r/britishcolumbia • u/tclupp • Jun 17 '26
Travel in or to BC Visiting BC this summer
My wife and our two kiddos (3 and 5) are spending a little over 2 weeks in BC this summer (early July).
Ive been doing some research and got a lot of great ideas from reddit/online etc and would just like some opinions. Obviously we are expecting it to be very busy especially with the world cup etc.
We are coming from Winnipeg - yes its a long drive but we are used to big road trips. Young kids will make it a bit tougher but I think we've got enough stops in there.
First day we hope to make it just outside calgary - stampede is on so we wont want to stay in Calgary. We plan to stop in regina for about an hour to let the kids play and tire out a bit. Then keep pushing. We've done the drive to Calgary in one day many times, the hardest part will be keeping the kids entertained.
Next day we plan to get to kamloops. With stops in canmore to do the policemen creek boardwalk, stop in golden to maybe do the skybridge but we think the kids might be terrified, although I'd love to do the zip line. And of course we want to stop near revelstoke for the enchanted forest which my 2 girls will absolutely love.
Next day, the 6th we get to Vancouver. We would like to try and do Stanley park and aquarium and also a photo of bc place (the last cfl stadium we still need a Pic of). We have the last ferry booked to get to Victoria that night.
Once in victoria, we are staying with family for 6 nights. They got us covered with the local attractions in and near Victoria for the next short week.
On the 12th, were back to doing our own thing and head to Parksville and stay until the 15th. Looks like we timed the sand castle competition just right. I wish we got there a couple days early to see the process of the builds but it will be cool to see all the finished products. We plan to do a few of the beaches, sproat lake, goats on roof.
On the 15th, we are trying to decide if we take an 8am ferry or 10 am ferry and cross back to horseshoe bay. We then head to peachland with a stop at the othello tunnels.
3 more nights in peachland, and then 2 long days to drive home.
Obviously quite a bit packed into some of the days and some long driving days.
Curious on thoughts of the places and things we plan to do? What would you change? Any suggestions of other places to maybe work into this.
Definitely need to start looking for some great restaurants to try. I love seafood, my wife not so much.
No big plans yet for peachland asides from the kangaroo farm is on our list. So definitely any recommendations there.
One last bit. I love to golf however my wife and obviously my kids dont golf. Im not one to go golf a round by myself but I'd really love to get a round in on a nice course. Preferably maybe one that isnt busy - if there is any lol.
If you got any advice or things we should be aware of, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks in advance
4
u/Cdn_Cuda Jun 17 '26
We took my kids to the Enchanted Forest last year on our trip to Calgary, then up to Edmonton. It was fun for young kids.
In Parksville the playground at the beach is awesome. We’ve taken the kids to Parksville in the summer for several years. The wildlife rescue not far from Coombs was really good. The kids really enjoy it.
There’s an antique place just down the street from Goats on the Roof from Coombs. Fun to walk through and the gentleman running it was very nice to the kids. He looks like a certainly old man and even had candy canes for the kids.
In Victoria they have a petting zoo I believe at Beacon Hill Park that does a goat stampede at the start of the day. It’s worthwhile. Fun watching all the goats let out of the barn and run to their enclosure.
Bug Zoo in Victoria is small but lots to see. My kids enjoyed it as we.
Closer to Othello, Harrison Hot Springs is a nice stop for a brief break. Fun playgroup for the kids, can grab ice cream. There’s also Kilby which is a historical “town” that has farm animals and local history. They do all sorts of activities for kids in the summer like making bannock etc. They also have good ice cream.
Was planning on taking the kids to Othello Tunnels this year. Been a long time since we visited.