The kids are out of school, and as the summer sun shines, families will soon be searching for new destinations to explore.
Fortunately for families here in Oak Bay, there’s little shortage of things to see and do.
1. Hot sunny days? Pack the sunscreen, snacks and water and make a day of it at the Rotary Water Park at Carnarvon Park.
2. Pack your explorer’s hat and head to Anderson Hill or Uplands parks to explore the unique landscape of a Garry oak meadow. Just be sure to stay on the paths to protect the sensitive ecosystems.
3. On the water side of Uplands Park, spend time exploring the rocky outcropping at Cattle Point.
4. Enjoy a quiet moment amid the blooms and butterflies at the Oak Bay Scented Garden, a beautiful space at Windsor Park. Adjacent is the recently refurbished Oak Bay Rose Garden, which the junior green thumbs will love exploring.
5. Rainy day, or just too hot outside? Head to the Oak Bay Recreation Centre for some wild and wet fun in the pool or a cool spin around the ice rink. Special themed swims are planned from 2 to 5 p.m. July 10, 17 and 31, or check the Active Living Guide for the current schedule.
6. Who doesn’t love watching the playful antics of the seals at the Oak Bay Marina?
7. Pack up a the baseball gloves, Frisbees or other summer essentials and head to your local park to run off some summer steam. Carnarvon, Fireman’s or Windsor parks are all great choices to imagine yourselves the “boys and girls of summer.” You might even pick up on the finer points of cricket at Windsor Park.
8. Inspire your youngsters with the possibilities of art – see how many of this summer’s art installations you can spot as you tour the municipality. Oak Bay Village, Estevan Village and the waterfront all hold multiple pieces waiting to be discovered.
9. Oak Bay boasts one of the Capital Region’s finest sandy beaches at Willows Park, and when you add the vast open playing field, children’s playground and ice cream from the Kiwanis Tea House, what more could you ask for on a sunny summer day? Don’t forget Oak Bay Parks & Recreation’s community concert series, sponsored by the Oak Bay News, with performances scheduled for July 15, 22 and Aug. 5.
10. Kids like a little more action? Head to Gonzales Bay, at the south end of Foul Bay Road, for skimboarding on the flat, sandy, crescent-shaped beach.