Best time with my children: Trip to Vancouver and Victoria, Canada

We love traveling. Traveling with kids can be an exciting and enriching experience for the whole family. Exploring new cultures, trying different cuisines, and creating lasting memories together can be a wonderful way to bond.

Some of you might know by now that we love visiting Vancouver. I’ve already written a blog post about a trip to Vancouver both in spring and winter. (You might want to read it in “Best time with my Children: Trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada”). This time, we decided to take our adventure to the next level by visiting Vancouver Island. We took a ferry to Victoria, then another to Port Angeles. We did go to Port Angeles in May and I wrote a blog post about it as well. (You might want to read “Best time with my children: Trip to Port Angeles, WA”).

Our Vancouver Island adventure was a magical experience. We enjoyed scenic drives, relaxing ferry rides, and exploring vibrant cities. Let me share what we did!


Table of Contents:


Vancouver

Our trip to Vancouver always starts with Mexican food and ice cream at Juana’s Taqueria in Conway, WA. We simply must go there for their delicious Mexican food, and of course, we always have to get ice cream afterward. Why not, right?

We stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel at The Pier again, as my sons love the large pool. I also appreciate the atmosphere of North Vancouver.

The breathtaking pier view was perfect for taking photos. As soon as we arrived, the kids couldn’t wait to jump into the pool. They were exhausted after swimming and fell asleep quickly.

For breakfast the next day, we went to “the Lobby Restaurant” in the hotel. We had an avocado croissant, a lobster benedict, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes. They were all delicious.

We made our way to Granville Island, our go-to spot in Vancouver. Visiting on a weekday morning, we were able to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and easily find parking. The kids had a blast playing in the arcade at the Kids’ Market, almost to themselves. We usually don’t go to arcades, so it was like an amusement park for them.

After the arcade, we strolled through the Public Market. I love the vibrant atmosphere and the delicious smells of fresh produce and baked goods.

For lunch, we revisited a nostalgic spot: Flying Pig. We had dined there nine years ago on our honeymoon and wanted to relive the memory with our boys. Wow 9 years…

We ordered ribeye steak, a burger, and mussels. The meal was delicious, especially the mussels, which had a flavorful broth with a hint of spice. While I would have preferred thicker fries, the dish was still enjoyable.

We returned to the hotel and enjoyed a swim in the pool. Afterward, we took a walk and admired the holiday decorations. It seems like they’re preparing for a Christmas market in the nearby shops.

For dinner, we went to Hamaei, our favorite Japanese restaurant in Vancouver. I’m not sure if you’re a fan of uni, but I am! They had local uni, which was sweet and delicious. We got a sushi omakase (chef’s choice), and every piece of sushi was incredibly fresh and tasty. This is definitely our go-to place in Vancouver.

We spent a leisurely two days in Vancouver, indulging in relaxation, delicious food, and quality family time. We spent our days swimming at the pool (which is always a highlight for the boys), exploring the city, and savoring local cuisine. It was the perfect getaway to unwind and recharge but this is just the beginning of our trip!

Victoria

We took a scenic ferry ride from Tsawwassen (a 50-minute drive from Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (a 40-minute drive to Victoria). It’s recommended to book your ferry tickets in advance, and arrive at the terminal 30-60 minutes early. You can book your tickets in BC ferry. We arrived at the Tsawwassen terminal 60 minutes before our ferry just in case. The terminal offers shops and cafes for a quick bite or souvenir and we spent a pleasant time waiting for the ferry.

The ferry ride from Tsawwassen terminal to Swartz Bay terminal took about an hour and a half. We got out of our car and went up to the seating area. There was a cafeteria where you could get food and snacks. There were also shops where you could buy clothes and souvenirs. We went outside for about five minutes, but it was too cold, so we went back inside enjoyed the rest of the pleasant ride!

After the ferry, we started driving to Victoria. We stopped by at this butterfly museum on the way and my boys loved it!

The museum was surprisingly engaging, despite its modest size. The scavenger hunt kept the kids entertained. We couldn’t find the tiny lizard, but the boys still received a prize sticker. There were a bunch of creepy insects (at least to me), lots of beautiful butterflies flying inside the dome, and colorful birds. It was a lot of fun.

After checking into the Hotel Grand Pacific, we went outside to stroll through the beautiful town of Victoria. We had some time before our dinner reservation, so we stopped by the Miniature World. We spent about 45 minutes exploring the miniature displays of historical scenes, landscapes, and fairy tales. It was surprisingly entertaining for all of us. There were many buttons to push to turn on lights, move trains, cars, and trucks, and my younger one couldn’t resist pressing every single one. Some displays even depicted morning, sunset, and nighttime scenes, offering a full day’s worth of miniature experiences. It was a great way to pass the time before dinner for us!

After visiting the museum, we had dinner at Ugly Duckling, a popular restaurant that requires reservations, especially on weekend nights. We ordered a full course meal for four, and each dish was a unique culinary experience. The Asian-inspired flavors and artistic presentation were impressive.

The left: Seared Foie Gras
The foie gras was incredibly creamy and paired perfectly with the caramelized pear.

Right: Dan Dan Pork Dumpling
I liked the thick, chewy texture of the dumpling skin.

Left: Haida Gwaii Halibut
While the shiitake mushrooms were a bit too strong for my taste, the spiciness in the sauce added a delightful flavor to the halibut.

Right: Yarrow Meadows Duck:
The delicate sweetness of the sauce balanced the richness of the duck and daikon, creating a harmonious flavor profile.

Desserts were Passion Fruit Sorbet, Salish Apple New York Cheesecake, and Macarons and Chocolates. The white miso butterscotch ice cream was surprisingly amazing! It was really good.

The food was delicious, the atmosphere was inviting, and the service was impeccable. This restaurant is the perfect choice for celebrating special occasions.

The illuminated Inner Harbor was breathtaking. We enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the hotel, taking in the beautiful night view.

After dinner, the kids couldn’t wait to jump into the hotel pool. The hotel had a 25-meter pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a well-equipped gym. I even managed to squeeze in a barbell deadlift workout.

Next morning, we had a breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel, Fathom. We got egg benedict, seafood chowder, sausage omelets and tiramisu pancake.

We probably should have eaten a smaller breakfast, as we had an early afternoon tea reservation. But! We did go anyway of course! (well we already paid and I really wanted to go)

We had a afternoon tea at a Pendray Inn and Tea House.

We had 2 orders of west coast afternoon and two orders of children afternoon tea. We were also able to pick 1 flavor of tea and there were tons of selections! We got genmai tea, green chai, rooibos tea, and green tea.

We had a wonderful afternoon tea experience, but unfortunately, we couldn’t finish all the treats. We took the leftovers to enjoy on the ferry ride.

To ensure a smooth journey, we arrived at the Victoria Ferry Terminal an hour before our scheduled departure. We had pre-booked our ferry tickets, hotels (Grand Hotel Pacific in Victoria and Olympic Lodge by Ayres in port Angeles), and even afternoon tea through Black Ball Ferry, which allowed us to save money and time. Let me show you some examples!

To compare prices, I booked the same dates for all accommodations. For instance, I found that the Hotel Grand Pacific was significantly cheaper when booked through Black Ball Ferry ($60) compared to the hotel’s website ($228). Similarly, the West Coast Afternoon Tea was more affordable through Black Ball Ferry ($62.31) than the hotel’s menu ($68). The Olympic Lodge by Ayres was also more budget-friendly when booked through Black Ball Ferry ($40) compared to the hotel’s website ($129). Just make sure to check the dates for both your ferry and hotels. (You may want to check terms & conditions for cancellation, refund policies etc)

We saved a significant amount by booking through Black Ball Ferry. Furthermore, both hotels were excellent ones!

Port Angeles

After our time in Victoria, we took the ferry back to Port Angeles, a picturesque coastal town. As soon as we arrived in Port Angeles, we drove an hour to Port Townsend for our dinner reservation at Finistère. It was a quiet drive, especially after all the activities and ferry ride (about 90 minutes), but we were able to see beautiful illuminations along the way, by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and 7 Cedars in Blyn (just east of Sequim).

Beginning in October, a dedicated team from P. Walker Inc. works tirelessly to install over three million lights, transforming the night sky into a breathtaking spectacle. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and 7 Cedars create a magical holiday display that attracts visitors from far and wide.

We started with a delicious assortment of oysters, salad, and a blue cheese plate. It had been a while since I’d had blue cheese, and I was reminded of how much I enjoy it.

We got crab ravioli, malfadine Bolognese and New York strip. For me, crab ravioli was the best!

We went back to our hotel, the Olympic Lodge by Ayres, and went straight to bed after a long day. The hotel was very nice. It had an outdoor pool, which we couldn’t enjoy this time, but we’ll definitely be back when it’s warmer. The hotel offered breakfast. We had a relaxing morning and then headed back to the Kingston ferry terminal. On the way there, we had to stop by the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim since the boys loved it last time.

Admission fees are the followings:
Adults (Ages 15+): $25
Children (Ages 6-14): $20
Seniors (Ages 55+): $20
Childers (Ages 5 & Under): Free
* No outside bread permitted and you can purchase a bag of loaf for $5

At the Olympic Game Farm, you can feed American bison, llamas, dear, and so on. You can also see lion, tiger, wolf, bear, bobcat, coyote and so on. This is definitely my boys’ favorite place!

Our family trip to Vancouver Island was an unforgettable adventure, filled with stunning scenery, delicious food, and quality family time.

Everything was “spectaceller”!

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