Welcome to Your Guide to Spring Break on Vancouver Island 2023
We've been hearing from many of our readers, asking about activities on Vancouver Island for Spring Break. We know that everyone would love to jet off somewhere tropical and warm, especially with all this snow we've had lately! Sadly, it's not always feasible to escape to some sunny destination, but we are so lucky that we live on Vancouver Island where there is so much to do. Whether it's a free activity like taking a hike, or hitting a local park or beach, to one of the many family attractions we have, Macaroni KID has put the work in again, to help you find the perfect activities, to keep your kids busy, for Spring Break 2023!
Family Friendly Hikes on Vancouver Island and The Gulf Islands
Heading out for a family hike is the perfect summer day pass time. What's better than being out in nature, enjoying the solitude, smelling the clean air, and escaping from life's realities. Okay, that sounds ideal right? Well we know that might not be exactly how it goes down when children are involved, but hey a mom can dream right? Even if a hike with children is not peaceful and serene, it's sure to burn off some of their abounding energy, and maybe result in a nice afternoon nap, one can dream....
Follow the link HERE to check out or HIKING GUIDE!
Geocaching: An Outdoor Treasure Hunt Adventure
You have probably heard of Geocaching before, but do you really know what it’s all about? Geocaching is not as complex as the name suggests, it’s simply a treasure hunt to find hidden stashes or objects. It’s like hide and seek, using a modern day treasure map. These treasures are usually hidden outside, but in big cities that is not always the case. Geocaching is the perfect addition to a family hike or camping trip, and is the ideal way to keep older kids entertained if you have to accommodate hike difficulty for littles.
Follow the link HERE to check out our full article on Geocaching.
Family Attractions
South Vancouver Island
- HAUNTED MANOR: MINI GOLF + PING PONG LOUNGE
711 Yates Street, Victoria, BC Phone: (778) 265-771
Haunted Manor is an immersive twist on the game of mini-golf. You'll putt your way through a 15-hole course set in a haunted manor with a ghoulish story to tell. You can also battle it out in your own private Ping Pong lounge. Haunted Manor offers a fun and interactive way to engage as a group, whether it's a birthday party, corporate team-building experience, or your special event. Private events give you and your crew uninterrupted access to the entire venue. Now licensed, enjoy a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to keep you fuelled.
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- FLYING SQUIRREL
808 Viewfield Road, Victoria, BC Phone: (778) 404-1778
Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park is a Family Fun Center with plenty of activities and attractions for all ages! We have child friendly areas, and safety is our top priority! We have trampolines, climbing walls, a cafe, we are your premiere entertainment destination!
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- Axe & Grind
- Butchart Gardens
- Butterfly Gardens
- City Centre Park
- Country Bee Honey Farm
- Dino Lab Inc.
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Horror Escape
- Interactivity Board Game Cafe
- Iron & Wood Golf Simulators
- Malahat Skywalk
- Miniature World
- PlayZone
- Quest Reality Games
- Royal B.C. Museum and Imax Theatre
- Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
- Victoria Bug Zoo
- Victoria Escape Games
- Victoria Harbour Ferry
- Wildplay Victoria
Cowichan Valley
- THE HANGOUT CLIMBING CENTRE
1065 Canada Ave, Unit 2, Duncan, BC Phone: (250) 701-6660
Hangout is a space where you can be yourself and strive to be your best. You will always be encouraged and welcomed, whether it is your first time or your everyday time.
Technical Climbing Features include:
- 15’ high bouldering wall with problems that change weekly.
- 20’ high top rope wall with 7 auto belays
- Children’s 8’ high bouldering wall
- General weight training area
- Advanced climbing training area; Moon Board, Hang Boards and overhanging climbing cave.
- Separate yoga/fitness/mindfulness space
- Party/Events room
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- The FORT GAME CAFE
250 Jubilee St, Duncan, BC Phone: (250) 709-7882
Duncan’s unique board game and video game cafe, serving up tacos, margaritas, and tasty snacks! Come play games, eat good food, and gather with friends.
The Fort Game Cafe is proud to create a relaxing place to build community, whether with long time friends, family or meeting new faces at one of our events.
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- B.C. Forest Museum
- Duncan Lanes
- The Raptors
Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum & Port Alberni
- EXIT NANAIMO ESCAPE ROOM
2 - 4890 Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, BC Phone: (250) 585-5391
EXIT is for thrill seekers of all ages. Our real-life escape games give visitors a chance to enter another world, then use their wits, creativity, speed and teamwork to escape.
With locations throughout Canada, and tons of reality games to choose from, we have something for everyone, including first-time visitors and experienced escape game players.
Forget about virtual reality games, this escape game is real life. Show off your smarts and imagination when you navigate a unique universe that takes you through space and time. With an engaging combination of puzzles, riddles and modern mechanics in each escape room, you’ll experience a new adventure every time you visit Exit. And if you’re like most of our visitors, you’ll want to return again and again for more escape fun.
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- RAVENWOOD BOULDERS
1870 Boxwood Road, Nanaimo, BC Phone: (250) 591-1001
We are a group of climbers that are passionate about the sport and are motivated and dedicated to share it with the Nanaimo community.
Our brand new 4700 square foot building houses 3000 linear square feet of climbing. It is an open, well lit, beautiful space and has a weight training area, mezzanine, casual chill area, spray wall and foosball table!
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- RIPTIDE LAGOON ADVENTURE GOLF
1000 Resort Drive, Parksville, BC Phone: (250) 248-8290
Welcome to Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf. Join us for some fun for the entire family at Riptide Lagoon Adventure Mini Golf Center in Parksville. Our family fun activities include miniature golf, arcade, laser, and bumper cars.
At Riptide Lagoon you have 2 exciting mini golf courses to choose from, each with their own unique terrain that will provide many challenges and entertainment for all ages. Try both mini golf courses and have 2 very different experiences.
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- Airhouse Nanaimo
- Axe & Grind Nanaimo
- Breakout Nanaimo Escape Rooms
- Brechin Lanes
- Butterfly World Coombs
- Jumping Jiminy's Playground & Cafe
- McLean Mill Historic Site
- Milner Gardens
- Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
- Nanaimo Museum
- Old Country Market: Goats on the Roof
- Paradise Adventure Mini Golf & Bumper Boats
- Romper Room Indoor Rock Climbing Centre
- Splitsville Nanaimo
- Superior Farms Inc.
- VR Core Nanaimo
- Wildplay Nanaimo
Comox Valley & Campbell River
- CRYPT-TIC ESCAPE ROOM
472 5th Street, Courtenay BC Phone: (250) 338-2711
Locked in a room together, your group of up to 8, will search the space for clues and solve puzzles to escape a real life series of rooms within 60 minutes. CRYPT-TIC Escape Room contains a series of rooms that is, unique, and fully immersed atmosphere. Be prepared to be mentally challenged at every step of the way. It's a thrilling race against time.
For more information visit their FB page HERE or their business website HERE
- Codes Country Lanes
- CR Bowling
- Discovery Passage Aquarium
- Museum At Campbell River
The Best Family Treats
South Vancouver Island
- 49 Below Ice Cream: Victoria
- BeaverTails: Victoria
- Cold Company Ice Cream: Victoria
- Crust Bakery: Victoria
- Dutch Bakery & Diner: Victoria
- La Roux Patisserie: Victoria
- Little Vienna Bakery: Sooke
- Mosi Bakery, Cafe, & Gelateria: Saanich
- Mr. Tubbs: Victoria
- Origin Gluten Free Bakery: Victoria
- Sidney Bakery: Sidney
- The Crazy Cookie House: Metchosin
- Parachute Ice Cream: Victoria
Cowichan Valley
- Ironworks Cafe & Creperie: Duncan & Ladysmith
- Old Town Bakery: Ladysmith
- Old Town Ice Cream: Ladysmith
- Original Udder Guys Ice Cream & Candy: Cowichan Bay
- Scoops by the Sea: Chemainus
- Wild Poppy Market: Ladysmith
Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum & Port Alberni
- Burnt Honey Dessert Co: Nanaimo
- Cold Front Gelato: Nanaimo
- Coombs Country Candy: Coombs
- Ironworks Cafe & Creperie: Nanaimo & Port Alberni
- Nanaimo Bakery & Cafe: Nanaimo
- Qualicum Beach Bakery: Qualicum
- Waterfront Confections: Nanaimo
- Wild Culture Artisan Bakery: Qualicum
- Wildflower Bakeshop & Cafe: Port Alberni
Pacific Rim (West Coast)
- Chocolate Tofino
Comox Valley & Campbell River
- Benino Italian Cafe & Gelato: Comox
- Bigfoot Donuts: Courtenay
- Blue Spruce Ice Cream: Courtenay
- Cinnsational Bakery & Cafe: Courtenay
- Cumberland Village Bakery: Cumberland
- Discovery Fishing Pier Ice Cream Shop: Campbell River
- Honey Grove Bakery: Courtenay
- Steiner Bakery: Campbell River
The Gulf Islands
- Barb's Bakery & Bistro: Salt Spring Island
- Harlan's Chocolates & Gelato: Salt Spring Island
Parks & Beaches
South Vancouver Island
- Albert Head Lagoon Regional Park: Victoria
- Bamberton Beach Provincial Park: Malahat
- Beacon Hill Park & Children's Farm: Victoria
- Cadboro-Gyro Park: Victoria
- Cecilia Ravine Park: Victoria
- Centennial Park: Langford
- Coles Bay Regional Park: North Saanich
- Elk Lake/Beaver Lake Regional Park: Saanich
- Esquimalt Lagoon: Colwood
- French Beach Provincial Park: Sooke
- Goldstream Provincial Park: Langford
- MacDonald Park: James Bay
- Macaulay Point Park: Victoria
- Matheson Lake Regional Park: Victoria
- Sooke Potholes Provincial Park: Sooke
- Swam Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary: Victoria
- Thetis Lake Regional Park: View Royal
- Topaz Park: Victoria
- Willows Beach: Oak Bay
Cowichan Valley
- Bright Angel Regional Park: Duncan
- Coverdale Watson Park: Cowichan Bay
- Cowichan River Provincial Park: Lake Cowichan
- Currie Park: Sahtlam
- Glenora Trails Head Park: Glenora
- Kinsmen Duck Pond: Lake Cowichan
- Osborne Bay Regional Park: Crofton
- Transfer Beach: Ladysmith
Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum & Port Alberni
- Beban Park: Nanaimo
- Buccaneer Beach: Port Alberni
- Canal Waterfront Park: Port Alberni
- Cedar Skate Park: Cedar
- Hemer Provincial Park: Nanaimo
- Maffeo Sutton Park: Nanaimo
- Parksville Community Park: Parksville
- Pipers Lagoon Park: Nanaimo
- Qualicum Beach: Qualicum
- Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
- Waterfront Park & Playground: Port Alberni
- Weaver Park: Port Alberni
- Westwood Lake: Nanaimo
- Petroglyph Provincial Park: Nanaimo
Comox Valley & Campbell River
- Courtenay Marina Park: Courtenay
- Elk Falls Regional Park: Campbell River
- Goose Spit Regional Park
- Lions Club Park: Comox
- Miracle Beach Provincial Park
- Rotary Sky Park: Courtenay
- Salish Park: Comox
- Sunrise Park: Courtenay
- Tot Lot Park: Comox
The Gulf Islands
- Bodega Ridge Provincial Park: Galiano Island
- Boyle Point Provincial Park: Denman Island
- Centennial Park: Salt Spring Island
- Drummond Provincial Park: Salt Spring Island
- Gabriola Sands Provincial Park: Gabriola Provincial Park
- Helliwell Provincial Park: Hornby Island
- Huxley Community Park: Gabriola Island
- Morning Beach Park: Denman Island
- Ruckle Provincial Park: Salt Spring Island
- Tribune Bay Provincial Park: Hornby Island
