Staying active outdoors in Oak Bay

We love having our clinic in Oak Bay, and want to share some of our favourite spots to work out, eat, drink, and shop. It’s one of our favourite communities to hang out in the Victoria area. Everything is within walking distance, and you’re surrounded by the ocean.

Biking

One of the nicest bike rides you can take in Victoria is along Beach Drive. It starts up in Cadboro Bay, goes along Willows Beach, then past Oak Bay Marina. The road changes names a few times before turning into Dallas Road by the Ross Bay Cemetery. From there, you can continue on all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf and then downtown. There are relatively few major intersections along the way but a fair number of hills, resulting in a good mix of scenic coasting and uphill cardio.

In general, Oak Bay is a very safe place to bike with kids. There are tons of little streets and laneways, and roads are generally well paved. For more info, the District of Oak Bay has a cycling route map available online. Be sure to adjust your bicycle first!

Running

We never get bored of jogging in Oak Bay. You don’t have to take the exact same route twice and can meander through the small streets and charming laneways between blocks. The architecture is so varied that you might not even notice the time passing — there are too many beautiful homes and gardens to check out.

If you’re training, try King George Terrace. It’s a big hill so it really gets the heart-rate up!

Walking

One of our favourite recommendations for a family is to check out Anderson Hill Park. It offers a native plant garden and views of the Trial Islands. It’s off-leash in some seasons, if you have a dog, and if you have kids, they will love running around finding garter snakes.

Windsor Park is off-leash on one side, but only for certain hours each day (be sure to check the signage). It’s a good spot to meet up with other dog owners, and there’s a playground as well.

Uplands Park is bigger than you’d think and filled with criss-crossing paths. A few areas are currently being restored to replace invasive species with native plants. As that work continues, it will become more and more of a natural ecosystem. It’s located across from cattle point, so you can get some gorgeous ocean views.

The District of Oak Bay also has a handy guide to local walking trails.

Before you go

Take steps to avoid injuries, no matter your level of activity and experience. Prevention is the best medicine, whether it be a sprained ankle or runner’s knee.

If you want some support to make sure your training regimen is right for you, book an appointment for personalized running analysis and coaching.