Things To Do in Beacon Hill Park

bridge over pond in a garden - beacon hill park victoria bc

When you’re visiting Victoria, British Columbia, one of the must-visit attractions is Beacon Hill Park. Located in downtown Victoria, this incredible urban park spans over 200 acres and is filled with activities and attractions. Whether you’re traveling with kids, looking for historical attractions, or just want to spend time in nature, Beacon Hill Park has something for everyone!

Established in 1882, Beacon Hill Park was named after the two beacons used by the Hudson Bay Company that used to be located on top of the hill on land set aside for a city park by James Douglas, the governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island. Beacon Hill Park is located in the heart of downtown Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia nearby the stunning Inner Harbour. It’s bordered by Douglas Street to the east, Cook Street to the west, Dallas Road to the south, and Circle Drive to the north. Today, thanks to the Friends of Beacon Hill Park, a non-profit organization who work hard to maintain the park and provide educational programs and organize events in the park, Beacon Hill is one of the largest public parks in Victoria where you can find historical attractions, peaceful natural spaces, playgrounds, walking paths and so much more! 

Gardens in Beacon Hill Park

By far one of the greatest draws for visitors to the park are the gardens. Beacon Hill is home to several gardens, ranging from beautifully cultivated gardens like the rose garden and more wild, natural spaces like the camas meadow. The rose garden is located near Goodacre Lake and has over 1,000 roses in different varieties and colors. In the spring and summer, this garden is filled with incredible roses each with unique blooms and scents. The camas meadow is located in the southwestern corner of the park and is home to a stunning display of purple camas flowers in the spring. Beacon Hill is also home to many beautiful Garry Oak trees and visitors can go see these native trees up close in the Garry Oak grove near the children’s playground. 

Historical Attractions

With a history that dates back to the 1880’s, it’s no wonder that Beacon Hill Park is rich in history! One of the most famous historical attractions is the totem pole, which stands at 127 feet tall and is the second tallest totem pole in the world. It was carved by Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations artist Mungo Martin and was raised in the park in 1956. Visitors can explore the Dallas Road gun battery, which was built in 1895 to protect Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base from naval attack and the Cameron Bandshell, built in 1898 located near the center of the park, is a popular venue for concerts and events. As you enter Beacon Hill you can’t miss Goodacre Lake Fountain built in 1885. While it has undergone several restorations over the years it serves as a symbol of the park’s rich history and enduring beauty, and it remains a popular attraction for visitors to the park today.

Recreation 

If you’re traveling with kids, there are plenty of activities and amenities in Beacon Hill Park to keep them entertained! One of the most popular attractions is the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm petting zoo, where kids can pet and feed a variety of animals, including goats, rabbits, and chickens! There are also several playgrounds throughout the park, including one near the petting zoo and one near the tennis courts. For nature kids, there are plenty of trees and rocks to climb and open spaces to run plus, kids will also love watching the peacocks, ducks and geese that roam freely throughout the park.

If you’re looking for recreation areas, there are plenty at Beacon Hill! Kick a ball around on one of the soccer fields, lawn bowl on the lawn bowling greens, get a few volleys in at the tennis courts or spend an afternoon on the putting green. Beacon Hill is a great place to jog and if you’re looking for a more leisurely activity, you can take a stroll around the park and enjoy the beautiful Garry oak and Arbutus trees. You may even spot some great blue herons near Fountain Lake!

Proximity to Downtown Victoria

One of the great things about Beacon Hill Park is its proximity to downtown Victoria. You can easily walk to the park from the Inner Harbour, and it’s just a short drive from Douglas Street and the Trans-Canada Highway if you’re coming into Victoria for a visit. If you’re staying in the city, Beacon Hill Park is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown while still being close enough to enjoy all the attractions!

There’s no doubt that with so much natural beauty and historical significance, Beacon Hill Park is a must-visit when you’re staying in Southern Vancouver Island! 

Forest Bathing: Bringing shinrin-yoku to British Columbia

Dappled spots of sunlight on the leaves, the sound of faraway birds calling, the smell of moss and thick, moist earth – when you’re deep in the forest, every sense is tantalized. It’s a very different feeling than when you’re cooped up indoors, stuck in an hours-long meeting, or gritting your teeth in rush-hour traffic; most of the time, we don’t even notice the sights, smells, or feelings that surround us.

There’s nothing quite like the calm, introspective feeling we get when surrounded by nature. Writers and poets have tried – and many come close – but the exact words still elude us. In Japan, they call this phenomenon shinrin-yoku. In English, it translates to “forest bathing.” It may sound like a word from a pseudo-science journal, but it’s a legitimate form of nature therapy that’s taking over British Columbia – and the rest of the world.

If you’re new to forest bathing, here’s what it is, why it’s beneficial, and why Victoria, British Columbia is the best place to give it a try.

What is Forest Bathing?

We don’t mean literal bathing, but in a way that’s exactly what it is. Forest bathing is a form of nature therapy in which you immerse yourself in the calming ambiance of the forest and absorb the world around you through all of your senses. In other words, you’re bathing your body and mind in the forest wilderness. It’s a romantic concept, and one that’s helping people around the globe reconnect with nature and escape the anxiety of a busy world.

It sounds like hiking, but it’s actually much different. Forest bathing has a bit more intention than a hike, and it’s done at a much slower pace. It’s probably the opposite of cardio – the point is to move slowly through the environment as you touch, smell, see, and hear the world around you. You’re not aiming for a particular destination, but focusing solely on the details of the place you’re at right now. Running your fingers over gritty tree moss, marveling at the splash of color inside a wild forest flower – these are common stops on a forest bathing tour, and they each help you observe and appreciate your surroundings and yourself like never before.

By nature, forest bathing can be done solo; you just need a stretch of dense forest and an hour or two to spend inside it. But it has also become a popular group activity, and guided forest bathing tours are on the rise around the globe. Your guides aren’t therapists, but they can help you stay intentional and point out details that you may miss alone. It’s a great activity for vacationers, who can take advantage of their worry-free trip to explore the outdoors and seek internal satisfaction. Plus, it’s a great way to explore the wilderness of a new landscape – and it’s one that you can take with you when you go.

What Are the Benefits of Forest Bathing?

If you’re asking why forest bathing is so popular, you’re not alone – the average person spends 90% of their lives indoors. But the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors can’t be ignored, and forest bathing takes that to a whole new level. By being intentional with your time, you reap bigger benefits and create a deeper connection to nature than if you just stood outside. In fact, the benefits of forest bathing include helping you de-stress, encouraging creativity, and improving concentration. Plus, it’s really, really pretty.

But it’s not just mental health. Spending time outdoors boosts your vitamin D, combats obesity, and speeds up recovery. You may not get all of those benefits from just one session, but forest bathing can instill a love for the outdoors that keeps you moving outside and makes you healthier in the long run.

Better mental and physical health AND stunning nature views? Sign us up!

Forest Bathing in British Columbia

When it comes to forest bathing any forest will do, but Victoria’s landscape was made for it. From lush rainforests to wild miles of dense firs, the area boasts plenty of forest terrain that’s packed full of sights, smells, and wildlife that are sure to leave you breathless (and stress-free!). Plus, everything you need to take a spiritual forest bath is within easy reach of the city! Add all of that into a temperate climate that’s made for exploring, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a rejuvenating nature experience. Goldstream Provincial Park and Cathedral Grove are both popular spots for wilderness walking.

But it gets better! Not only do we have the forests, but thanks to its riding popularity we also have plenty of forest bathing guides. As the concept has caught on, companies throughout the area have started offering forest therapy tours and guided forest bathing for visitors and locals. In fact, Haida Bolton is British Columbia’s first certified forest therapy guide, and she conducts tours right here in Victoria through her company, Nature with Haida.

Whether you want a quick solo session or a fully guided tour, Victoria is a must-see destination for forest bathing. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t love a chance to calm their mind while exploring a centuries-old rainforest?

Here’s the best part: our Victoria vacation rentals put you right near the forest for easy access to your forest bathing future. Some of them even offer stunning forest views to keep you in that relaxed mindset long after you’ve left the trees (but they still have everything you need to stay clean and comfy). Book yours today!