In today’s times, many members of one family live in different cities or even other countries around the world.
Our sweet grandchildren live in London, England, an ocean and more than 7,000 kilometres away. How can we stay in touch and be a part of their lives? We treasure our visits, and travel together, including a weekend trip to Bath, and a cruise on the Thames River. We explore their neighbourhood parks, go for walks, share ice cream, read and do puzzles together.
When they visit us in Victoria, I look for fantastic parks and other activities in the area for us to go to. Gyro Park is a fun place with a sunny beach, pirate treasure island, playground, zipline, climbing ship and gigantic colourful creatures like the Cadborosaurus, octopus and whale.
Other favourite beaches and hikes include Willows Beach, Swan Lake, Beaver Lake, Elk Lake and Witty’s Lagoon. Water parks at Carnarvon, Beckwith, Uptown Mall, Rutledge Park and Esquimalt Adventures never cease to thrill. Several recreation centres have indoor pools and skating rinks. Local libraries offer books, videos and reading programs. There are many workshops in music, art, drama and dance offered in every district.
Beacon Hill Park is a fabulous place with its petting zoo, playground, entertainment, and a giant watering can to cool down under. Downtown has Courthouse Playground, buskers at the Inner Harbour, Miniature World, The Bug Zoo, The Board Game Café, The Puzzle, Quest Reality Games, The Haunted Manor indoor mini golf, the Dino Lab and the Underground Donut Tour.
Imax and The Royal BC Museum offer interesting films and displays. Tally-Ho Carriage Tours, Pedaler Cycling Tour, walking tours, riding on a Victoria Harbour Ferry or a double-decker bus are unique ways to see the city.
For the more adventurous, take a three-hour sail on a tall ship, a Harbour Air flight, a whale watching trip in a zodiac or a hot tub tour (seriously).
History comes alive at the Legislature, the Empress Hotel, Rogers Chocolates, Fan Tan Alley, Chinatown and Craigdarroch Castle.
Festivals delight, including the Highland Games, Awakening Chinatown, the Victoria Day Parade, Oak Bay Tea Party, Canada Day picnics, Symphony Splash and Dragon Boat races. Summer brings many free concerts in parks across the region. Mini-golf courses can be a blast, as well as berry picking and visiting ice cream spots.
On the peninsula, Heritage Acres pioneer village and train are great for exploring, as are Iroquois Spray Park and the Shaw Centre Aquarium in Sidney. The Aviation Museum with gigantic Mars water bomber enchants.
Butterfly Gardens in Brentwood is an exotic experience, and the Country Bee Honey Farm with animals to feed is fun. Famous Butchart Gardens has a merry-go-round, and in the winter, a hunt for the 12 days of Christmas.
Fall fairs like Saanich Fairgrounds and Luxton are popular. Further afield, the Splash Pad at Colwood Creek, Langford’s Glenn Lake Beach Park, Centennial Spray Park and Leigh Place Beach Park are worth the trip. Wild Play on the Island Highway kids zone has ziplines and other fun adventures. The Malahat Skywalk is a family adventure with magnificent views.
When they aren’t visiting you, Zoom is a great way to interact with children far away, hear their giggles and watch them grow. I’ve made quilts and sent toys, books, cards, birthday banners and Christmas stockings. Special t-shirts, hats and shoes, even things I’ve saved from their mother’s childhood, make welcome gifts.
I’ve made my grandchildren a photo album of our family. Now, I’m writing stories in a keepsake book my daughter gifted me. Each page has envelopes with questions that you answer in letter form.
We can’t always live close to our grandchildren, but we can bridge the distance with creativity, care and connection to show them how much they are loved.
