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Fun Spring and Summer Activities in Victoria, BC

Enjoying Our Seasonal Splendour

Victoria, BC is truly a city for all seasons. Our proximity to the warm waters of the northern Pacific gift us with exceptionally warm winters, mild summers, and lovely weather year-round. Even so, there is perhaps no better time to visit than during the spring and summer months, which are filled with natural splendor and comfortable temperatures.

So if you’re looking for the most fun things to see and do in Victoria, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. Read on to get the inside scoop on some of our favorite activities while you’re out and about.

Spring

There’s no spring like a Victoria spring. The flowers bloom, the birds sing and the sun melts off any pesky lingering snow. As you can well imagine, sunnier skies have a tendency to really bring the city to life.

Gorgeous Gardens

Fans of foliage know that Butchart Gardens’ spring displays are the stuff of legend. Their springtime bounty of beautiful botanical wonders is a century-strong tradition that draws out countless Victorians to soak in the spectacular sights and smells of the city’s floral magnificence. And speaking of flowers, the Victoria Flower Count is an annual observance that highlights why Victoria is known as “The City of Gardens.” Although nobody is actually counting individual blooms (which would be an impossible task under the best of circumstances), the Flower Count is a bit of a bragging-rights event — a way for Victoria to celebrate its early-onset spring during a time of year when much of the rest of Canada is still fighting chillier temperatures. The Flower Count also celebrates the famous cherry blossoms in Victoria, BC — another springtime favorite of locals and visitors alike. Walk along Victoria’s streets in the spring, and it’s likely you’ll be shaded by a generous canopy of thousands of these delicate pink blooms.

Local Bike Tours

Since springs here are so warm and welcoming, visitors are always delighted to discover many relaxing, self-guided bike tours in Victoria, BC. Any of a number of local bike rental outlets here are happy to get you pedal-pushing to your hearts’ content, as well as also suggest some amazing places to go on your Victoria bike tour.

Artisan Brews

Spring also marks the annual return of Victoria Beer Week — a citywide celebration of the area’s rich brewing culture. Pubs, taverns, restaurants, microbreweries and other bastions of the brewers’ art showcase a wide variety of local and regional microbrews, so it’s a great time to hoist a few pints and learn about Canada’s signature beverages.

Family Fun

If you’re looking for a great place to have a little springtime fun for the whole family, then we couldn’t recommend Beacon Hill Park Children’s Farm more highly. This delightful and educational attraction is located within Beacon Hill Park — itself a jewel of the area — and offers kids and parents an opportunity to learn about animals, as well as get up close and personal with them.

Summer

The warm and sunny summer months in Victoria are always marked by lots of amazing things to see and do.

Water Ballet

Chief among them is the Water Ballet — a whimsically choreographed maritime marvel performed by the Harbour Ferry fleet. Many years ago, the ferry ships’ captains discovered that their watercraft were amazingly agile and set about creating a synchronized “dance” that their boats could perform in the waters of the harbour. Onlookers gathered, spurring the captains to perform ever more elaborate aquabatics. Before long, music was added and a tradition was born. You can catch this performance (also regularly referred to as the “Pickle Boat Ballet” after the boats’ color scheme) from June to September.

Urban Green Space

As mentioned above, Beacon Hill Par k is a truly gorgeous 740,000-square-meter urban green space located on Victoria’s southwestern coast. It’s arguably at its best in the summer, with sporting areas, bike paths, hiking trails and lots of trees and flowers to enjoy.

Whale Watching

Summer also brings Victoria whale watching season. These majestic sea behemoths regularly migrate up and down the North American Pacific coast during the warmer summer months, meaning that May to October is prime spotting season. Several local charter boat companies offer Victoria whale watching tours to locals and visitors alike. So bring your binoculars!

VI Wine Country

Thanks to Victoria’s famously mild climate, the conditions for growing wine grapes are nearly perfect here. So oenophiles will definitely want to make a trek to Vancouver Island Wine Country during the fertile summer months. The area is dotted with spectacular vineyards, all of which produce superb vintages. Many also offer tours, tastings and gift shops. So if you enjoy a little bottled magic, don’t miss British Columbia’s wine region during your visit.

There’s truly never a bad time to drop in to visit us here in Victoria. The team at The Parkside Hotel & Spa are looking forward to being your hosts as you explore our beautiful seaside city!