For $5,even though only the natural history component of the BC museum was open, we loved it and spent a couple hours thoroughly investigating it. (it was the most rainy of the time we spent in Canada Dec 1-10) The gift shop was lovely as well! It looks like they are rebuilding an exhibit - we saw some activity behind the curtains - but I understand not everyone might appreciate the current limitations of the museum.

One of our favorite places? Little Qualicum cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm https://www.cheeseworks.ca/our-farm You can explore the dairy farm, hang out with the cows, buy cheese and other things, including fresh milk! We had tried to go to an animal rescue but they were closed due to ice. We were chatting with a woman who visits the dairy every week with her kids (to get milk, see the cows etc) and she said they're always icy and would be closed all week due to that weather pattern, so we never did get there :-(

In Victoria, we did get to Butchart gardens (was a harrowing drive back to the hotel for a bit - VERY dark, curvy and somewhat icy roads we were totally unfamiliar with) Alas Craigdarragh castle was closed the entire time we were in Victoria :-(