What better way to take a quick family trip than to road trip up to British Columbia, Canada! The charming city of Victoria sits on Vancouver Island and is a short ferry ride away from the mainland. With plenty to explore, Victoria is a great place for the whole family. If you travel with kids (I do sometimes) then you know how important it is to find activities that are kid friendly. Here are my favorite things to do in Victoria BC with kids!

Take the Ferry! 

The ferry itself is a fun adventure and the kids loved it. We took the Black Ball Ferry Line out of Port Angeles, WA. Right next to the ferry terminal is the fishermans wharf which had some nice restaurants, shops, ice cream, and even a discovery center for the kids. This was a great way to kill some time while we waited for the ferry. There is even a lookout tower next door and a little sandy (but cold!) beach. 

The ferry ride is about 90 minutes and the views are incredible. As you leave Port Angeles you have views of the Olympic Mountains. The ferry is small but does have some snacks and drinks that the kids enjoyed.

Juan de Fuca Straight is a busy crossing. There are lots of different boats so don’t forget your binoculars! The ferry arrives in downtown Victoria where you can walk to several attractions, or take the water taxi.

We took the BC Ferries back to Vancouver City when we left. This crossing weaves through several small islands and is very scenic. If you have the time to do this I highly recommend it. It was a much larger ferry and had a kids playroom and arcade. 

Take the Water Taxi!

The water taxi service there is a must do with kids. They get a fun little boat ride and you get cheap efficient transportation for the whole family. Not to mention the water taxis themselves are absolutely charming! There are a few different stops along the way. We went all the way out to the Fisheman’s Wharf, then took the waterfront walking path back. You will want to put this on your list of things to do in Victoria BC with the kids. 

The water taxis even do a water ballet. We missed it because we weren’t there on the day they do it. I hear it’s really fun and am hoping to catch it the next time we are there. 

Visit the Parliament Building

While you are downtown take a stroll past the parliament building. It’s an incredible piece of architecture. So much so that even the kids thought it was cool. The grounds are open to walk through and there are some really pretty fountains and statues in the area. This is also where you can catch horse and carriage rides. They are a little spendy but always a big win with the kids. 

Visit China Town

China Town is adjacent to downtown so it’s an easy walk if you are up for it. It’s a small area to cover, and this is where you will find Fan Tan Alley. Fan Tan Alley claims to be the narrowest alley in North America. It’s a very narrow alley with some unique shops. Its definitely one of the things that you want to do in Victoria BC with kids. 

Butchart Gardens

I really really really wanted to see the world famous Butchart Gardens! I was not so sure my family would be as enthusiastic. It turns out they have a really cool scavenger hunt for kids. You can get from the visitor center at the entrance. They also have a carousel ride in the gardens and a couple of places to stop for drinks, snack, and ice cream. The kids said this was their favorite part of the whole trip! So don’t shy away from the gardens if you’re worried your kids will be bored. They will love it! 

Butterfly Gardens

This was another big hit with the kids, and the adults! The Victoria Butterfly Gardensare right next to the Butchart Gardens and have so much more than just butterflies. It’s an indoor jungle full of exotic plants, birds, coy ponds, poisonous dart frogs, and even a huge iguana. There is even a bug museum with some of the coolest looking stick bugs you’ll ever see. 

              Get a Canoe

We were fortunate to have stayed in an Airbnb with a canoe. Taking the kids out in the canoe was a lot of fun. Especially since the weather was so great. If you can rent a canoe on a calm day then go for it. You won’t regret it! 

Get Afternoon Tea

Many places do afternoon tea for kids. Prices vary depending on how casual or formal of a tea ceremony you want. Even the Butchard Gardens do afternoon tea. If this is something your kids will like then it won’t be hard to find!

Eat at Red Fish Blue Fish

Red Fish Blue Fish is a great little sustainable seafood shack on the water. It’s a well known place and the line is always long. The locals will tell you that it is well worth the wait. It has the added bonus of being right next to the seaplane terminal. The kids loved watching the planes take off and land while they waited for their fish-n-chips. 

There were a lot of other things to do in Victoria BC with kids, but we didn’t have time for. Guess that gives us a good excuse to go back!