Things to Do in Victoria and Vancouver Island

Things to Do in Victoria and Vancouver Island

Sights Overview
Name Category Location
 
Abkhazi Garden
Called "the garden that love built," this once-private garden... 		Gardens / Arboretums Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Attached to an 1889 mansion, this modern building houses one... 		Museums / Galleries Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
Bastion Square
James Douglas, the former colonial governor for whom Douglas... 		Squares Downtown Victoria
 
Beacon Hill Park
The southern lawns and waterfront path of this 154-acre park... 		Parks Downtown Victoria
 
Bennett Bay Park
Bennett Bay Park, part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve... 		Beaches, Parks Mayne Island
 
British Columbia Aviation Museum
Volunteers passionate about the history of flight have lovingly... 		Museums / Galleries Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
British Columbia Forest Discovery Centre
Kids adore riding the rails at the British Columbia Forest Discovery... 		Museums / Galleries Duncan
 
Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park
Easy hikes and a pretty pebble beach are the draws at Burgoyne... 		Parks Salt Spring Island
 
The Butchart Gardens
This stunning 55-acre garden and National Historic Site has been... 		Gardens / Arboretums Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Cadboro Gyro Park
A sandy beach backed by a grassy park with a play area draws... 		Beaches Victoria and Vancouver Island
 
Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park
Logging roads from Port Renfrew lead to Carmanah Walbran Provincial... 		Parks Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Centre of the Universe
You can enjoy great views of Victoria and the night sky through... 		Observatories / Planetariums Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Chemainus Theatre
The Chemainus Theatre presents family-oriented performances... 		Arts / Performance Venues Chemainus
 
Chinatown
Chinese immigrants built much of the Canadian Pacific Railway... 		Neighborhoods / Streets Downtown Victoria
 
Cordova Bay
A long stretch of sand is the draw at this beach, just north... 		Beaches Victoria and Vancouver Island
 
Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
The interesting Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre has maritime paraphernalia... 		Museums / Galleries Cowichan Bay
 
Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives
This small museum, in a 1912 train station, has exhibits and... 		Museums / Galleries Duncan
 
Craigdarroch Castle
This resplendent mansion complete with turrets and Gothic rooflines... 		Castles / Palaces Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
East Sooke Park
More than 3,500 acres of beaches, hiking trails, and wildflower-dotted... 		Parks Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Emily Carr House
One of Canada's most celebrated artists and a respected writer... 		Museums / Galleries Downtown Victoria
 
Fairmont Empress
Opened in 1908 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Empress is... 		Architectural Sites Downtown Victoria
 
Farmer's Market
On Saturdays, between July and mid-October, check out the Farmer's... 		Markets / Bazaars Mayne Island
 
Fisherman's Wharf
Harbour Ferries stop at this fun nautical spot, just west of... 		Marinas / Piers Downtown Victoria
 
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada
The world's best-preserved coastal artillery fort (it dates to... 		Military Sites, Nautical Sites The West Shore and the Malahat
 
French Beach Park
French Beach Park comprises a sand-and-pebble beach, a campground... 		Parks Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Georgina Point Heritage Park
Active Pass Lighthouse, at the end of Georgina Point Road, is... 		Parks, Nautical Sites Mayne Island
 
Goldstream Provincial Park
Western red cedar, arbutus, eagles, bears, and three species... 		Parks The West Shore and the Malahat
 
Government House Gardens
Take a stroll through the walled grounds and formal rose garden... 		Gardens / Arboretums Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
Gowlland Point Park
The small pebble beach at Gowlland Point Park, at the end of... 		Beaches, Parks Pender Island
 
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Both North Pender and South Pender host sections of the Gulf... 		Parks Pender Island
 
Hatley Park National Historic Site
Built by James Dunsmuir, a former premier of British Columbia... 		Castles / Palaces, Gardens / Arboretums The West Shore and the Malahat
 
Hope Bay Store
A waterview café, an artisans' co-op, and views to Saturna... 		Beaches Pender Island
 
Japanese Garden
Built entirely by volunteers, the 1-acre Japanese Garden at Dinner... 		Gardens / Arboretums Mayne Island
 
Juan de Fuca Provincial Park
Extending along the shore from Jordan River to near Port Renfrew... 		Parks Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Legacy Art Gallery
Rotating exhibits from the University of Victoria's vast art... 		Museums / Galleries Downtown Victoria
 
Maritime Museum of British Columbia
The two floors of model ships, weaponry, ships' wheels, photographs... 		Museums / Galleries Downtown Victoria
 
Miniature World
Children and model aficionados adore this charmingly retro attraction... 		Museums / Galleries Downtown Victoria
 
Montague Harbour Marina
You can rent a kayak, boat, or moped at Montague Harbour Marina... 		Marinas / Piers Galiano Island
 
Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park
Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park has walk-in and drive-in... 		Parks Galiano Island
 
Morning Bay Vineyard & Estate Winery
You can sample a glass of Pinot Noir or Rosé on the terrace... 		Wineries / Breweries Pender Island
 
Mortimer Spit
The sandy beach at Mortimer Spit is a sheltered spot for swimming... 		Beaches Pender Island
 
Mount Douglas Regional Park
A footpath and a road lead to the 213-meter (758-foot) summit... 		Parks, Viewpoints Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Mount Maxwell Provincial Park
Near the center of Salt Spring Island, Baynes Peak in Mount Maxwell... 		Parks Salt Spring Island
 
Mt. Parke
A 45-minute hike up Mt. Parke leads to the island's highest point... 		Parks, Viewpoints Mayne Island
 
Oak Bay Village
Described as the land "behind the tweed curtain," this historically... 		Neighborhoods / Streets Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
Pacific Northwest Raptors
At Pacific Northwest Raptors, a conservation center about 10... 		Nature Preserves Duncan
 
Pacific Undersea Gardens
If you want an up close look at a wolf eel or an octopus, you... 		Gardens / Arboretums Downtown Victoria
 
Parliament Buildings
Officially the British Columbia Provincial Legislative Assembly... 		Government Buildings Downtown Victoria
 
Plumper Pass Lockup
Plumper Pass Lockup was built in 1896 as a jail but is now a... 		Museums / Galleries, Jails Mayne Island
 
Point Ellice House
The O'Reilly family home, an 1861 Italianate cottage overlooking... 		Houses / Mansions Downtown Victoria
 
Port Renfrew
Port Renfrew is a tiny fishing village 107 km (67 mi) from Victoria... 		Towns Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre
The Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre occupies a parklike... 		Native American Sites Duncan
 
Roesland
Roesland, a historic cottage resort on North Pender, is part... 		Museums / Galleries, Parks Pender Island
 
Royal British Columbia Museum
This excellent museum, one of Victoria's leading attractions... 		Museums / Galleries Downtown Victoria
 
Ruckle Provincial Park
Ruckle Provincial Park is the site of an 1872 homestead and extensive... 		Parks Salt Spring Island
 
Saturna Island
With just 300 residents, remote Saturna Island is taken up largely... 		Islands Pender Island
 
Sculpture Trail
At Hastings House Country House Hotel near Ganges, A Sculpture... 		Arts / Performance Venues Salt Spring Island
 
Shaw Ocean Discover Centre
A simulated ride underwater in a deep-sea elevator is just the... 		Zoos / Aquariums Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Sidney Spit
In summer, a foot-passenger ferry makes the half-hour run to... 		Transportation Sites Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Sooke Potholes Provincial Park
Locals and visitors come to cool off at Sooke Potholes Provincial... 		Bodies of Water Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Information Centre
Stop for information at the Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Information... 		Museums / Galleries, Information Centers Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Springwater Lodge
You can also stop for a meal or a drink on the deck at the Springwater... 		Hotels Mayne Island
 
St. Ann's Academy National Historic Site
This former convent and school, founded in 1858, played a central... 		Religious Sites, Gardens / Arboretums, Educational Institutions Downtown Victoria
 
Victoria Bug Zoo
Local kids clamor to visit this offbeat minizoo, home to the... 		Zoos / Aquariums Downtown Victoria
 
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Hundreds of butterflies—of 50 different species—flutter... 		Gardens / Arboretums, Zoos / Aquariums Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula
 
Whiffen Spit Beach Cottage
West of the village, you'll reach Whiffen Spit Beach Cottage... 		Bodies of Water Sooke and the Southwest Coast
 
Willows Beach
Close to downtown, this sandy family beach has a tearoom and... 		Beaches Victoria and Vancouver Island
 
Willows Beach Park
This neighborhood park has a nice sandy beach, a grassy park... 		Parks Oak Bay, Rockland, and Fairfield
 
Witty's Lagoon Regional Park
About 30 minutes west of downtown Victoria, near the community... 		Beaches Victoria and Vancouver Island
Sights Overview »

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