When the time comes to cool off, there is one way to beat the summer heat no matter where you are staying on Vancouver Island: ice cream! And not your run-of-the-mill, chain restaurant ice cream. No, here on Vancouver Island, we have some incredible, locally owned and operated ice cream shops that are churning out incredible, unique and delicious flavours of our favourite icy confection.
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Summertime on Vancouver Island is an incredible time to visit. Town centres are bustling, restaurant patios are lively, and the parks and beaches everywhere are full of both locals and visitors looking for a way to relax and enjoy the sun. While we may have some of the most moderate temperatures here on Vancouver Island, the summer months can get hot. When the temperatures rise, it’s nice to put strenuous activities on hold and spend the day enjoying one of Vancouver Island’s beautiful, natural swimming spots! With fabulous ocean, river and lake swimming all over the island, you’ll never need to go far to find somewhere beautiful to spend the day swimming and relaxing.
As soon as you arrive in Sooke, you’re going to want to start planning a day at Sooke Potholes, an extensive network of deep, smooth, pools filled with clear turquoise water located right near the Sooke River. Formed during the last ice age, these formations are truly stunning and one of the best spots to find cool, clear water to take a dip in.
If you’re looking for a nearby swimming area in Metchosin, your best bet is Matheson Lake just off Rocky Point Rd! Work up a sweat before your dip with a walk around the lake on the picturesque trail, set up for a sunny afternoon on the sandy beach area or take a quick dip before starting your journey on the Galloping Goose.
If you’re looking for ocean swimming, you won’t be hard pressed to find stunning beaches and excellent clear waters to swim in all over the Victoria coast. Gonzalez Bay Beach, is an enclosed cove with white sand that is always popular for summertime swimming.
This beautiful neighbourhood park is another sandy beach that offers clear ocean swimming and lots of space to set up for an afternoon in the sun.
If the cold waters of the Pacific aren’t the swimming experience you are looking for, we have lovely swimming lakes that you won’t want to miss! Thetis Lake is one of the best swimming spots near Victoria. There are two sandy beaches to choose from, one at the southernmost end and one on the west side of the lake. Additionally, if you are willing to hike a little bit, you can find lots of rocky outcrops perched right on the water’s edge that provide a little privacy and a perfect place to dive into the cool water. This popular lake gets busy in the summer so it’s a good idea to arrive early on the weekends or midweek to escape the weekend crowds.
This one of Victoria’s popular, family friendly swimming spots! Prospect Lake is easily accessible from anywhere in the capital region and has four distinct public parks for you to choose from.
One of the most time-honoured summer traditions of the locals of the Cowichan Valley is tubing down the Cowichan River. It’s become such a popular summer activity; you can now buy tubing packages from The Tube Shack that includes inner tube rentals and a shuttle service to get you back to your vehicle. Gently float along on this 2.5-hour journey where you can enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the riverbank, bob your way under old bridges and watch as the farmland of the Cowichan Valley passes by. It’s a wonderfully unique way to spend a summer afternoon like a local!
This gorgeous park is a 56-acre conservation site and a mature coastal Douglas fir ecosystem with a system of beautiful, wooded trails that are perfect for cycling and walking. Here, you can take a walk through the network of trails and explore the forest then cool off with a dip in the river or bring a blanket and a picnic and set up on one of the many spots all along the riverbank to rest, swim and enjoy the sun! The Nanaimo River is an idyllic swimming spot with deep swimming holes of crystal-clear water, perfect for cooling down when the temperatures rise.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to cool off during a heatwave, you’ll want to make your way to Spider Lake. Don’t let the name deter you! This glorious, peaceful lake is one of the best swimming spots in the area. There is a small sandy beach and picnic area perfect for making it a comfortable day at the lake – plus, the warm water makes swimming that much more enjoyable! This is also an excellent lake for paddleboarding or kayaking as well as there are so many little coves to explore in the many winding inlets – which is where Spider Lake got its name!
While you’re staying in the Comox Valley, you definitely need to take a day and head to the sandy shores of Saratoga Beach. This stunning beach is widely touted as one of the best beaches on Vancouver Island due to the long stretches of soft white sand that heats up the cold ocean water as the tide moves in and out. Set up in the sand for the day and paddle through the warm shallows or wade out and take a dip in the ocean. This is a truly stunning beach that you won’t want to miss out on!
No matter where you’re staying on Vancouver Island, you’ll find lots of incredibly beautiful, unique, natural swimming spots to help you beat the summer heat!
It’s official – it’s summertime on Vancouver Island! This time of year is a magical one here on the West Coast, with glistening waters, blue skies and endless greenery, the island comes alive when the warm weather hits. The outdoor activities are myriad, whether it’s cycling, hiking, exploring new places on the island, revisiting old favourite haunts, shopping at the outdoor markets or just enjoying a seaside stroll, when the time comes to cool off, there is one tried, tested and true way to beat the summer heat: ice cream. And not your run-of-the-mill, chain restaurant ice cream. No, here on Vancouver Island, we have some locally owned and operated ice cream shops that are churning out incredible, unique and delicious flavours of our favourite icy confection.
4492 Happy Valley Rd, Victoria, BC V9C 3Z3
In the beautiful, sleepy little area of Metchosin, the Sugar Shack is where the locals get their ice cream fix. A part of the beloved My-Chosen Cafe, the Sugar Shack is a blend of classic west coast, farmhouse-style bakery with a 50’s twist. Here you can find fluffy, seasonally flavoured, single serve cheesecakes, perfectly, soft, celebratory cupcakes, thick milkshakes with architecturally dubious towers of whipped cream that threaten to tumble out of the mason jar receptacles – which really makes it even more fun to drink, and classic ice cream flavours. Whether you’re looking for a spot while riding or walking on the Metchosin stretch of the Galloping Goose, finishing a day at the beach or just popping in to satisfy your sweet tooth, this pastoral cafe is the perfect place to stop for a refreshing treat to beat the heat.
Victoria is a stunning city with a huge influx of visitors each summer and as such, you’ll also find a veritable plethora of ice cream shops. Alas, not all are made equal and that’s why we’re giving you the scoop on where to go for the very best ice cream in the garden city!
1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC V8V 0B2
In the funky little downtown neighbourhood of James Bay, you’ll find Jackson’s Ice Cream in the colourful float-home community of Fisherman’s Wharf. This small ice cream stand really packs a punch with what they have to offer! Here you can get frozen lemonade, ice cream floats, old fashioned milkshakes, sundaes, plus soft serve ice cream, sixteen different flavours of Island Farms ice cream, non-dairy sorbet and frozen yogurt all in their handmade waffle cones.
1115 N Park St #4, Victoria, BC V8T 1C7
Since 2010, these ice cream aficionados have been whipping up truly decadent, unique, satisfying and oh-so-delicious ice cream with the highest quality, local ingredients. Every batch of their incredibly popular ice cream is lovingly made with organic BC cream, eggs from happy, local hens, fair trade sugar and chocolate, fresh fruit and seasonal flowers and herbs. With Cold Comfort Ice Cream, you can feel good about eating ice cream while feeling good about supporting this innovative local company.
230 Cook St, Victoria, BC V8V 3X3
While you are wandering around downtown Victoria, you’ve got to make your way to Kid Sister in Fan Tan Alley. This small batch glacier makes each and every batch from scratch using the highest quality ingredients – and it shows. For an out-of-the-ordinary ice cream experience, try one of the unique flavours like London Fog or banana coconut caramel. Looking for the classics? They’ve got them too! The Madagascar whole bean vanilla and local fresh strawberry will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about classic ice cream flavours. And if you’re not in the mood for a rich, creamy treat, they have incredibly decadent popsicles too!
5303 W Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 1J8
Craving a taste of Italy? Look no further than on Johnson St. In 1920’s Torino, Nonno Mosi made gelato in the summer in his Pasticceria and today, his grandson, Stefano carries on that tradition right here in Victoria. At Mosi, you can find delectable, creamy gelati and light, crisp sorbetto all handcrafted using locally sourced, quality ingredients.
2527 Beacon Ave #104, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y1
There’s a lot to be said about this little seaside town. You can find incredible shopping and dining and you won’t have to look much farther for your ice cream fix than Quince Cafe right in the heart of Sidney. They make all of their menu items in-house, daily and it’s here that you can find all your classic ice cream treats. Get a cafe affogato and head out for a walk along the seaside trail, be a kid again with an ice cream float or stick to the classic flavours served in a delicious waffle cone.
1765 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC V0R 1N1
Tucked right in the Cowichan Valley is the historic seaside community of Cowichan Bay and for more than a decade, the Udder Guys have been serving up small batch, old fashioned artisanal ice cream right in the heart of Cowichan Bay Road village. Using top-quality ingredients and local seasonal fruit, this ice cream is absolutely phenomenal. Order a couple of scoops in a cone and wander around the bay or pick up a pint or two to take back to your EMR vacation rental – either way, you’re in for a real treat!
96-3200 N Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC V9T 1W1
Just north of Nanaimo, you’ll find Burnt Honey, the labour of love for local couple Kara and Fiona Shedden. Since their recent opening in February 2019, these two have been making waves with their incredible confectionery and have quickly become the go-to place for decadent ice cream and expertly crafted macarons near Nanaimo. Using locally sourced, high quality, ingredients and unique flavour combinations, Burnt Honey ice cream and macarons are imaginative and delicious. Plus, their packaging is all recyclable or compostable and they have implemented green initiatives in the bakery – going here for your sweet fix is a real win-win!
526 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J4
The best pairing for the beautifully warm, dry, summer heat of the Comox Valley is small-batch ice cream from Blue Spruce. This little glacierie offers traditional custard ice cream and a variety of frozen vegan ice creams as well! Using only locally sourced, artisanal ingredients in their traditionally handmade ice creams that are all inspired by the beautiful Comox Valley, Blue Spruce is really one-of-a-kind in Courtney!
127 Port Augusta St, Comox, BC V9M 3N8
Reignite your childhood nostalgia at The Big Scoop at the Comox Marina! This ice cream trailer slings seriously delicious Island Farms soft serve ice cream by the scoop. Grab yourself a scoop or two of your favourites and take a stroll around the marina – it’s a great way to end a sunny summer day!
