Hey there!
It’s Cathy from My Book a Day. We love to travel with our family. Sometimes it’s an adventure with the ages of our kids (17, 12, and 4). We like to find things to do that will work for kids of all ages and so far, we’ve been successful.
One of our favorite destinations in Victoria, British Columbia is Beacon Hill Park. Children and adults will love this park situated in downtown Victoria. There is so much to see and do! We saw one of the world’s tallest totem poles, strolled on the paths and checked out the beautiful gardens and ponds, played on the playgrounds and water parks. You may want to take a carriage ride through the park or try your hand at lawn bowling.
Here are a few more of our favorite activities in Beacon Hill Park.
Animal Fun
Part of what makes Beacon Hill Park so great for families is that it’s virtually free! You don’t need to pay to park or pay to do much of anything. The Beacon Hill Children’s Farm does request a small donation, but it’s not required.
The Beacon Hill Children’s Farm is full of fun animals that you and your family can interact with. We loved watching the chickens when we were there! They’re so funny! The farm has a goat stampede twice every day that would be fun for to watch. The farm is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Look for wildlife throughout the park. We saw ducks – a momma and babies, peacocks and plenty of different types of birds, as well as chipmunks and squirrels.
Water Play
We visited on a hot summer day, so we spent time playing at the water park with the huge teapot and our kids had so much fun. The water parks in Beacon Hill Park open in mid-June.
Visiting the beach is another way to play in the water. Beaches in Beacon Hill Park are generally more rocky than sandy, and most families will find the climate a little chilly for swimming anytime of year. They're a great place to see tide pools, build with driftwood and play in the sand.
Make sure to check out Beacon Hill itself. You can see beautiful views of the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State.
There are no restaurants inside the park, but it's a great place for a picnic. Look for tables or bring your own blanket. Beacon Drive In is a casual restaurant near the teapot water park. It looks like a good place to grab a hamburger or ice cream cone.
We saw only a portion of this 200 acre park when we were there last summer. It’ll definitely be on our list when we return to Victoria this summer, and we plan to see more of it!
Good to Know
Where: 100 Cook Street, Victoria, British Columbia. This large park is located downtown, behind the Parliament Buildings and within a short walk of other popular attractions.
When: Open year-round. Warm weather months are the most pleasant time to visit.
How Much: FREE. There is no charge to visit the park, but a donation is suggested for the Beacon Hill Children's Farm.
How Long: Anywhere from an hour to a full day.
Amenities: Playgrounds, bathrooms, picnic areas, free parking. No dining or shopping in the park, but there are plenty of options nearby.
Website: http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parks/beacon-hill.html
How else can we help?
Need a flight? Victoria has two airports – Victoria Inner Harbour and Victoria International. Alternately, many visitors (including us) reach Victoria by ferry and cruise ship. Click the button to visit Tips for Family Trips’ Air Travel page. It’s filled with ways to save on flights, and tips for making your flight with kids better.
Need a place to stay? There are lots of great places in Victoria for families. Click the red button to check rates and availability for hotels in Victoria. We stayed in the Embassy Inn. It’s so close to everything in Victoria. We had a suite overlooking the Parliament Building. It has free parking – not all of the hotels in this area do. It also has a free breakfast made by a chef every morning. We loved it!
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