Family Road Trip 2018
For our 2018 family vacation, we did a road trip to Vancouver Island with our almost three year old Ariel and our five month old Sebastian (Ariel and Sebastian being the nicknames chosen by our mermaid loving three year old). We focused on Victoria and Tofino but spent a little time in a few other spots to help break up the drives. We also spent a few days in Vancouver so one of us could run a half marathon before heading back to Seattle.
Heading to and exploring Victoria
We planned to take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria but did not complete the reservation. We were on the road when we realized the mistake and it was too risky to get stuck in Port Angeles. We made a last minute change and drove to Vancouver and took the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry. We reserved a spot on the way and ended up with plenty of buffer time to explore the nearby area and get lunch. We even tried visiting Point Roberts but the line at the border was too long. Once we made it to the port we realized we should have hung out there. There were food options and a playground. On the ferry, we walked around, visited the playroom, and enjoyed the views. After we arrived in Victoria and settled in at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, Jared took Ariel for a swim in the indoor pool and I went for a walk with the baby. The weather was clear and the water calm. There was a small protest, street music, and tourists and locals alike heading for happy hours and dinner. I joined back up with the rest of my family for dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish where the long line (with kids!!) was worth the fish and chips.
On our first full day in Victoria we headed to Butchart Gardens because we did not want to miss the chance to explore the gardens with good weather. Our expectations were surpassed. We loved the sunken gardens and enjoyed afternoon tea time at The Dining Room. We requested a table by the window in our reservation and were placed next to a window overlooking the Italian Garden. We split one afternoon tea and a lunch entree and walked away full and happy. The rest of the day involved our hotel pool, visiting a playground nearby, and cooking dinner in our hotel room. It is worth noting that we reserved a room that included a kitchen so we could eat in at least once a day. We were happily surprised to be upgraded to what was basically a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. This made our ‘room’ easy to decompress and eat in with the kids.
It was down-pouring the next day, but we still explored Victoria with a self guided walking tour. Luckily, the kids napped in the BOB and the carrier for our longer than expected walk to Spinnakers for lunch with a view.
Our last full day we went on a long walk to the farm at Beacon Hill Park, Ogden Point Breakwater, and Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved getting up close with the peacocks and baby goats in Beacon Hill Park. The baby goats would even climb up our backs and jump down. The grown ups were just as excited (if not more) as the kids. We were especially happy we got there in time for the morning goat run. From there, the Breakwater was a bit far with two kids but luckily we brought the BOB. The Breakwater was picturesque and the Fisherman’s Wharf was colorful and lively.
Heading to Tofino
Even though it is only about four hours from Victoria to Tofino, we split the trip with one night in Parksville. We were worried that four hours would become eight after potty breaks and diaper changes. Leaving Victoria, we stopped in Chemainus for lunch, a self-guided mural walk, and time at the playground. The murals were fun, but the town was very quiet. Once in Parksville, we were are able to enjoy the water and views and have a low key dinner in our AirBnB.
Exploring Tofino
Tofino was our first true beach vacation as parents and we loved it. We stayed in a water front hotel with a balcony to enjoy the view when the kids were sleeping. Ariel loved playing in the sand and watching the ocean from the children’s swing. We even met our first Velella! Luckily we took one photo the day we arrived because it was the last day they were around.
We spent most of our time relaxing at the beach and tide pooling but we also managed to go whale watching. Sebastian hung out in the carrier while Ariel spotted the whales with mermaid tails. It was chilly and windy so the kids had to retreat indoors. Afterwards we grabbed a waterfront lunch so we could continue enjoying the view but stay warm.
Heading to and Exploring Vancouver
Heading out we stopped for a short hike and picnic. We didn’t want to take any risks with a three hour drive before the ferry so we stayed the night in Qualicum Beach before taking the ferry the next morning. Each parent took the opportunity to go on a evening beach walk and we all enjoyed a little beach time in the morning. The ferry ride was similar to before except we were a little frustrated that the television in the playroom could not be turned off. This was difficult for us when we keep our kids screens free. Luckily there were other kids to play with and plenty of boat to explore.
We somehow managed to visit Vancouver on a yearly basis. We usually stay downtown but for this trip we stayed near South Main. It was a short walk to Jared’s race start in Queen Elizabeth Park and within walking distance to playgrounds, shops, and restaurants. We did a mix of eating in and dining out and made it to our brunch spot in Vancouver: Twisted Fork.
Post trip reflections
We were a little worried that we were crazy for doing a road trip with two young kids. We were more conservative than needed with breaking up the trips, but happy we played it safe. Staying in places we could cook reduced the need to dine out, which can be overwhelming with kids. We couldn’t get a kitchen in Tofino, but managed to have a refrigerator so we could do very simple lunches or dinners in our room. We look forward to visiting in the future when the kids are older. It will be the same places with new experiences.