Victoria Butterfly Gardens - This is a colorful indoor tropical garden, filled with exotic butterflies, ducks, flamingoes, little waterfalls and a fish pond. See the life cycle of butterflies, eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, adult (you might see a butterfly hatch). Watch butterflies feeding on flowers, blue Morpho butterflies flitting from flower to flower, giant owl butterflies eating on fruit trays, there are 50 different kinds of butterflies in the gardens. Open March to end of October, Butterfly Gardens are on the same road to the Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens - The most famous of all Vancouver Island gardens is the 50 acre Butchart Gardens with rose gardens, Japanese gardens, sunken gardens, etc. While Butchart Gardens is justifiably famous, it's a bit much for young children (your best bet is the Butterfly Gardens). In July and August there are fireworks in the evening on Saturday nights.

Goldstream Provincial Park (Saanich) - Just a short drive from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park has miles of trails, a sparkling river, leafy green forests, a nature trail and picnic tables. There's a wide path (easy for strollers) to the Visitor Centre with exhibits about the wildlife of the area - learn about owls, bald eagles and salmon, plus there are touch tables, books, puzzles and coloring materials. In summer, kids can play in the Goldstream River (it's shallow). An especially nice trail is the Riverside Trail, going south along the river. Bring a picnic.

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse - For those kids in your family who like forts, this is fun. Check out this 19th century coast artillery fort with plenty of places to explore - the gun batteries, underground magazines, command points. The Fort is open daily.

Witty's Lagoon Regional Park (Metchosin) - There's plenty of sand and warm shallow water for kids to play at the lagoon. Also, trails to explore (lovely waterfall) and a nature center. If you're a bird watcher, bring your binoculars.