Beacon Hill is a two hundred acre park of both natural and manicured beauty. It is located within easy walking distance of the inner harbour of Victoria, British Columbia. It is a quiet place within the city to come for a stroll, a run or a picnic. The park offers views of the ocean and mountains along the wooded and shoreline trails. On a clear day you can see across to the Olympic Mountain range in Washington State. There is something on offer for everyone, a playground, a water park, playing fields, a cricket pitch, lawn bowling and a petting zoo.
The fountains, ponds, and gardens make this a Victoria attraction that is worth visiting. Horse drawn carriages are available for hire. You will see them sitting on the side street next to the parliament buildings on the inner harbour. Beacon Hill Park is just one of the areas they will take you through to get a taste of Victoria.
The park is full of many tree species of the Pacific West Coast including Arbutus, Garry Oak, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, birch, willow and maples.
Wildlife seem to think the park is a nice place to hang out as well. There are numerous species of ducks and birds, as well as raccoons and squirrels. Don’t be surprised if you spot one of the many peacocks that roam freely through the park. We came across this great horned owl sitting at the edge of a pond.
Children love getting up close with the animals in the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. They have goats, miniature horses, donkeys and rabbits. Entry to the petting zoo is by donation. If you’re animals lovers like us and without children you can still go in without looking too out of place! Early spring is a great time to visit the farm when the the newborn animals are starting to appear such as baby goats, pot belly pigs and lambs.
If you are visiting Victoria during summer months check with the tourist information to see if any concerts are being held in the park.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.