Courthouse Playground

Right in the middle of downtown Victoria, this spot genuinely surprises you — it’s a proper playground, not an afterthought. The climbing structure has enough going on to keep older kids busy while the slides and swings cover the toddler crowd, so it actually works for families with a range of ages. A few good shade trees mean you’re not roasting on a bench in July waiting for everyone to be done. It’s well-kept, which isn’t always a given for an urban park, and the rubberized flooring is the kind of thing you appreciate the first time a kid takes a tumble. If you’re spending time in the downtown core with kids in tow, this is the obvious stop.