The Best Places to Play in Greater Victoria

I was recently browsing through the Free Range Kids blog and I thought it would be great to put together a list of wonderful outdoor (and local) destinations for kids.

I put my query to the hotline and here are some of the suggestion passed on by other home learning parents.

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Jennifer's contribution:

Anderson Hill Park (can access from Central Ave & Newport Ave, but can't remember the actual lane you take to get to the entrance). It overlooks the Victoria Golf Course & Gonzales Hill, not to mention the strait & mountains! It's a beautiful spot, and you can play hide and seek in the brush by the trail. Ottavio's cafe has great gelato on Oak Bay Avenue...our family outings are usually connected to a treat!

Walking the Breakwater out to the "lighthouse". You can also go onto the large blocks below the walkway for a more exciting run along the ocean. You will likely see some scuba action in this area too. The cafe awaits you when you return ;)

Beacon Hill...all through the park. There are bridges & great trees to climb & you can even meander down to Cook Street to follow your way to Ogden Point. At different times of year you can see anything from people with kites to windsurfers (& those interesting gliding contraptions that float around the cliffs there, taking advantage of the upsurge of wind)

Mt. Tolmie has some trails behind it and what a view from the top.

Fort Rodd Hill is a beautiful area, from the manicured lawns to the ocean, with trails around the edge. Esquimalt Lagoon is close by.

Saxe Point Park has a trail that starts on Bewdley Avenue & leads down to a rocky beach area...you can then carry on up to the main park area for the view. By the beach area there are great rock walls to climb.

Closeby there is Flemming Beach and at various times of year you'll see seals, rock climbers, and people putting their boats into the water. The area past the beach holds lots of hide and seek spots.

The Galloping Goose offers loads of park and ride areas if you don't live close enough to hop on anywhere near your home. We've ridden out in Saanich, starting at the parking lot close to McMoran's (?) Golf Course and riding out to the Heritage Museum for a peek around there. Also from Metchosin to Matheson Lake (you can park by the entrance to the trail at Lombard. Behind the Monkey Tree Pub is another spot to park and ride (near McKenzie/Quadra).

Taylor Beach & Devonian Park in Metchosin are nice too. Devonian Park has a trail leading down to the rocky ocean...smooth rocks, great for throwing in the water. (like a good wine pairing, MyChosin Cafe has good hot chocolate/milkshakes!)

Walking downtown can't be ignored, after all it's "outdoors"! Chinatown interesting nooks & crannies, and Market Square will sometimes have bands or entertainment in the courtyard. Although this might not fit into the "let kids be kids" if you're thinking of not watching for traffic etc.

Some golden oldies:

Willows Beach
Mount Doug
Elk/Beaver Lakes
Glass Beach in Sidney
Witty's Beach - 3 different accesses, & lots of trails around the falls
At one of Witty's accesses, off Olympic View Drive, there is a trail leading around the point. Beautiful walk, and one I've done hundreds of times with my grandparents growing up.

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Mary suggested:

There is a great website called swingsandroundabouts.ca where the woman reviews local playgrounds. I like her reviews and have tried a number of the playgrounds based on her recommendations.

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Margaretha passed on these great Westshore suggestions:

(Westshore) 12 Days of Outdoor Christmas:
1. For RC helicopter adn airplane flying and soccer-- neighbourhood school yards and Metchosin Municipal Hall grounds (cricket pitch) or old Metchosin School Grounds (OK during school hours, and relatively unused single tennis court on property)
2. Sooke Skateboard Park (not as rough as Westshore, less crowded, lots of fun)
3. Mini BMX park beside Metchosin Firehall with adjacent flat area for soccer/ field games
4. Fishing off the dock at Pedder Bay-- or just boat/ otter watching!
5. The wooded trails of Royal Roads-- and kayak and canoe center there (in summer)
6. Beaches at: Witty's Laggoon, East Sooke Park, Taylor Beach (end of Taylor Rd, Metchosin), Devonian, Mathesson Lake beach, Thetis Lake Beach, Albert Head Beach and Lagoon
7. Geocaching anywhere (check out main website at www.geocaching.com)
8. Sledding at Juan de Fuca Rec Center's Hill, and playground there excellent
9. Sooke Potholes for swimming, and also riding on the Goose-- beautiful bridges
10. BMX park at JdF (need helmet and gloves, long sleeve pants and shirt)
11. Ditto for previous comment about the wonders of Fisgard Lighthouse and Ft Rodd Hill
12. Pearson College is very visitor friendly and has a whale skeleton on the deck beside their pool. Beautiful scenery too! There are paths into the woods, along from the their tennis courts.