Things to do with kids in Victoria

9 family-friendly places in Victoria: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
BC Whale Tours
3-4 hour whale watching trips with a choice between open Zodiac-style boats or boats that have outdoor and indoor seating. Maximum number of passengers on a trip is 12.
Two daily departures from Mar-Oct. Winter tours (Nov-Feb) are run on demand$121 (adult), $81-101 (children), a trip on the Luna costs an additional $10
See
Beacon Hill Park
Large park close to downtown with trails, lakes, gardens, splash pads/playgrounds for the kids and sports fields. The south end is on the waterfront, with a walking path and a view of the Olympic Mountains across the strait. There are plenty of ducks, some wild peacocks running around and herons. Attractions within the park include the Beacon Hill Children's Farm, which features a goat petting area, Mile 0 (the western end of the Trans-Canada highway) and the Beacon Hill Park Story Pole, which, at nearly 39 m, was the tallest free-standing totem pole in the world when it was first raised in 1956.
Free
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Cadboro Bay Beach
Cadboro-Gyro Park
Popular park with a stretch of sandy beach, many picnic tables, tennis courts, playground, play sculptures and a small zip-line. The view of the bay is pretty, and on clear days, you can see across to the Olympic Mountains in Washington state.
See
Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum
This castle was built in 1890 by a wealthy and powerful Scottish family who at that time owned a quarter of Vancouver Island. Great architecture. Its 39 rooms are still furnished with Victorian-era furniture and the building is noted for its stain-glassed windows and intricate woodwork. The castle had five different occupants before it was repurposed as a museum in 1979. Its exhibits and educational panels cover a vast range of Canadian history linked to those occupants, including Canada's equivalent of the Gilded Age, Canada's involvement in World War I, the development of Victoria's early suburbs, and the evolution of the educational system on Vancouver Island.
Mid-June to early September: 9AM-7PM; other times of the year: 10AM-4:30PM$20.60 (adult), 19.60 (seniors) $14.80 (student), $10.00 (child 6-12)
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Emily Carr House
Emily Carr is one of Canada's greatest and most loved artists. This is her childhood home, which has become a heritage site and museum on her art, writing and life.
May - Sep: Tue-Sat$6.75 (adult), $5.75 (student/senior), $4.50 (child 6-18), $17 (family)
Do
Five Star Whale Watching
Long operating family business (since 1985). Three hours whale watching trips in their catamaran that includes several outdoor decks and a heated indoor cabin. Maximum number of passengers is 45.
Two daily departures from early May to late Sep. Departures in Apr and Oct dependent on demand$130 (adult), $95-109 (child)
Do
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
Swan Lake Park
There is a nature trail that goes around Swan Lake on a boardwalk through beautiful marshlands. The Nature House, at the main entrance, contains information about the natural wildlife in the area, some interpretive exhibits, a reading room with materials for both children and adults, and a small gift shop. If you wish to trek further, across McKenzie Avenue from Swan Lake is the hike up Christmas Hill, which has a viewpoint overlooking Swan Lake and Saanich. There is also a bike route connecting to the Lochside Regional Trail.
Park open daily dawn to dusk, the Nature House open Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4PM, Sat Sun noon-4PM (closed statutory holidays)Entrance to the park is free, admission to the Nature House by donation
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Victoria Bug Zoo
Looking at bugs while on holidays doesn't sound like it'd be appealing, but this is a fantastic little place filled with very knowledgeable and friendly guides, and where else would you get the chance to hold so many crazy creatures?
Mon-Fri 11AM-4PM, Sat Sun 11AM-5PM; 10AM-6PM extended summer hours$14 (adult), $8 (youth) $10 (senior, student)
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Willows Beach Park
The most popular hangout place in Oak Bay. The water is fairly shallow and the beach provides nice views of Discovery Island and Mt Baker (on clear days). There's also a small playground, picnic tables, lots of grass and a concession stand/tea room.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Victoria (CC BY-SA 4.0).