Top 6 Things to Do in the Lonsdale District in North Vancouver with kids
If you’re planning a trip to Vancouver with kids, don’t miss the Lonsdale District in North Vancouver. We decided to base our family trip here in the fall so we could be closer to the mountains and outdoor adventures — while still being just a short drive from downtown. Our Airbnb was within walking distance of Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver’s vibrant main strip, where shops and restaurants line the road all the way down to Vancouver Harbour, with jaw-dropping views of the Vancouver city skyline across the water.
What started as a single afternoon exploring the Lonsdale District turned into multiple visits — we kept coming back for the food, the waterfront, the parks, and the neighbourhood’s rich, layered history. Whether you’re staying in North Vancouver or basing yourself downtown, spending at least one full day exploring Lower Lonsdale with kids is something I’d recommend to every family visiting the area.
This guide covers everything you need to know: how to get there, the best things to do in North Vancouver with kids, where to eat, the Indigenous history of the land, and why this up-and-coming neighbourhood might just be the highlight of your Vancouver family trip.
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Jump To...
- Why Visit Vancouver with Kids
- Getting there
- Quick Tips (When to visit, before you go, what to pack)
- Base Cost
- Where to Stay in Vancouver with kids
- Visit Lonsdale Quay Market
- Walk along the oceanfront
- Play at the Shipyards
- Catch the Seabus
- Stroll through Waterfront Park
- Grab a beer at La Cervecería Astilleros
- Try Parlour Ice Cream
Why Visit Lonsdale District in Vancouver with Kids
North Vancouver is a wonderful family-friendly destination to:
Our Experience
- Destination: Vancouver, Canada
- age of our kids: 2 & 5 years
- Length of stay: 3 Days
- time of year: October
Quick Tips
When To Visit
July and August are the best months to visit Vancouver with kids. This is when the city is at its most reliably sunny and warm (averaging 22°C/72°F), all outdoor attractions are fully operational, the beaches are swimmable, the Richmond Night Market is running, and Stanley Park’s water park and miniature train are in full swing. The long daylight hours — often until 9pm — give families extra time to explore.
June and September are excellent runner-up months. Crowds and prices drop noticeably compared to peak summer, the weather is still generally pleasant, and most family attractions remain open. September in particular has a reputation among locals as the best month in Vancouver — warm, dry, and golden.
We travelled to Vancouver in October – a perfect fall period with cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and beautiful fall leaves.
Before You go
- Possess valid passports
- Check the State Department’s travel advisories
- Plan to walk a lot. Bring a stroller or child carrier for little ones, and lots of snacks to keep your kids motivated along the journey.
- Bookmark sites in Google Maps or Wanderlog and download offline maps
- Buy an e-sim to save on cellphone roaming costs
What To Pack
- Passports
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Plane ride essentials
- Travel carseat
- Umbrella stroller, if needed
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, if needed
- Bring clothes for the outdoors. If you plan to go into the mountains in North Vancouver, dress for a day in the wilderness, with hats, layers, and comfortable shoes.
Costs
| Item | base cost |
|---|---|
| Accomodations | $150/night |
| Airfaire | $100-300/ person |
| Seabus tickets | Free ages 0-12 | $4.25 ages 13+ | $10 all day pass |
| Add-Ons | |
| Checked bags | $30/ bag/flight |
| Shopping and souvenirs | $50 |
Getting There
We flew into Vancouver (YVR) from Oakland, California. We have also flown into Bellingham, Washington, USA, located just a one-hour drive south of the city, and cross the border in a rental car. The border crossing was quick and easy.
We rented a car, but be aware that street parking is hard to find in Vancouver. Try to take public transportation! Like the Seabus or metro.
The Lonsdale District is located in North Vancouver, just across the water from downtown Vancouver.
travel
Stay in the Lonsdale District of North Vancouver
North Vancouver, located just across the strait from downtown Vancouver, was a calm respite from the business of the city.
Great for clean accommodations in a calm neighborhood | $$
- Kitchen
- Free street parking
- Near mountain activities
My family booked a vacation rental in North Vancouver, within walking distance of Lonsdale Ave, the main business district, and close to parks and playgrounds.
Staying in North Vancouver meant that we were closer to the outdoor activities that make Vancouver such a gorgeous city, like Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain.
History Corner
Vancouver sits on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, who never signed a treaty surrendering their lands and retain legal title to this territory today. What is now Stanley Park was once a thriving Indigenous village whose residents were forcibly displaced in 1859.
Vancouver’s identity was shaped — often against fierce resistance — by communities of color. Chinese workers built the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s. South Asian Sikh immigrants followed, only to be stripped of voting rights by 1907. In 1858, nearly 800 free Black Californians relocated to British Columbia seeking refuge from racial hostility, eventually building Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighborhood — a vibrant hub of Black culture, music, and food. Its most famous resident was Nora Hendrix, grandmother of Jimi Hendrix. The neighborhood was demolished in the 1960s to make way for a freeway.
Today, the Hogan’s Alley Society is working to restore a cultural center on the original site — a powerful story to share with your kids before you visit.
Our Experience
We found local BIPOC families and tourists all enjoying the sunshine on the beautiful fall day we visited and felt right at home.
Learn More
- Find out more about the Musqueam
- Read about the Tslei-Waututh Nation
- Learn about Squamish community
- Donate to the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
- Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Top Family-Friendly Activities in the Lonsdale District of NorthVancouver
Visit Lonsdale Quay Market
Great to support local produce and restaurants
- Free
- 3+ Hours
Lonsdale Quay Market offered everything I love about food halls – lots of delicious food options so everyone in my family can have what they want, and ample local produce stands to satisfy my fruit-loving kids.
The market is located just to the west of the Seabus terminal, right on the waterfront.
Since 1986, the market has been a gathering place for visitors and locals to try local cuisine and produce in the large eating hall. We loved the soup from The Soup Meister’s Nephew and the tacos at Cilantro and Jalapeño.
Check out their website for more information on events and farmer’s market times.
Walk along the oceanfront
Great for city views
- Free
- 1+ Hours
Lonsdale Avenue ends at the waterfront, with a beautiful view of downtown Vancouver.
You’ll see quite a few families playing in the open space in front of Lonsdale Ave and the water, letting their kids jump on the rocks and ride their bikes in the safety of the fenced area.
Keep walking east to see stunning views of the city skyline and massive cargo ships moving along the international port.
Play at the Shipyards
Play area, food trucks
- Free
- 3+ Hours
The Shipyards is a cool, historic district located just east of the Lonsdale Quay Market and Lonsdale Avenue along the waterfront. Also known as Lower Lonsdale, this area is North Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, set where ships were built, and where working tugboats are still stored.
In the historic shipyard building you’ll find the Shipyard Commons, a city-run space that is a splash pad in the summer, playground in the spring and fall, and skating rink in the winter.
We visited in fall and had a blast jumping around the structures with the kids. Many families used this space for birthday parties or to enjoy a meal with their kids from the various food trucks and restaurants nearby.
Check the website for family-friendly events and concerts happening year-round.
Catch the Seabus
Great views
- $4.25+/ages 13+ | $10 all-day pass | free for ages 12 & under
- 3+ Hours
The Seabus is a passenger ferry that crosses the Vancouver Harbor from downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay. It can hold up to 395 passengers per 12 minute voyage, and departs every 15 minutes.
The boat ride costs CAN $4.25 per ticket, or CAN $10 per day if you are using other Vancouver public transportation options. Children 12 and under ride free with a paying passenger.
We rode the Seabus between downtown Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay with our two little kids and had a blast. There are plenty of seats, lots of space within the boat to move around, and windows throughout.
Our kids loved watching the cranes lift and place containers onto the giant cargo ships as we passed through the harbor.
Pro-tip: When you line up to catch the next Seabus, be sure to hold your kiddo’s hand. Once the doors to the boat open, people rush inside quickly to grab a seat and a child could easily get lost in the shuffle.
Stroll through Waterfront Park
Great for city views
- Free
- 1+ Hours
Located just a short walk west of the Lonsdale Quay is a large waterfront park, full of outdoor art, grass to run and play, on shady trees, and views of the city.
We brought snacks from the Lonsdale Quay Market and had a picnic in the sun at Waterfront park before we wandered through the Chiba Garden, a beautiful Japanese garden built in tribute to Vancouver’s sister city, Chiba, in Japan.
Our kids enjoyed walking over tiny bridges crossing little streams throughout the gardens.
Grab a beer at La Cervecería Astilleros - aka Shipyards Brewery
BIPOC-owned, delicious food and beer
- Free
- 3+ Hours
La Cervecería Astilleros, also known as The Shipyards Brewery, offers a taste of Mexican beer in BC. BIPOC-owned and operated, this brewery is a great place to bring kids and relax on an outdoor patio.
Make sure to try their sours – so yummy!
Try Parlour Ice Cream
Great for yummy ice cream near a play area
- 30 min
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have ice cream on a beautiful day!
Parlour Ice Cream offered delicious scoops of organic and natural ice cream flavors in the middle of The Shipyards.
Our favorite flavors were caramel and strawberry.
Read on
Check out our children’s book recommendations that feature BIPOC voices to deepen our understanding of the experiences we share together at Bookshop.org.
Final Thoughts
Although we initially chose to stay in North Vancouver to be closer to the mountains, we were happy to discover that it had much more to offer!
The Lonsdale district had a small-town feel even though it was part of the bustling North Vancouver city. We loved strolling the main strip, stopping to hear bands play for folks enjoying their meals at the local restaurants, spying tugboats, learning about the history of the area, and, of course, eating our way through town.
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