Family routes: Victoria

With the mildest year-round temperatures in Canada, Victoria is situated in one of this country's most beautiful regions. There's much to do in Victoria, but venturing out from Victoria into the Cowichan Valley and surroundings is like stepping into a postcard.

Jazzfest International
June 23 to July 2, 2006 brings 10 days of jazz, blues and gospel and more than 250 musicians to Victoria. Check the website for details.

Luminara Lantern Festival
On July 22, 2006, a walk on through Beacon Hill Park will be a night of a thousand lights, each one of them a handmade lantern. This annual event is sponsored by the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, and the stroll of lanterns is done to accompanying music, performance artistry and dance.

Rainy-day fun: The Royal BC Museum
Beginning June 2 and continuing to September 10, 2006, the Royal BC Museum hosts two special family-friendly exhibits. Fore! The Planet is 10,000 square feet of high-tech, interactive fun. It's mini-golf, with a scientific slant. Each hole sends home a message about stewardship and conservation of the planet.

The second exhibit is SPEED, 21 interactive exhibits that allow your family to design a roller coaster, or to build a LEGO car and race it.

Whale watching in Victoria
May through to October presents terrific opportunities to spot orca whales in the Victoria area. Book a tour through the Whale Watch Operators Association.

Sidney
Five minutes from the Victoria International Airport is the town of Sidney. A two-and-a-half-kilometre paved path lines the Sidney waterfront, giving sightseers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf and the San Juan islands. It also provides access to popular attractions like the Marine Museum, Mineral World, the Marine Ecology Centre or water sports like whale watching and kayaking.

Where are you going this summer? Discuss your travel plans with other readers in our forums!

Image courtesy Tourism Victoria.

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