What Should I Do in Vancouver, Canada

Model train at the Granville Island Model Train Museum in Vancouver BC
Model train at the Granville Island Model Train Museum in Vancouver BC

We are planning a quick weekend getaway to Vancouver, BC.

I've visited enough times with the kids that we have the major attractions covered (and believe me, I can't wait to take them back to the Vancouver Aquarium), but I'd love any tips for great indoor play spaces, local restaurants, and hidden gems that are great with kids.

Have you been to Vancouver? Do you live there? What secret locals-only spots should we visit? Do you have favorite activities on a rainy winter day?

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Vancouver, BC With Kids

8 comments | Posted on January 28, 2009 | Save to del.icio.us

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  1. Helene on January 28, 2009 at 12:16 p.m.

    Hey there,

    I don't have kids but am a big kid at heart and love Vancouver. When I visited last year I used this website a lot for reviews of places to visit and fun things to do from a local's point of view.

    http://www.findfamilyfun.com/

    I was also going to suggest Science World but it looks like you have that covered in the city guide. I would definitely suggest a break at the Cupcake shop.

    http://www.cupcakesonline.com

    I spent lots of afternoons trying the different types and am very sad they don't have one in the UK!

    Hope this helps and have a great time!

  2. pam on January 29, 2009 at 7:08 a.m.

    I can't recall when they reopen, but if the Museum of Anthropology has the dust off and the doors unlocked, go there. I can't confirm or deny, but I've been told that kids go NUTS over the monumental north coast art there. Seriously, the totem poles and carvings are HUGE. I went a little crazy myself.

    Also big fun? The AquaBus, the little shuttles that run across the water. Cute cute cute, cheap, plus they go place you want to go, like Granville Island to the kids market.

  3. Sharlene on January 29, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.

    Have you ever taken the ferry to Victoria, BC? It is such a beautiful place.

  4. helly on January 29, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.

    If you have the right clothing (warm and waterproof), Vancouver has lots of great places to go for walks which are family friendly eg Lynn Canyon, Capilano Suspension Bridge etc and they are only twenty minutes out of town. Lynn Canyon has a suspension Bridge too, and it's a lot less touristy then Capilano.

  5. globalgal on January 30, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.

    The Museum of Anthropology at UBC will be open after March 7th 2009. I am in Vancouver (well, actually Richmond) this week. I was DYING to see the museum and was pretty disappointed to find it closed. If you're here in the Summer, Steveston Village is a pretty nice place. (In Winter, it is a bit windy and quiet.) And of course, I adore the Granville Island Public Market.

  6. Lindsay on February 1, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.

    Get yourselves to The Eatery: http://www.theeatery.ca/# It's a very fun and kid friendly sushi restaurant in Kitsilano. You won't regret it.

  7. jackie on February 3, 2009 at 6:43 a.m.

    I think you've probably already come here ... and gone again ... and while we were in Seattle!? Crazy. Apparently we can't be in the same city at the same time.
    ; )

    For your next trip, consider checking out the Maritime Museum.

    http://living.weelife.com/2008/05/mar...

    You can climb aboard the St. Roch, the first boat to circumnavigate N. America. And there are are loads kid-friendly, interactive things to do including costumes and drawers to explore.

    It's on the little water taxi route so it's easy to get there from Science World or Granville Island. When our little guy still fit in his stroller we would walk back to Granville Island along the beach and seawall. It takes about 30 minutes.

    Being born and raised here ... I ought to have a lot more than that! I will rack my brain a bit and make more contributions to your city guide.

    Fun!

  8. Vancouver Attractions on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 a.m.

    Debbie, check out www.kidsactivitiescastle.com for a comprehensive list of Vancouver attractions that will keep your kids busy anytime of the year.