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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Vancouver Island in the summer is a magical place. The skies are brilliant blue, warm ocean breezes drift through the towns and cities, farmers markets abound, campers come out of hibernation and no matter where you are on this spectacular Island, you’ll find it to be one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth. But summers can also be incredibly hot, with recent summer temperatures reaching record-breaking highs, it’s important to get the inside scoop on all the best ways to beat the summer heat. Whether you want to walk through cool green forest paths, indulge in icy treats, sip colourful cocktails, or prefer to dive into clear cool water – you can find all this and more during your stay on Vancouver Island!
When the weather is warm, what better way to cool off than to go swimming? While there are no outdoor pools on Vancouver Island, there are a plethora of stunning natural swimming spots. The lakes, rivers and oceans on the Island are pristine, where locals love to spend many hot summer days and where visitors can have authentic West Coast experiences! When it comes to the best swimming spots on the Island, you can read all about our favourites here. But if you’re looking for a property to rent where you can have access to natural swimming just steps away, we have just the list for you! Whether you prefer booking an EMR property with a private pool or a stunning waterfront rental, with private or semi-private natural water access just steps from the property, you can take a swim any time of day or night!
Ice cream has come a long way in recent years with many shops selling handmade, small batch ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients. At these little shops you can find imaginative flavours as well as classic standbys to ensure that everyone leaves happy!
Cold Comfort: 1115 N Park St Unit 4, Victoria
Each delicious batch is made with only locally sourced and fair trade, organic ingredients!
Sugar Shack: 4492 Happy Valley Rd, Victoria
Classic ice cream shop with milkshakes and desserts to order.
Quince Cafe: 2527 Beacon Ave #104, Sidney
Find ice cream cones, floats, affogatos and other treats in the heart of Sidney town centre.
Udder Guys: 1765 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay
One of the original small batch ice cream places, you can get a cone, grab a pint to take home or browse their huge retro candy selection.
Deep Fried Ice Cream: 122B S Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan
Local Mom & Pop ice cream shop selling deep fried ice cream, sweet treats, fish and chips, knick knacks and more!
Cold Front Gelato: 60 Commercial St #306, Nanaimo
With unique flavours and delicious plant-based options, these handmade, small batch ice creams are so good!
Shore: 2831 Island Hwy W, Qualicum Beach
Choose a classic dipped cone, a Hawaiian-style Dole whip or a Typhoon mixed with your favourite candy pieces
Summer heat can be glorious but sometimes, it can get overwhelming. When that happens and you want to find an air conditioned escape why not head to a mall? With some great shopping mall options on Vancouver Island, you’re sure to have fun, find some new summer duds and beat the heat!
The Bay Centre: 1150 Douglas St, Victoria
Downtown mall with lots of local stores, global brands and well known department stores to shop in.
Mayfair Mall: 3147 Douglas St, Victoria
Recently renovated shopping centre with an incredible array of well known stores, kiosks, department stores and food court.
Uptown: 3440 Saanich Rd, Victoria
Open air shopping plaza where you can find globally recognized chains, restaurants, coffee shops and a water park for kids.
Woodgrove Mall: 6631 Island Hwy, Nanaimo
The main mall in the Nanaimo area with lots of recognizable stores, great food court and ample parking
After a day at the beach or exploring the city in the sunshine, what better day to unwind than kicking back with a summery cocktail? These two cocktails are summer in a glass and a perfect way to end a sunny day. Plus, you can use a locally distilled spirit and make it a truly west coast cocktail!
Fill a glass with ice add
1 or 2oz of vodka
3 – 5 slices of jalapeño
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1/2oz – 1oz of simple syrup
Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy!
Fill a tall glass with ice and add
1 – 2oz of gin
Fill with pineapple juice
A dash of allspice
½ – 1oz of simple syrup or honey
Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Pour into a blender and turn on high until completely blended, pour into a glass, top with soda and garnish with a wheel of lime and pineapple slice, yum!
Hiking in the summer can be arduous but on Vancouver Island, there are many cool forest trails where nearby rivers and rushing waterfalls cool you off, even on the hottest day!
If you’re looking for icy majestic waterfalls and lush, green forest trails near an EMR Victoria Property, Goldstream Provincial Park is where you’ll want to go. With easy to moderate trails and an incredible suspension bridge, this park is the perfect place to get some exercise without overheating!
With 50 kilometres of forest trails from easy walks to difficult climbs, this park at the edge of the Pacific Ocean is a great place to get outside in the height of the summer heat. You can hike and swim all in one place!
If you’re looking for a jaw dropping, spiritual experience and a way to cool off in the outdoors, Cathedral Grove is it. With towering Douglas firs that are almost 1000 years old, a canopy as high as a skyscraper and lush, bright green mossy undergrowth, Cathedral Grove is an incredible and rare place.
If you love spelunking, this is the park for you! With some of the best caves to explore in Canada, Horne Lake offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore some natural caves no matter your age or ability! Plus, no matter how hot it is outside, the caves at Horne Lake are always nice and cool – it’s the perfect place to explore on a hot summer day.
Summer on Vancouver Island is a special time of year for so many reasons. Paddleboard or kayak from one of the many beaches, get out into the water and search for marine life, spend a relaxing day on the beach, wander around downtown and browse the incredible local boutiques, visit heritage sites and learn more about Victoria’s history or spend the day hiking along the shoreline or through ancient forests in one of our many pristine parks – there is no end to the amount of activities that you can fill our sun-soaked days with. After a busy day, it is so nice to spend the warm summer evenings relaxing and what better way to relax than by watching the sunset over the water while you enjoy an incredible meal on a patio. There are lots of restaurant options here on the Lower Island, so we’ve made a handy list of the best ones to catch one of our stunning sunsets and taste some truly incredible cuisine.
1528 Whiffin Spit Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0T4
Located in one of the top-rated hotels on Vancouver Island, the Sooke Harbour House Hotel is one-of-a-kind. The dining room has an up-scale rustic west-coast design that is both cozy and refined. Here you can find fine dining service and elegant dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that really give you the unique qualities of the West Coast on a plate. Located right on the edge of the water in Sooke, it’s one of the best places on Vancouver Island to catch the sunset. With unobstructed views that look right out onto the open ocean, the sunsets here are breathtaking.
6929 W Coast Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 0V1
This beautiful, waterfront restaurant, located in the Prestige Oceanfront Resort is West Coast elegance at its finest. Here guests can enjoy incredibly fresh, elevated seafood dishes on the terrace that overlooks the Sooke Basin and the shores of East Sooke. Sitting on the terrace, you can sip wine, dine on delicious food and watch the sun go down.
643 Latoria Rd, Victoria, BC V9C 3A3
At Olympic View Golf Club, you’ll find Table Nineteen, the highly anticipated expansion of the five star restaurant brand from Whistler. This stunning new addition to the Sooke dining scene provides guests with high-end, modern interior design, friendly, professional service and dishes made with thoughtfully selected, local, ethical ingredients and fun house-made twists that are approachable and delicious. With a patio that overlooks the beautiful course, you won’t have oceanfront seating, but you can certainly bask in peace and quiet, enjoy an incredible meal and watch the sky change colour.
308 Catherine St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S8
Spinnakers is a long-time local favourite for good reason. This hardworking brewpub doesn’t just make some of the most amazing beer, it also serves up some of the best elevated pub classics in Victoria and is located right on the beautiful Songhees water way. While you’re staying downtown Victoria, if you’re looking for a laid back meal on a great patio to watch the sun go down, Spinnakers is a great option. From your front door, you can walk across the Johnson Street bridge right onto the Songhees walkway, a path that takes you along the water’s edge right to Spinnakers. It’s a gorgeous walk in the sun and stunning at night where you can see the Inner Harbour lit up across the water.
100 Harbour Rd, Victoria, BC V9A 0G1
Located right on the water, this lovely restaurant has one of the best patios in the city, hands down. With elegant, laid back decor, and incredible menu items, extensive cocktail, wine and beer lists, and one of the best water views, if you’re looking for a way to end the day in style, Lure is a great option, especially if you are a guest at an EMR rental downtown Victoria. Just a ten-minute walk across the Johnson Street bridge will take you to this incredible restaurant and the walk back, through the warm peaceful downtown evening is a great way to finish a summer day in Victoria.
680 Montreal St, Victoria, BC V8V 1Z8
On the edge of James Bay down a little pedestrian pathway right on the edge of the water you’ll find the upscale AURA restaurant. Specializing in small plates style dining, AURA focuses on sourcing “farm-direct” ingredients for their global-inspired dishes while offering unique cocktails, excellent wine lists and the best local beer. On this patio, you’ll have fun ordering plates to share, sipping cocktails and watching the sun set over the Inner Harbour.
799 Verdier Ave, Central Saanich, BC V8M 1C5
For fun, casual food, panoramic views and incredibly friendly service, Seahorses Cafe should be your next stop near Sidney! Kick back on their waterfront patio and enjoy delicious comfort food like burgers, soups and salads, cafe classics and wraps.
849 Verdier Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1C5
Located in the renowned Brentwood Bay Resort, this restaurant makes fine dining easy with their ever-changing menu. Using only the best local ingredients, the Arbutus Room provides guests with incredibly fresh and exciting dishes on their elegant waterfront patio. With the set menu, you simply choose your dishes, and sit back to sip your potable and watch the sailboats drift along the water.
11190 Chalet Rd, North Saanich, BC V8L 5M1
For a special dining experience, you won’t find anything more elegant on the Peninsula than the highly celebrated Deep Cove Chalet. The French inspired cuisine made with high quality, fresh local ingredients is sure to impress even the most discerning of diners. With impeccable white linen clad tables on the patio that provide a stunning, front-row seat to the marvellous summer sunsets, this is the perfect place for a special evening.
The west coast of Canada has long been known for its incredible beaches and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is no exception! Whether you go north, south, east or west, you’re sure to find some of the most stunning beaches in the world. From remote windswept beaches to enormous shorelines, on Vancouver Island there are hundreds of absolutely stunning beaches to explore and enjoy! Soak up the sun, surf, swim in the refreshing saltwater, make sandcastles, kayak, paddleboard, spot majestic orcas, minke and grey whales from the shores and so much more! If you’re looking for the very best beaches on Vancouver Island, we’ve got you covered! Check out our list of favourite beaches and get out there!
Nestled in the charming town of Tofino, these beautiful Canadian beaches are a haven for surfers and windsurfing enthusiasts who travel here from far and wide! With pristine sands and incredible waves reminiscent of Hawaii’s shores is a coastal paradise that leaves a lasting impression! Overlooking the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, these mesmerizing beaches in Tofino offer visitors the perfect place for thrilling surfing adventures and unforgettable moments!
Photo credit: Greg Vaughn
Tucked between Tofino and Ucluelet on the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park, Long Beach epitomizes the spirit of the wild west coast. Surfers flock to its legendary waves, while beach enthusiasts delight in its soft sand and sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean. This expansive beach is the perfect place to enjoy the freshest ocean breezes and beachcomb as you wander along its seemingly endless expanse. With its awe-inspiring beauty and invigorating ambiance, Long Beach embodies the essence of Vancouver Island’s renowned surf culture, making it an absolute must-visit destination for both locals and travellers!
Follow a scenic hiking trail from the parking lot through lush greenery to reach the magical shores of Mystic Beach. This compact, gray-sand beach along the Juan De Fuca Marine Trail boasts a unique charm, with a cascade gracefully pouring over sheer cliffs. Located near Jordan River, it offers a serene and secluded retreat for nature enthusiasts seeking a tranquil coastal experience.
This tranquil beach offers a serene escape when you’re staying near Sooke. With a forested walking trail that takes you from the parking lot to the beach and a wide sandy beach with views of Washington to enjoy, whether you’re paddleboarding, kayaking, or simply basking in the sun, China Beach is a stunning place to bask in the beauty of the west coast.
A family favourite, French Beach offers visitors a playground, picnic table and a beautiful pebbly beach to enjoy. Here, you can spend many hours enjoying the fresh air, playing in the waves, climbing the driftwood, and finding beautiful stones and shells – it’s perfect for a family day out!
Discover the untamed beauty of San Josef Bay, nestled within the Cape Scott Provincial Park. This remote beach is a paradise for hikers, boasting captivating trails that lead to its pristine shores. With its white sand and blue waters, San Josef Bay offers a stunning, remote coastal experience.
Located on Hornby Island, Tribune Bay is an idyllic beach with white sand and crystal-clear waters. The only access to Hornby Island is via two ferries: one from Vancouver Island to Denman Island and then from Denman Island to Hornby Island. While it is quite the journey to get here, this remote beach is worth it!
Photo credit: WR Foster
Located in the gorgeous little resort town of Parksville, Rathtrevor Beach is the perfect beach on the east coast to do some serious beach exploration. At low tide, you can walk for kilometres along the sand, beachcomb and see the creatures in tidal pools! This is the perfect beach for families with kids because the immense stretch of sand and warm, shallow water means that you can have a stress-free beach experience! Whether you’re staying right in Parksville or in nearby Nanaimo, this beach is a must!
Experience the magic of low tide at Kye Bay, nestled on the shoes of Comox. This beach has a mixture of pebbles and soft sand and offers a wonderland of tidal pools, perfect for beachcombing and exploration! With its peaceful ambiance and stunning vistas, Kye Bay is a coastal haven that invites you to embrace the beauty of nature’s rhythms.
Nestled in one of Victoria’s most picturesque neighbourhoods, Willows Beach is one of the best beaches in the city. It’s an ideal spot for beginners to paddleboard or launch a kayak and it is one of the most popular windsurfing spots in the summer! With stunning views and soft sand to sunbathe on, Willows is by far one of the best places in Victoria to spend a sunny, summer day!
Photo credit: Featured Image Sharon Glynn
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!
