Guest Blog Post by Nevin Thompson
Even though the cold, wet winter months means it can be difficult to do things with kids on the Saanich Peninsula, there are still plenty of things to do! Here are some ideas:
Butterfly Gardens
Butterfly Gardens is the perfect place to spend a cloudy, rainy day. It’s always warm inside, with plenty of tropical plants to lift your spirits, and butterflies to fascinate the kids. Although there are different hours during the winter, Butterfly Gardens are open year-round, save for breaks at Christmas and New Years.
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
Probably the most famous attraction on the Saanich Peninsula, the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is another perfect activity for families during the winter. The award-winning Centre houses over 22 large scale underwater habitats teaming with the flora and fauna of our local Salish Sea, from microscopic plankton to a Giant Pacific Octopus
Mineral World
While many parents locally (and probably all over the world!) are familiar with the Scratch Patch, at this geology themed shop you can discover one-of-a-kind semi-precious gemstone jewellery or make your own with natural gemstone beads and sterling silver findings.
Sidney Museum and Archives
Lego, model dioramas, fighter airplanes and more – the Sidney Museum and Archives is another great place to stop on a rainy day.
Panorama Rec Centre
This pretty much says everything you need to know about why this place is great for kids on a rainy Saturday: a 25 metre salt purification swimming pool with six lanes, a multi -use leisure pool (includes features such as a zero-depth entry, a lazy river, a tots’ area, two additional lanes, spray toys and benches with hot tub jets), sauna, steam room, swirl pool, additional multi-purpose rooms and an accessible waterslide tower with an elevator allowing people with mobility issues to share in the enjoyment of riding southern Vancouver Island’s tallest and longest waterslide.
Nevin Thompson frequently writes about the Saanich Peninsula on behalf of Diversified Health Clinic, offering chiropractic treatment in Victoria.
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