Vancouver for Kids

Vancouver is a fantastic family destination, especially for young or first time travelers. It is a welcoming, modern city whose culture will be familiar enough to put your children at ease, while offering them a taste of a world outside of what they typically experience. When traveling to any destination with kids, it can be daunting to pick family-friendly activities and distractions. Here are a few ideas and places that make traveling to Vancouver with kids a pleasure.

An Afternoon in Stanley Park

Located downtown, Stanley Park is lush, 1,000-acre paradise that is one of the city's most popular attractions. It offers a variety of outdoor activities and distractions, making it one of the best sights to see in Vancouver for kids. The park features a 5.5 mile path along the sea wall, which offers fantastic views of the water, so rent a few bikes and burn off a little excess energy. You can also play a round of golf at the park's 18-hole course, or a game of putt putt if your kids aren't quite ready for the links. Afterwards, head out for a lunchtime picnic, or enjoy a meal at one of the park's three restaurants. Stanley Park's other must-see sights include the Children's Farmyard, which is a great petting zoo with llamas, goats, and ponies, and the Vancouver Aquarium, which is the largest aquarium in Canada.

Explore the Vancouver Aquarium

If you don't have time to explore all of Stanley Park, make sure you at least venture into the Vancouver Aquarium. One of the top attractions in Vancouver for kids, it is home to more than 70,000 creatures, including dolphins, sea turtles beluga whales, and sea lions. Call ahead to register for an up-close encounter with these animals, which makes any trip to Vancouver for kids unforgettable.

Grouse Mountain

Head to Grouse Mountain for a family-oriented outdoor adventure. The hiking trails are up the mountain easy enough for many kids, and the views are incredible. The real stars are the famous Grouse Mountain SkyRide and the lumberjack show. The SkyRide is the continent's largest aerial tramway, operating every 15 minutes to shuttle its passengers up 2,700 feet in an exciting 12-minute ride. What makes this one of the best attractions in Vancouver for kids is the chance for them to pick out all kinds of wildlife form this bird's eye view. You'll get to see everything from gray wolves to eagles and falcons, which might be soaring up the mountain along with you. The lumberjack show will excite older kids, especially those ranging from 5-10. It is a 45-minute demonstration of lumberjack skills and games, including log rolling, axe throwing, tree climbing, and competitive sawing. You may find that one of the best souvenirs in Vancouver for kids (or at least any who have seen the lumberjack show) is a red flannel workshirt. British Columbia has is a natural beauty, and it should be no surprise that Vancouver offers fun outdoor activities for kids of all ages.

A Day at Kitsilano Beach

Whether it is summertime or winter, Kitsilano Beach is one of the best places in Vancouver for kids. In the summer, its soft, golden sand offers a welcome retreat for a relaxing day in the sun. It's only minutes from downtown, so it is a popular hangout amongst locals as well. If you have teenagers, Kitsilano Beach is great for meeting new friends. There are around ten tennis courts at the beach, as well as a few basketball courts, so bring your racquet or ball and have some family fun.

Search for Vancouver hotels.