Vancouver Island with Kids Travel Guide
Vancouver Island Family Travel Guide
Vancouver island was the first long term stop on our family gap year and was one of our favorite stops for the kids. Canada and especially the family friendly cities on Vancouver Island are beautiful, full of outdoor activities and have especially friendly and helpful locals that are willing to help make your trip great.
We choose to stay at a wonderful condo complex just north of Ladysmith and south of Nanaimo – Inn of the Sea. We spent most of our days relaxing, home-schooling, wandering among tidal pools and playing in the pool. To our delight the weather in September was perfect. There were only 2 days near the end that were not pool worthy.
How to Get to Vancouver Island
Flying in and out of Victoria Airport
To get to Vancouver Island, you can take a direct flight into Victoria Airport. The Victoria airport is easy to manage and international travel to and from the US was simple. To make international travel to and from the US easier, download the Mobile Passport App. You will find instructions at the airport but I recommend doing this ahead of time to get everyone loaded correctly. When you have the app, you can skip ahead to a smaller line – I hate lines (especially with tired kids in tow), so this app was really helpful.
When we flew from Victoria to Seattle we only had an hour layover which made me nervous about the international transfer but with our plane leaving 30 minutes early and flying through customs with the app we had plenty of time. We actually landed about the time we were supposed to leave Victoria.
Take a Ferry from Vancouver area or Washington State
My absolute favorite way to travel in British Columbia is by ferry. I’ll take a ferry anytime I have a chance. The Washington State and British Columbia ferry system is so good that I would take a ferry just for the fun of it. A weekend trip via ferry from the Seattle area or Vancouver with small overnight stays on Vancouver Island makes a fabulous short trip.
Many of the ferries have puzzle areas. Bring cards and a good book. Make the trip family time and watch the amazing views. We prefer to book ahead. Many of the ferries and terminals have shops and food services but we like to carry snacks just in case.
For ferry information and schedules:
How to Get Around Vancouver Island
You will need a car to explore Vancouver Island – unless you are just staying in Victoria. Rental cars are pretty similar to US rentals. If you rent from the US and are crossing the border, you do need to notify the rental company and you will be given a specific paper to use to cross the border.
Weather in Vancouver Island / Victoria
The weather in Vancouver Island is considered mild with very small amounts of snow (although you can find snow if you go up in elevation). Summers can be in the 90’s with winter around 36 degrees. Fall and spring have very comfortable temperatures
Vancouver Island and Victoria British Columbia Family Travel Articles
The Best Time to Visit Vancouver Island / Victoria
Summer on Vancouver Island is the busiest time for tourists but is also full of family friendly festivals in many of the cities and towns. Summer’s are typically dry and pleasantly warm. Vancouver Island has a large amount of outdoor activities that make a wonderful choice for a summer vacation.
Shoulder season (Fall and Spring) are my favorite times to visit Vancouver Island because of less crowds and pleasant weather. Spring brings spectacular flowers. The flowers on Vancouver Island are everywhere and just beautiful. In the fall, the weather is still really nice for outdoor activities and the atmosphere is peaceful and quiet. We visited in September and could not have been happier. We were able to spend time in the pool all but 2 days and had wonderful weather.
Winter is brisk but very mild compared to other locations of the same latitude. Vancouver Island has several places where you can get to snow and ski areas like Whistler enjoy. If you want a larger resort, Whistler is a 2 hour ferry ride and 3 hour drive away (make it a weekend trip).
What to Pack for a Family Vacation on Vancouver Island
Packing for a family trip on Vancouver island is simple. Go nice and comfortable with layers. Bring hiking boots, water shoes and may be sandals to explore the waterfront. Don’t forget that some days can be pretty warm – we brought very little warm weather clothes and we did not use any of our heavier clothes in September. Don’t forget the swim-suit!
The Best Cities or Towns to Visit on Vancouver Island
Victoria
The largest city on Vancouver Island is Victoria. Victoria is a wonderful, relaxed, family friendly city and is definitely worth staying a few days. In the summer, you’ll find festivals and many places for a nice summer stroll. Shoulder seasons are also full of flowers. The Royal BC Museum is worth a trip (or two in our case).
The Victoria harbor front is a wonderful place to take a relaxing stroll . There are street performers and beautiful marina. Our last trip just happened to be during the Classic Boat Festival. All of those beautiful boats in such a pretty setting was a really enjoyable experience.
Butchart Garden’s just out of town from Victoria is another must do when in the area. The flowers at Butchart Garden’s are just amazing. The entire area is so peaceful, relaxing and photogenic. I love flowers but I’ve never seen so much color and drama in one place.
Nanaimo
Nanaimo is less of a tourist town and more of a working town but it has some wonderful areas that are worth a visit. The city is full of parks and activities. During our first visit we stayed near the ferry terminal at Departure Bay. We explored the parks in the area and stopped in for a local field hockey game (wow, they take this stuff seriously).
On our second trip we spent several days and afternoons along the harbor as well as activities in town. We enjoyed the indoor playground, taking boat rides to islands and restaurants, and spent many hours at the playground along the harbor front.
Small City Destinations of Victoria Island
Tofino
Tofino British Columbia is on the Pacific side of the island. We made big plans to go for an overnight camping trip but could not force our way away from our pool and view. Tofino is known for fabulously wild scenery, surfable beaches, and ancient rainforests. In the winter tourists come to watch the Pacific storms roll in.
Ladysmith
Ladysmith was the closest city to our condo and such a great city to use as our home base. Near the waterfront there is a fun harbor area with playground (there are so many playgrounds on Victoria Island). The downtown area has many small family owned restaurants.
Chemainus
This quaint town is known for its murals. Again, there is a playground in the middle of town that makes a good stopping point. Explore from there or even arrange a horse drawn carriage tour.
Parksville
Parksville is a popular summer destination and is known for it’s white sandy beaches and beautiful views.
Where to Stay
When staying in Victoria there are many choices for quaint hotels for a wonderful atmosphere. Being able to walk to downtown is a big plus. The smaller towns have AirBnB’s or VRBO options with some Bed and Breakfast choices. There are some smaller complexes and camping may be a fun option for some areas (like Tofino). We choose Inn at the Sea in Ladysmith. It was a fairly remote location but we loved the complex and the views
What to Do on Vancouver Island
Vancouver island is a wonderful mix of relaxing activities, beautiful scenery, cultural options and higher adventure choices. Vancouver Island has many parks, areas to hike, boating activities and great towns.
Things to do on Vancouver Island
- Go Hiking: There are so many wonderful hikes on Vancouver Island, just pick one
- Smell the Flowers: Victoria Island has so many beautiful flowers. Check out Butchart Gardens for one of the best gardens in the world
- Visit Victoria: Enjoy this beautiful city and it’s wonderful people
- Explore a Harbor: Many of the cities and towns have harbors that are ideal for a relaxing stroll.
- Playgrounds: There are playgrounds everywhere and they’re good ones.
- Be a Foodie: Take a chance of some delicious local cuisine
- Go Boating: So many harbor, you can even take a boat to a restaurant
- Find some Adventure: Zip-lining, bungee-jumping, and adventure tours
- Whale Watching: Several tours are available from different areas.
My Favorite Pics from Vancouver Canada
