In February, we grabbed our passports and spent two nights in Victoria, BC. We arrived via the Black Ball Ferry and were able to enjoy the whole weekend without a car. For a shoulder season, we had great weather, a little crisp but lots of sunshine and no rain.
The Black Ball Ferry is great because it operates year round, and is the most reasonably priced option for a family – especially if you are not taking a car (We used this lot for overnight parking while we were gone. It was covered and easy to find if you navigate to the ferry terminal). The ferry can get very bumpy – so come prepared if you are travelling with anyone with motion sickness. Our youngest gets car sick so we came prepared with his anti-nausea bands and homeopathic medicine. He did great, and no issues, but plan ahead.
Where to Stay in Victoria with Kids
Fairmont Empress: Kid-friendly and a quick walk from the ferry terminal and all the main attractions. We loved the pool, the outside terrace for s’mores, and lively restaurant/bar with great cocktails.
Eat/Drink in Victoria with Kids
Blue Fox Cafe: The perfect breakfast spot. Our kids adored it, and we did too. Get there early if you can, we showed up a few minutes after 8AM on a Saturday and were seated right away. By the time we left, there was a large line out the door – no reservations.
Bartholomew’s Pub: One of the main draws of going to Victoria was to get a British experience without the 10-hour flight from Seattle. There are lots of amazing pubs in the city but we loved how close this was to our hotel and the family-friendly vibes.
10 Acres Commons: This ended being a great stop for lunch before walking down Government Street for some shopping. Really fun ambiance with or without kids.
Q at the Empress/Veranda: The restaurant/terrace at the Fairmont were a highlight of our trip. The food was fantastic, and so well catered to kids while still feeling special for adults. It was a pleasant surprise that kids 5 and under eat free and their menu had so many fun things for the boys to try. Mark and I loved the tuna and crispy rice appetizer and the burger is fantastic. They also have really special, handcrafted cocktails, my favorites being the ones made with the infamous purple Empress Gin.
Exploring Victoria with Kids
Government Street: Pedestrian-friendly with all of your favorite Canadian shops like Lululemon and Lush. We loved this toy store and this book store for some souvenirs for the boys. We also walked by Whistle Buoy Brewing and it looked like a lot of fun and was situated in a cute courtyard.
Beacon Hill Park: We spent a couple hours between breakfast at Blue Fox and lunch at this beautiful space. There was a playground, lots of trails to explore, a duck pond, peacocks and all types of manicured gardens. Perfect for getting little legs moving after a big breakfast!
Next Time
Our visit went by so fast! We definitely had lots more on our list and are excited to get back to Victoria soon to check out more. Please share your favorites below so we can try them next time!
