The metropolitan area is home to a diverse population of over 2.3 million residents who take full advantage of the entertainment options offered in this spectacular coastal location. Vancouver has it all: beaches and mountains, close proximity to world-class resort areas like nearby Whistler, plenty of outdoor recreation and green spaces, and sophisticated city pursuits with a variety of museums, art galleries, concert and theater venues, clubs, a lively nightlife and fabulous dining.
Beauty is all around you at 1000 acre Stanley Park, the perfect family playground in the city! With the beach along its shoreline boating is an ever-popular park entertainment, but kids will also love swimming in the heated ocean-fed pool or taking part in the thrill of the special Kiddie Driving Lessons offered at the park. You can wander through the Children’s Farmyard or simply relax and enjoy a leisurely outdoor meal in one of the picnic areas dotting the park. There are trails for walking, biking, and rollerblading under sheltering canopies of lush foliage.
Looking for something with more of an edge? Near to the city, Grouse Mountain offers an exciting Skyride that provides a panoramic view of the Vancouver skyline and the Pacific Ocean. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a short 20 minute drive from town. This engineering marvel stretches 450 feet across a river gorge, and the park there provides guided nature tours, a living forest exhibit, and the super-fun Kids Rainforest Explorer Program. Hop on the Aquabus for a ride to Granville Island to sample one of the programs at the many kid-inspired art schools, or wander through the stalls at the Children’s Market.
Vancouver is surrounded by water, so take advantage of the miles of beaches or one of the water outfitters that offer kayaking and canoeing, windsurfing or rafting activities.
One of the coolest Vancouver destinations for kids is Science World at Telus World of Science. Interactive games and incredible exhibits fascinate both children and adults. Let your preschooler join the Discovery Lab for age-appropriate science experiments or discover the fun of learning in the Preschool Curiosity Club where hour-long classes make science exciting. The smallest visitors…aged 2 through 6, will be engaged by Kidspace in a 4-theme program that teaches them about water, light, color and movement. Older kids can explore the giant Lego castle or meet life-sized and slightly scary prehistoric creatures at the awesome Extreme Dinosaur exhibit.
Daily educational talks are informative but fun at the Vancouver Aquarium, where children can see the beluga whale show or watch the sea otters being fed. Themed events and displays help kids understand more about marine life and the vast world of living creatures making their homes beneath the nearby sea.
