In an attempt to escape winter, Sandra and I took the kids for a little weekend getaway to Victoria, BC, where we met up with our good friends Bryan and Drew. It has been the getaway we needed, and we are enjoying some outdoor time away from the deep freeze that’s going on in Edmonton. Today we explored the Malahat Skywalk, where we got to take in the sights from 250 meters up in the air.
The skywalk is incredible, and was enjoyed by all four adults and our toddler, with equal enthusiasm. It is a 600 meter boardwalk through the trees, leading to a massive tower that winds up, and up, and up… until you reach a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the ocean and mountains.
We had tried to visit the skywalk yesterday, but we found ourselves a little behind schedule, and wouldn’t have made it before closing (the ticket sales stop at 4:00 p.m.). Today was supposed to be rainy by noon, so we went early to hopefully enjoy visibility before the clouds socked in. It was a little overcast, but the sun was still shining through the clouds, and the moutains were all still visible in the distance. It was a calm, still morning, and the skywalk was not too crowded. All in all, it was the perfect morning to visit.
And to add adventure to our sightseeing excusion, the skywalk showcases its height with a net you can walk on (and look down if you dare), and a giant tube slide you can use as the way down.
The net was intimidating, more because it was physically hard to balance on than because of the height. It was a little hard to see down through the netting, but it still added a little thrill.
The slide was the real highlight. You sit on a little carpet, tuck in your feet, and hang on! It was faster than I expected, and a ton of fun. All four adults in our group loved the slide, and if we didn’t have the kids waiting in the stroller, we probably would have all ridden the slide over and over. Every adult there had a smile on their face at the bottom of the slide. The downside, for us, was that it has a height/age requirement of 42 inches and 5 years old, and our two-year-old was incredibly disappointed to miss out. We were told to come back in 6 weeks, when the playground (with a smaller slide) opens to help curb that disappointment from the little adventurers.
All in all, the skywalk has been one of my highlights of our trip to Victoria so far. At $34.95 per adult (kids under 6 are free), we felt that the excursion may have been a little overpriced, but we also all loved the skywalk, and would 100% return on future trip.
As a family activity, it was fun for adults and children, and the walkway was smooth and wide, making it easy to navigate with the double stroller. It was a fun way to get some physical activity in, and a great way to take in the views that the area offers.