FAMILY

Planning a holiday with the entire family in mind results in memories that you will all remember with a smile. By nature, Victoria and Vancouver Island have miles of things for families to do. Ocean waters, long sandy beaches, rainforests and wide-open spaces wait to be explored. Kids will keep busy for hours swimming, building sand castles, clambering over driftwood, beachcombing, discovering tidal pools, going on nature walks, and simply breathing the clean, fresh air. Children are encouraged to get up close and personal with local marine life, bugs, butterflies and farm animals at Victoria's unique gardens and zoos. Museums abound on the Island and have hands-on displays and activities for their favourite little customers. Recreation centres, swimming pools, waterslides and mini-golf are always popular with the whole family and many of Victoria and Vancouver Island's festivals cater to children.

Point Ellice House
Point Ellice was the 19th century home of Peter and Caroline O'Reilly and their children, Frank, Kathleen, Mary Augusta and Jack. The house remained in the O'Reilly family for three generations, becoming a provincial historic site in 1974. Point Ellice is also nationally designated and is considered Western Canada's finest collection of Victoriana in its original setting. The whole family can take High Tea in the reconstructed Victorian style gardens. Dating back to the 1850's, Point Ellice House exudes warmth and graciousness. Ferry Service is available from the Inner Harbour.

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site
Step inside a real working lighthouse - Canada's oldest West Coast lighthouse - where colourful displays tell of ships wrecked and lives saved. Stroll along the ramparts of three coastal gun batteries built over a century ago. Look down the barrels of original guns, explore underground bunkers, and discover camouflaged searchlight emplacements!

Centre of the Universe
The Centre of the Universe is the new interpretive centre at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria. Treat yourself to spectacular views of Victoria and the cosmos! Interactive exhibits and talented staff will introduce you to the amazing world of astronomy. Tour the awesome 1.8 metre Plaskett Telescope. Try fascinating interactive exhibits. Travel the constellations in the Starlab Planetarium. Experience a special theatre presentation: The Falling Asteroid Blues, The Backpacker's Guide to the Universe, or another one of the entertaining multimedia shows. Take part in one of our family-friendly special events, like our Saturday Star Parties or Stargazer Sundays. The Centre of the Universe is part of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, the scientific institute within the National Research Council of Canada which has the mandate from Parliament to "operate and administer any astronomical observatories established or maintained by the Government of Canada."

Marine Ecology Centre
This hands-on aquarium dedicated to marine awareness, education and stewardship 45 minutes North of Victoria. Explore British Columbia's rich marine biodiversity. Discover the lifestyles of a wealth of live animals, many in natural settings under user-friendly microscopes. Also, enjoy truly hands-on biology in touch tanks, and guide a remotely operated underwater submarine. Group, school and summer programs are a specialty.

Victoria Bug Zoo
Home to over 30 live species of the world's most fascinating insects and spiders, the Victoria Bug Zoo offers kids of all ages the opportunity to get up close and personal with all kinds of insects, millipedes, scorpions and tarantulas. Our interpreters are knowledgeable and friendly and will let you hold many of the interesting creatures.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Stroll amidst hundreds of exotic butterflies flying free in a 12,000 square-foot indoor tropical rainforest. Witness the entire life cycle of these amazing insects. Spectacular flowering plants and foliage, fascinating birds, waterfalls and a stream with fish all contribute to make this a truly memorable experience. Featuring friendly helpful staff, lots of free parking and a well-stocked gift shop. Located less than five minutes from the world famous Butchart Gardens.

National Geographic IMAX Theatre
The IMAX Experience: the most powerful and involving film experience which brings images to life on a screen over six stories tall with 12,000 watts of IMAX digital surround sound. More than just a movie!

Capital Regional District Parks
There is a CRD park for every taste. The 28 regional parks and 2 regional trails in the Capital Regional District Parks system are home to bald eagles, harbour seals, blacktail deer and red-tailed hawks. Go for a hike. Take a picnic. Ride a bicycle. Walk on a beach. Visit a nature house. Some parks have interpretive guides. Please contact CRD Parks for more information.

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
Walking trails, birdwatching, a nature house (interpretive centre) and nature sanctuary are yours to enjoy. Also offered are: nature education programs, guided bird walks, a reference library; hiking trails and a wheelchair path.

Cowichan Lake Educational Centre
This outdoor education and conference centre is located on one of the largest lakes on Vancouver Island with spectacular scenery and a wide range of recreational activities. Nestled among 40 acres of forest with a beautiful secluded shoreline, the centre is accessible to the popular Juan de Fuca Trail and the rugged terrain of Pacific Rim National Park and Clayoquot Sound. Golfing nearby, fishing on-site and excellent birding are all part of the experience.

Hands-On After School Program
English as a second language (ESL) after school programs incorporate fun Classes and tours.
Hands-On After School Program offers ESL students and anyone wanting to learn something new and meet new people a wide variety of classes: improve memory and vocabulary; learn the phonics system to improve pronunciation; learn about Victoria. Classes on personality, life strategies, positive thinking, brain power, public speaking, Feng Shui, creative writing, drama and oil painting are all available.

Ocean River Sports
From the cultural history of Victoria's Inner Harbour to the rugged natural beauty of Vancouver Island's coastline, our area has some of the best kayaking in the world. Many of Ocean River's tours are appropriate for new paddlers and include basic instruction. Itineraries are flexible and allow for a variety of paddling experiences to suit a range of skills. Ocean River offers one of the widest range of kayak programs on the West Coast. Its guides have extensive experience on local waters, certification, and kayak safety training and work in small groups with no more than 10 people with two guides at a time.