Vancouver Tours for Families
- Vancouver City Highlights: 4-Hour Tour
- Vancouver & Capilano Suspension Bridge Sightseeing
- Vancouver Tour by Seaplane
- Vancouver Orca Watching Safari
The 11 Best Things To Do With Kids in Vancouver
1. Explore Stanley Park
The largest park in Vancouver contains many well-known attractions. Places like the aquarium, seawall, outdoor pool and waterpark are located within Stanley Park. However, even after exploring those areas, there is still more to see such as a miniature train, several playgrounds, and walking paths crisscrossing through the park creating opportunities for escape from city commotion. The entire day can easily be spent enjoying everything within Stanley Park.
2. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium
Contained within Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium features an assortment of youth welcoming creature attractions. The dolphins, beluga whales, and jellyfish are among the most popular with guests. Exhibitions, talks, and feeding periods are scattered all through the day so check the daily schedule on the web or as soon as you walk through the entrances.
3. Explore Science World
This science center for children is among the better options we`ve visited. Science World has numerous hands-on exhibits, enjoyable demonstrations, unusual and amusing apparatus, and ample to captivate kids for 3-4 hours. Check the website for special exhibits — one of our visits included an interactive Lego setup. And arrive early as it can become very crowded — particularly in summertime. The science center sits directly on the Seawall path and is one block west of the Main Street stop on the Skytrain. There is also a very pleasant playground just steps north of the center.
4. Capilano and Lynn Valley Suspension Bridges
A truly Dutch and highly effective means of navigation throughout Amsterdam involves the usage of a bakfiets, or freight bicycle. (“Bakfiet” literally translates to “container bicycle.”) They can be leased in many locations across the city, and your children will adore this mode of transportation. Bicycle routes exist everywhere, and motor vehicles are quite accustomed to all the bicycles around, so it remains as safe as possible. You can simply leave them in a corner on the sidewalk if you’re entering somewhere, but make sure to secure them well
5. Investigate the Space Museum
The H. R. Macmillan Space Museum is found in an excellent location in Vanier Park — nestled between Granville Island and Kitsilano Beach along the Seawall path. I wouldn’t propose journeying out of your way specifically to see this one, but if you were looking for an indoor activity to keep the kids entertained for a couple hours this may fit the situation. The movies shown in the Planetarium are delightful and the talks presented by staff on various topics stand out as highlights of a visit (obtain a schedule upon entering). The exhibits are fun yet truly need an upgrade.
6. Walk the Seawall
Surrounding Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, Granville island, and stretching to Kitsilano beach is an extensive 22km paved route known as the Seawall. It is a popular area for running, jogging, walking, cycling, and inline skating. The smooth path makes it suitable for strollers and offers scenic views while passing numerous parks, playgrounds, eateries, cafes, and museums, creating an enjoyable walk on pleasant days.
7. Swim and Play at Kitsilano Beach
One of the city`s most pleasant shorelines, Aquabus (not to be confused with the SeaBus mentioned above) is a small vessel that calls at multiple spots encircling False Creek like Granville Island, Science World, Yaletown, David Lam Park, and the Vancouver Aquatic Center. Passengers can buy one way tickets, return, and full day passes. It’s an amusing, low-cost, and speedy method to move between the primary sights bordering False Creek. Kayaks can be leased at Vancouver Water Adventures on Granville Island and offer an equally spectacular way to explore the aqueous parts of downtown Vancouver.
9. Play at the Kids Market on Granville Island
This attraction provides a decent visit for a rainy afternoon, though it may be a bit much for small children. A large 3 story structure filled with ladders, slides, and balls is the focal point — but it can overwhelm kids under 4 years old. The Kids Market essentially functions as a big arcade with shops, games, and treats. If looking for a kid-friendly activity while exploring Granville Island, this venue or the nearby Model train museum could fit the bill.
10. Ride the Skytrain
The elevated SkyTrain courses through the city from Downtown to the east along 2 separate routes — and south to the airport and Richmond on the newest line. It doesn’t reach very many attractions likely to interest families but it presents an enjoyable experience as most of the track hovers above urban streets. Your best option is probably a ride either to the Science Center (which will end sooner than anticipated) or a longer trip out to John Hendry Park and the trendy Commercial Drive neighborhood, or farther still to Metrotown Mall. A $9.00 daily pass ($7.00 for kids and seniors, children 4 and under ride free) affords riders access to the 3 SkyTrain lines, all municipal buses, and the SeaBus to the North Shore
11. Swim and Play at an Outdoor Swimming Pool or Waterpark
There are 2 outdoor pools accessible to the public — the 2nd Beach Pool located in Stanley Park and the Kitsilano Pool at Kits Beach. There are fantastic water parks as well — with water projections, canons, and geysers — on Granville Island and the north side of Stanley Park.
