golf Resort in the Comox Valley.

If you want to take the kids underground, there are several hundred significant caves on Vancouver Island, including those at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. From education family oriented tours to deep dark adventure, these caves offer something for everyone.

Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre is committed to helping children of all ages appreciate the wilderness. Within a supportive environment, climb a rock bluff, rappel on a rope, swing on a zip-line and co-operatively solve problems on a ropes course. Learn survival techniques, canoeing, kayaking, orienteering and wilderness etiquette; then participate in a canoe journey for an optional overnight camp-out. Natural history discussions are stimulated while exploring a sphagnum bog, home of insectivorous sundew.

Pacific Rim / West Coast
Along the island's West Coast, the Wickaninnish Centre is a definite highlight for all ages. The centre's purpose is to provide an understanding of the North Pacific Ocean and its influence on nature and man. The history of the North Pacific coast is illustrated by a collection of artifacts used by Nuu-chah-nulth Indians, and interpretive displays.

Teen Surf Camp: Catering to all your surfing needs, Inner Rhythm Surf Camp is located just outside Ucluelet on 5 acres of private grounds. This five-day surfing experience is the only one of its kind in Canada. Each day is spent learning the fundamentals and techniques of surfing and all about our ocean environment (currents, wave formation, ocean safety, mammal life, etc.). Offering daily lessons, rentals, adult surf camps (18+ all inclusive) and Remote Surf Tours.

Experience Teen Day Surf Camps at Long Beach, Canada's number one surfing destination, located in the Pacific Rim National Park, a 10-minute drive from Tofino. Teens will have the time of their lives while learning this incredible sport. All teenagers, big or small, atheletic or non-atheletic will be initiated into the exclusive Surf Sister's circle.

Vancouver and the North Shore
Vancouver has something for all children, and every budget: exciting attractions, great parks, playgrounds and hangouts, and some of Canada's best parks. Take an afternoon or even an entire day to explore some of the following venues:

Vanier Park is a family park housing the Vancouver Museum, where the history of Vancouver can be explored, the Pacific Space Centre, which offers simulated rides, hands-on exhibits and a world of family fun. The Maritime Museum is a special place by the sea, about the sea, with lots to see and do, for landlubbers and old salts alike. Thrill to the disasters and discoveries of the Shipwreck exhibition, including real pieces of the Titanic. Set young sailors loose in Pirates Cove and the Children's Maritime Discovery Centre.

Science World provides family adventure and fun for the whole family. Lose your shadow on the wall, blow gigantic bubbles, and crawl inside a beaver lodge. Blow your mind in the amazing 3D Laser Theatre, experience a breathtaking film in the OMNIMAX Theatre, and participate in dazzling demonstrations.

The magnificent white sails of Canada Place are one of Vancouver's most prominent landmarks, housing the IMAX Theatre - always a hit! Marvel at new marine adventures and wonders at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, where you can discover the wonders of the West Coast, explore the secrets of the steamy tropical Amazon, and delight in the unexpected richness of the Canadian Arctic. Experience Beluga whale and dolphin shows, shark dives and sea otter feeds.

Set in beside the False Creek Community Centre on Cartwright Street is the Granville Island Waterpark, one of the most imaginatively built, warm-weather playgrounds in the city. From the end of May to early September, water spews from hydrants and overhead archways, and from geysers mounted in the concrete surface that can be activated with the push of a button. A bright-yellow water slide thrills youngsters. Games and creative activities are offered free-of-charge to visitors throughout the summer.

You can ride the Skytrain, Vancouver's light rapid transit system, and travel from place to place with ease, enjoying a great view of the city while you go. Hop aboard the Grouse Mountain Skyride for an exhilarating ride to the year-round mountaintop playground only fifteen minutes from downtown. Canada's most modern 100-person aerial tram glides you up the steep mountainside, skirting trees, and providing you with a spectacular view of Vancouver once you reach the summit.

There are some lovely beaches along a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of Vancouver's outer harbour, principally along English Bay. Some, like Spanish Banks Beach, Locarno Beach, and Jericho Beach on Vancouver's west side, receive regular deposits of sand courtesy of the Fraser River's silt-laden plume, which arches around Point Grey into English Bay. Sand has been trucked in to create the beaches in the West End on English Bay, including those in Stanley Park. A few soft pockets of beach do exist in places such as Caulfeild and Ambleside Parks in West Vancouver. Both are extremely popular with families on weekends, yet they can be almost deserted on weekdays.

The Stanley Park Seawall and the Seaside Bikeway are thronged with an ever-larger number of walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, and cyclists. Bikes and blades can be rented from a number of shops that border the park.

On the North Shore, you can conquer your fear of heights on the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Constructed of wood and cable, the footbridge sways 230 feet above the forested canyon of the Capilano River. Stroll through pleasant parkland and nature trails, admire the wonderful display of totem poles, and stop to watch west coast totem carvers demonstrating their art form.

The last remaining farm on Vancouver's North Shore, Maplewood Farm was once a thriving dairy, delivering fresh milk and cream to customers from Deep Cove to Lonsdale. Opened to the public in 1975, and now home to over 200 domestic animals and birds, Maplewood Farm strives to provide a recollection of the rural heritage of this pastoral 5-acre setting on Seymour River Place - a unique experience for adults and children alike.

In summer, the Royal Hudson steam train chugs up to Squamish and back from Vancouver, or visitors could return aboard the MV Britannia, which cruises through Howe Sound to downtown Vancouver.

Petting Zoos are always fun!

Fun and excitement awaits the entire family at Water Slides, at the intersection of Highways 1 and 9 in Chilliwack, where 10 exciting waterslides, miniature golf, a giant hot pool, volleyball, a children's playground, and a space-age video arcade are offered.

The ride of your life is waiting for you at the Cultus Lake Water Park, where radical rapids, blasting flash flood slides, relaxing whirlpools, water fountains and wading pools will thrill the young at heart.

Step into the past inside the high walls of Fort Langley National Historic Site, and experience the sounds, smells and activities of the trading post that played such a major part in the development of British Columbia. Established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1827, this historic village with a difference has seen the likes of Native fur and salmon traders, adventurous explorers, European fur traders and eager gold prospectors.

For recreation of a more urban variety, visitors can visit the City Centre Aquatic Complex with an Olympic sized swimming pool, wave pool, waterslides and therapeutic whirlpools.

Kids can grab their buckets and spades and be on the beach in early September to catch the World Champion Sand Sculpture Classic. Artists from all over the world come to create magnificent sand sculptures - the wide beach is turned into a natural outdoor art gallery.

Hope offers one of the most spectacular sights in British Columbia: Hell's Gate, a narrowing of the Fraser River where the water churns through the famous gorge in a tremendous maelstrom. It's an awesome sight to behold, and certainly a "hellish" experience for the more than 2 million spawning salmon that must pass through this part of the Fraser River every year. For a closer look at the fury of Hell's Gate, ride the Hell's Gate Airtram across to the other side of the river. Restaurants, gift shops and an interpretive centre await those daring enough to make the trip.

Llamas and their smaller Alpaca cousins are a growing part of the agricultural industry in Langley, with around 35 farms raising a total of over 400 of these South American pack animals. Llamas are used mainly by hikers on foot, who carry lead lines and let the animals carry the supplies. A number of the llama farms offer farm visits - check at the Visitor Info Centre for more information.

Pan for Gold in the Fraser and Thompson Rivers near Lytton, following in the footsteps of the Cariboo Gold Rush prospectors.