Best family-friendly things to do in Victoria

Our guide to the best things to do in Victoria with kids will make a multigenerational visit to the city with European charm easy to plan. This Pacific coast city is worth discovering, and afternoon tea in Victoria is an absolute must.

Plenty of outdoor activities make it a true West Coast experience. Soak in the natural beauty by walking through a rainforest, beachcombing, and whale watching, and be steeped in local culture and history that make this destination unique.

Plan to spend at least two nights in Victoria to see the numerous sights. Victoria is often the gateway to exploring the rest of Vancouver Island or an adventurous day-trip from Vancouver. See our guides for our visit to Nanaimo and Parksville.

Best things to do in Victoria wth kids

There are endless possibilities of places to visit and explore in Victoria and the nearby area and we have carefully selected the best things to do that can be comfortably done on a two night stay. Most these activities are suitable for young or old and are great options for multigenerational travel.

Malahat SkyWalk Adventure

We hit the Malahat SkyWalk on our road trip to Victoria from Nanaimo though would recommend accessing it when heading North. It is one hour south of Nanaimo and 35 minutes north of Victoria, making it a perfect place to stop and stretch our legs. We were immediately impressed with the elevated 600-metre TreeWalk to experience nature in the treetops as we headed to the tower. Along the way, we paused at the information panels and interactive displays as we passed through the Douglas Fir rainforest dripping with moss.

As you journey through the area, watch for eco-artist Tanya Bud‘s amazing sculptures of animals and people created out of driftwood.

As we neared the ocean, stands of peeling Arbutus trees appeared, revealing smooth reddish-brown bark. The Arbutus grows in rocky, windswept terrain closer to the shoreline, and First Nations value it for its medicinal purposes.

The elevated TreeWalk through the rainforest at the Malahat SkyWalk. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The 10-storey high tower soon appeared. We climbed its circular path, winding our way to the top 250 metres above sea level to enjoy incredible panoramic views of the Gulf Islands and Findlayson Arm.

Malahat SkyWalk Adventure: Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

L. admires the impressive art along at the Malahat SkyWalk near Victoria. Photo: Melanie©

View of the Gulf Islands from the Malahat SkyWalk. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Spectacular views from the Malahat SkyWalk near Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

If you dare, take the 20-metre spiral slide back down to the tower’s base as often as you like. It is a thrill for all ages. Or linger longer and step out onto the one-of-a-kind adventure net. It was interesting to find E. couldn’t wait to travel down the slide with Mom while L. wanted nothing to do with it but loved the adventure net. Take a seat in the Tower Plaza to enjoy drinks, lunch, or soft-serve.

Malahat SkyWalk slide is a thrill. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

During the summer, one of the easiest ways to get to the Malahat SkyWalk from Victoria is to take the free roundtrip shuttle from downtown. The shuttle is available five times a day. This visit will take about half a day.

E. and L. admire the impressive art along the walkway to the Malahat SkyWalk near Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Fisherman’s Wharf

Located next to the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA, we briefly stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf for fish and chips, watched for a playful harbour seal or two, and saw a variety of colourful floating homes. Then, we took a picturesque ride on a water taxi into Victoria’s Inner Harbour and returned to our hotel using the Inner Harbour Waterfront Walk.

Colourful houseboats at Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Harbour Waterfront Walk

The Inner Harbour Waterfront Walkway offers sweeping harbour views and a chance to see otters, seals, and water birds. It also provides access to many of the harbour area’s attractions, ferries, and tours. Listen to buskers and see popup art displays and artists offering caricatures or novelty items.

Beaconhill Park

Beacon Hill Park is a wonderful urban forest of over 750 square metres, offering many recreational opportunities, a rose garden, a Garry Oak meadow and a Children’s Farm.  Wander through the gardens and see peacocks and several different kinds of birds. There are outstanding views along the waterfront of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch for windsurfers, paragliders and kite fliers taking advantage of the coastal winds.

The Trans-Canada Highway Mile Zero Monument is located in the park. It is an important marker marking the start of the 7,821-kilometre highway that runs from the Pacific coast to Canada’s Atlantic coast and ends in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Beautiful Beacon Hill Park in Victoria is a wonderful place to roam. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Mile O of the Canada Trans Canada Highway and biking in Beacon Hill Park overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Beacon Hill Children’s Farm

What a delightful find! The Beacon Hill Children’s Farm is a small local family farm operating in the park since 1985. Here, you can find rabbits, donkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, alpacas, and a variety of birds, including visiting peacocks and herons. Watch for the daily goat stampedes, which are always a hit. The kids really got a kick out of having a baby goat climb upon their backs. Admission is by donation.

Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. Photo: Melanie©

Craigdarroch Castle National Historic Site

Known as the “Castle”, the stunningly restored Victorian-era Craigdarroch Castle, built in the 1890s by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, provides a glimpse into the life of the wealthy elite. Sadly, Dunsmuir died before living in the home, but his widow resided here until she died in 1908.

High on a hill overlooking Victora, the Castle has Romanesque Revival-style architecture. No expense was spared in building the mansion, as evidenced by the collection of stained glass windows, one of the finest in North America, and the elegantly carved woodwork.

Now a public museum, the interior rooms reflect the glory of its era as the Dunsmuir home. At the entrance of the grand estate, children are given instructions to go on a treasure hunt to find items on the tour. The last exhibit, exiting the castle, is an interactive wooden display of all items found in a kitchen at that time.

Inside Craigdarroch Castle National Historic Site. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside Craigdarroch Castle National Historic Site. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside Craigdarroch Castle National Historic Site. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Chinatown National Historic Site

Marked by the intricate red and gold gate, Victoria’s historic Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco. It is a designated National Historic Site boasting 33 historic buildings in a three-block radius. It has an eclectic mix of businesses, restaurants and enticing narrow passages and alleyways to explore. Watch for plaques, monuments, and informational panels. We didn’t have an opportunity on this trip but there are lots of places to eat and grab grocery or takeaway items.

The first migrants from China arrived in Victoria in 1858, brought by the discovery of gold in British Columbia. Then, more migrants arrived to work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad until its completion in 1885. Slowly, the Chinese population declined in Victoria as people moved to other regions or returned to China.

Fan Tan Alley

Fan Tan Alley, one of Canada’s narrowest streets, has been transformed into an interesting collection of artist studios, shops displaying artisan wares, and places to eat.

Exploring Fan Tan Alley in Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Victoria Chinatown Museum

Inside the Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley, learn about the history of the Chinese Canadian community and its important contribution to Victoria and BC.

The children were mesmerized by the colourful traditional Chinese lion heads as they walked through the equally decorated and intricately carved moon gate. They enjoyed the many interactive displays and cracked into the safe in record time.

Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside the Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside the Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside the Victoria Chinatown Museum in Fan Tan Alley. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Afternoon Tea at Pendray Tea House

A Victorian-style afternoon high tea is a time-honoured British tradition and a scrumptious indulgence. The elegant surroundings of Pendray Tea House feature antique furnishings, stained glass windows, lace curtains and rich wood accents.

Not only does it ooze historic charm, the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste is impressive. In July, it became Canada’s first restaurant to be certified by The PLEDGE on Food Waste.

When we went, we chose two West Coast Afternoon Teas and two Children’s Teas. The tea starts with a savoury selection, then two types of delicious baked scones served with Devon-style cream and local berry jam, followed by an array of decadent pastries and your choice of Organic Silk Road or Westholme Tea.

The children were delighted with their menu:

• Tea Sandwiches – Cucumber & Cream Cheese, Nutella & Marshmallows, Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Freshly Baked Scone – White Chocolate & Lavender Scone, Devon-Style Cream, House-Made Local Berry Jam
• Signature Pastries – Locally Handmade Bon Macaron, Blueberry Italian Meringue Tart, Sustainable Chocolate Cashew Delight
• Choice of  Organic Silk Road or Westholme Tea, Hot Chocolate, Mocktail, or Artisan Soda

The Pendray Tea House offers several lovely seating areas, and the beautiful veranda is open in the summer.

Wendy Nordvik-Carr enjoys afternoon tea at Pendray Tea House in Victoria. Photo: Melanie©

The delightful children’s menu for afternoon tea at Pendray Tea House in Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The delightful children’s menu for afternoon tea at Pendray Tea House in Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Whale Watching

We chose Prince of Whales Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventures because they are all about education. Their commitment to protecting the Salish Sea through conservation efforts is admirable. We learned so much on this trip.

Wildlife is unpredictable, and each voyage is unique, following a different route depending on animal activity. Prince of Whales guarantees whale sightings and is successful 95% of the time. The day we went, we selected the Sunset Sailing as the best way to end the day for stunning sunset views. It was smooth sailing on calm waters as we left Victoria’s Inner Harbour. As we proceeded further into the Salish Sea, the winds picked up, and the water became choppy, but the catamaran’s stability sliced through the waves like butter, making it a smooth journey.

On our tour, we headed towards the San Juan Islands in American waters to find a very happy and playful pod of Orcas also known as killer whales. The kids were thrilled, as were everyone else, including a large contingent of students visiting from Mexico.

We lost count of the numerous whale breaches. And we didn’t have to worry about capturing the moment. Prince of Whales sends complementary photos shot by their onboard photographer directly to your email after the adventure.

On our way back to the harbour after our nearly four-hour excursion, we noticed the swells increasing, making it a wet ride for the passengers on smaller whale-watching vessels.

As a bonus, Prince of Whales offers a free voucher to the Royal BC Museum’s IMAX® Victoria Blue Whales: Return of the Giants. They also offer complimentary hot beverages to enjoy on the journey.

After disembarking, we were delighted to find the illuminated CANADA sign nearby and to have perfect views of the BC Parliament Building all lit up.

Whale watching in Victoria with the Prince of Whales.

Playful killer whales are seen during our Victoria Prince of Whales Whale Watching Adventure in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The onboard photographer took these photos.

Breaching killer whale seen during our Victoria Prince of Whales Whale Watching Adventure near the San Juan Islands. The onboard photographer took these photos. We guarantee that this photo was not photoshopped! It was very rare to have so many whale breaches during the tour. Everyone on board was extremely fortunate.

Sunset views from the Prince of Whales Whale Watching Adventure. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Royal BC Museum

Always a family favourite, the rich and diverse offerings of the Royal BC Museum are fully immersive and interactive, making it a perfect learning experience. If you have time, be sure to check out the IMAX® Theatre the largest screen in BC. Sadly, we ran out of time, but we will return!

Here are some of our visit’s highlights:

Natural History Gallery

The children loved exploring the Natural History Gallery, travelling from the Ice Age, with life-size replica fossils from the last 80 million years to the cool coastal forest, then to the Shores of the Pacific Ocean with a tidal pool, before heading onto the Delta River Basin BC’s rarest ecosystem, all immersed in the natural sounds of each environment.

E. and L. viewing the Mammoth at the Ice Age exhibit inside the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Melanie©

Natural History Gallery Shores of the Pacific Ocean at the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The tidal pools at the Shores of the Pacific Ocean at the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Wendy Norvdik-Carr©

The Victorian-era submarine experience transports you under the sea. Photo: Melanie©

Stonehenge

We learned about mysterious Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the museum’s special exhibit, which runs until January 5, 2025. The kids were especially interested in it because of its location near Salisbury, Wilts, England, where their beloved great-grandmother lived from age two until she was 18.

The exhibit explores the people who built Stonehenge some 5,000 years ago. It’s the first time these artifacts have been displayed in North America.

The Stonehenge exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Interactive displays at the Stonehenge exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Our Living Languages First People’s Voices in British Columbia

More than half of all First Nation languages in Canada are spoken in BC. The Living Languages exhibit provides a great learning experience to learn more about the 35 Indigenous languages spoken in BC, what is being done to preserve these languages, and the rich cultural history and family traditions. We were excited to see this interactive exhibit and felt it valuably provides exposure to the importance of preserving these languages.

Our Living Languages First People’s Voices exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Victoria Butterfly World

Before you begin your journey into the world of butterflies, explore the impressive Insectarium filled with tropical jungle insects and invertebrates. Learn about how they survive by hiding through camouflage or movement. Then, pass through double doors to be memorized by hundreds of beautiful butterflies flitting freely. Stand very still and one may land on you. Watch where you step to avoid harming one of these amazing creatures.

It was fun to watch the children excitedly go on a scavenger hunt to spot all the garden creatures, such as pink flamingos, tortoises, iguanas, and birds.

Insectarium at Victoria Butterfly World and butterflies drinking nectar. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Inside Victoria Butterfly World. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Glass Beach

Our final stop on the way to catch the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen ferry was the famed Glass Beach in Sidney. This picturesque little beach near the fishing pier is the best place to hunt for polished, frosted pieces of sea glass. The kids were delighted with their finds.

Hunting for sea glass at Glass Beach in Sidney near Victoria. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Where to Stay in Victoria

Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA

Imagine enjoying your morning coffee while watching seaplanes take flight and being kissed goodnight at sunset by the lights of the harbour overlooking the city. We had the opportunity to do just that as we visited the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA for their grand unveiling of luxurious, multimillion-dollar guest room renovations.

You couldn’t ask for a more ideal waterfront location. Set in historic James Bay in Victoria’s upper harbour, it is close to the most popular attractions and has direct access to the Harbour Walkway, next to Fisherman’s Wharf and close to the Pendray Tea House. And, the hotel is dedicated to helping protect the environment with its Refreshingly Green™ program. Guests can enjoy stunning views of the marina and explore the vibrant local culture just steps from their room. Whether strolling along the waterfront or taking a scenic boat tour, there’s no shortage of things to do. For those looking to venture further, a short drive brings you to even more exciting activities, with many similarities to the top things to do in Queensferry, such as historic sites, waterfront walks, and picturesque landscapes that charm visitors year-round.

The hotel is pet-friendly and offers special local and senior discounts.

Melanie enjoying morning views of the harbour from Coast Victoria Hotel and Marina by APA. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

View of the Coast Victoria Hotel and Marina by APA from the harbour. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Welcomed by an origami crane on the bed, we felt pampered by the modern, upscale style with signature touches from their Japanese APA hotel and a Refreshing Local™ vibe. The rooms are spacious and have a Juliet or full balcony. New to the children, they were eager to try the Electric Bidet Seat in the bathroom and asked if we could have one at home.

The kids were tickled to try Victoria’s only indoor/outdoor swim-through pool with harbour views. It made a nice break for them during the day after busy sightseeing days.

We had breakfast at the on-site award-winning Blue Crab Seafood House while we watched two frolicking river otters, a mom and her pup, scurry up and down the shore and into the harbour. It was truly the best start to the day.

Hotel room at the Coast Victoria Hotel and Marina by APA. Photo: Wendy Norvdik-Carr©

L. enjoys breakfast at the Blue Crab Seafood House Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA, which has harbour views. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Stunning sunset views from the Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA. Photo: Wedny Nordvik-Carr©

Discover other incredible travel destinations:

Explore Nova Scotia Travel Guide for all your trip planning needs, Discover 23 of the best waterfalls in BC, and the best of British Columbia.

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Wendy Nordvik-Carr and Melanie were guests of Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA which did not preview this story.

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