it was not on our primary itinerary. But on plan B. Having more time on hand we decided to take our…read morekid there so he could see farm animals and peacocks. It truly is amazing park. Very similar to Golden Gate but still very different. The ey don't charge fees but there is suggested fee ($7 for adults $6 for kids. Or you can donate Howe much ever you like. The farm animals and specially petting goats was the best experience. We saw many peacocks and peahens roaming freely. The ducks and geese in all the ponds were keeping children's entertained. They have multiple pathways and trails to walk or bike. We visited two of the children's playgrounds on two different days. Definitely plenty of parking all over. If you have little ones definitely recommend to visit to have their play time. It also is mini Butchart gardens if you missed the real one.

A huge public resource to the area; lots of manicured lawns and plants and wildlife surprisingly…read more We saw deer, heron, ducks, geese, and for some reason, peacocks. Fairly large sized area for walking as well.

Super busy park - when I went last month, it was difficult to find parking on the south end of the…read morepark. There are two entrances so maybe the north end was better? Anyway, I went to Goldstream Falls and saw a huge group of salmon trying to jump up the falls. I'm not sure if any of them made it as it's very tall... The hike took a leisurely one hour, with the steepest part being right before the falls as there is a staircase leading down to the falls. There are huge trees and cool-looking fungi that dot alongside the trail. The trail follows the stream for a good bit so you hear the bubbling stream. The toilets are the composting/septic tank toilets without water, so be prepared. I wanted to go to Niagara Falls, but ran out of time. Maybe next time! At the time of this review, it looks like the trail to Niagara Falls is washed out and so inaccessible.

Beautiful! Maps made…read moreus drive an extra 5 miles when it was unnecessary, but we parked right off of 1 south in a tiny pull off (no official parking lot or even signs) and it was less than a 5 min walk to the falls. Just beautiful.

Gorgeous park. Such a lovely place to hike - or just sit. We saw a regatta when we visited.read more

Uplands Park is a series of trails overlooking the water right next to Willows Beach. The area…read morefeatures scenic views that cannot be beat. There are also deer,and rabbits in the area. The trails are not wheelchair accesible since there are stairs and plenty of steep rocks. Great place to paint, draw, hike, or picnic as you sit on the rocks over looking the water. Just make sure the sea gulls don't steal your food!

Interesting park to wander around especially if you enjoy old military relics. Great view of the…read morebay.

AKA Fleming Beach, this is my favorite park in Victoria, and my favorite place to go to explore and…read morereflect. (I hesitate to review my secret getaway spot, but sharing isn't so bad..) What can I say that isn't drenched with sentiment - I have been going here since I was a child. The rocky points, the cliffs (which frequently host climbers,) the bunkers and hidden tunnel, the lookout point it is all beautiful and decaying, rusting over as trees and grass gracefully take over. At night you can watch the lighthouses diligently send out their beacons. The ocean in front of you stops to display distant city lights glittering from the US border, on your left is the bright yet sleepy Victoria, there are dimmed neighborhoods to your right, and it feels like you are outside of this and deep within it all at once perched atop an aging lookout point. I say this with absolute certainty, it is the best place in the world to share a bottle of wine and talk about everything. There are tidal pools to explore during the day, places to jump from rock to rock, trails to follow and things to climb. It is a dog park as well, so it's nice to see all the dogs running and playing in the summer. I should warn beachgoers - there is not much sand to speak of most of the time, so don't bother if that's what you're looking for. It isn't for everyone, but to me it's amazing and perfect.

Beacon Park lies at the foot of Sidney's Beacon Avenue, near the city's waterfront. For us, it,…read moreand immediate surrounding area, offered a lovely, scenic spot for some short walkabouts to catch some waterfront sights & sounds, on our way to catch the ferry back home at Swartz Bay. Wow, what a lovely spot, and our stop here provided a nice, but too brief time to really absorb and experience the offerings, but we did what we could, and sure enjoyed the views. And a fun plus for us, was chatting with some of the local residents out for their morning walks with their dogs!! Within the Park, there is art (some 'fun and clever' sculptures associated with the 'Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk' begin here), a small pavillion, picnic tables, and walkways along the waterfront (to really enjoy the seaside views). And nearby, the boardwalk out onto the Sidney Wharf (with fish market, restaurant, access to boats/ferries, and such), and the back-side of the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre (with it's own great nature-related sculptures, set on the living tide-pool setup). We now know what's there, and next trip will plan better, to enjoy a little more of what Sidney's Beacon Park, and area has to offer. edit to add: stopped by again, April 27, on the way to catch the ferry. Shot a few pictures of the sculptures.

Mount Douglas Park and renamed the indigenous peoples name, Pkols is a beautiful park that a…read morerelative of mine recommended to our group of four. We drove to the top and took in the beautiful view near the parking lot which you can get a view of Victoria and the Straight of Juan De Fuca. We then proceeded up a trail that took us even higher and got a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area of Vancouver Island. Entrance is free so it's definitely worth pursuing as far as sightseeing goes. Where we went to the top it's a manageable trail that you can do in casual shoes but if you want to climb up rocky trails it's probably best to have more rugged hiking shoes. At any rate this is a "must stop" while exploring the Victoria area.

Get your nature fix here in the Victoria area. There's easy hiking trails through the forest and a…read morenice little beach as well. The park is well maintained, with free parking, bathrooms, and even some EV charging stations. In no time you'll be refreshed and ready to face the city again.

Gorgeous park with rocks, fields and benches to rest and stare out at the water…read more Right off of the highway, gives you views of San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker, Mt. Newton, Senanus Island, Brentwood Bay and the Victoria airport.

East Sooke Regional Park is a magical coastal setting with fields, rocky coves and most strikingly…read morefor me, a forest full of fairies, dwarves, enchanted glades...and the occasional cougar, bear and shipwrecked fisherman. I never get tired of walking here, but it is rugged and subject to rapid weather shifts - hot to cold, dry to wet, and back. Despite all the trails, it is not hard to get lost and it can be get dark in the woods very fast. So do bring a pack, something warm, something to keep you dry, water, snacks, a fully-charged GPS phone and a headlamp with fresh batteries in case you are out later than expected. And if you run into a fairy that grants you three wishes, make that last wish that this place is still here, enchanted as ever, for our kids' kids.

This is a favorite for locals on sunny days. Quaint beach, logs, some rocks exposed in the bay at…read morelow tide. Different wildlife sights depending on the season. People bring their SUP, kayaks etc out here. Dogs dont have to be on leash during the winter months and not all dog owners are responsible about their pets.... Otherwise its a great place to hang out at any time of year.