Goldstream Provincial Park

Located about 10 miles northwest of Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park houses a stunning array of flora and abundant natural beauty. But the real reason to visit this public wildlife area is rather fishy: Spend some time by the Goldstream River during the winter months, and you're bound to catch a glimpse of the annual salmon migration. Between October and December, chum, coho and chinook salmon can be seen leaping upstream to  their ancestral spawning beds. The park's trails follow the river closely, allowing you to get a good look at the watery highway.

Before you make a beeline for the river, consider stopping first at the Freeman King Visitor Centre. The center offers educational programs on the annual salmon migration. And even if you're not planning a winter trip to Vancouver Island, recent travelers say that massive cedar trees and rumbling waterfalls make the park a must-see attraction at any time of year. But a word of warning from one TripAdvisor user: "Wear shoes with good traction."

Goldstream Provincial Park is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and the visitor's center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the park's website for more information.