I flew to Vancouver with two children under five-years-old and my partner, and felt immediatly like I was at home. Something about the city felt familiar to me. The ocean, the cityscape, and mountains – all of these things are so dear to my heart and exactly what I love about the Pacific Northwest.
I was excited to bring my toddler on her first international trip to British Columbia, Canada, and even more excited to explore the mountains of this modern city with my partner and preschooler.
Here is how we spent a four-day weekend trip in Vancouver with our family:
The land that is now known as the City of Vancouver is home to many Indigenous peoples and is the traditional territory of three nations – the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples
Before you go
- How to get there: We flew into Vancouver (YVR), but you can also fly into Bellingham, Washington, USA, located just a one-hour drive south of the city.
- Rent a car: 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.
- 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. Click here for our faves.
- 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. Click here for our faves.
5 Awesome Things to do in Vancouver, Canada with Kids
1. Walk Across the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is home to a 450-foot long suspension bridge, a treetops adventure, a glass-bottomed walkway above a river canyon, restaurants, and miles of trails, with a kid-friendly scavenger hunt activity to tie it all together.
Check out our blog post for more information.
2. See the Bears at Grouse Mountain
A one-mile gondola ride will take your family up the side of Grouse Mountain, the self-proclaimed highest peak of Vancouver, to an outdoor tourist destination, complete with a tree canopy adventure, a grizzly encounter, a lumberjack show, fun hiking trails, and delicious food options.
Read more about our adventures on Grouse Mountain here.
3. Wander through North Vancouver's Lonsdale District
North Vancouver’s Lonsdale district is located just across the water from downtown Vancouver.
Walk along the water to see stunning views of the city skyline and massive cargo ships moving along the international port.
Take a short drive, train, or SeaBus ferry from downtown Vancouver to see what this up-and-coming neighborhood is all about.
Read more about our time in the Lonsdale District here.
4. Visit the Science Museum
Science World is an amazing science museum for kids of all ages. It is a little overwhelming, with multiple floors of science exhibits and demonstrations, and a large outdoor space with a garden and play structure.
Getting here was challenging because parking was very hard to find. Visit this website for more transportation options to avoid the parking fiasco.
Our kids loved the science demonstrations held throughout the day, while I loved the exhibit about the Indigenous canoe journey and finding our tribe on map! I also loved that Indigenous peoples are free to enter, every day. So cool!
If you’re not Indigenous, tickets are free for kids 0-2, CAN $22.50 for kids 3-12, CAN $26.75 for youth 13-18, and CAN $33.20 for adults 19+.
5. Eat at Granville Island Public Market
I love public markets!
Granville Island Public Market is a huge indoor market with many food and produce stores and delicious restaurants to try. Set right on the water, underneath a beautiful bridge, Granville Island Public Market offers something for everyone.
I loved my savory pie from Ala Mode, my partner enjoyed fish and chips, and my kids devoured their donuts from Lee’s Donuts. There were lots of seating options inside and out, but many seats inside were taken.
Parking was also really hard to find. We had to park about a 15-minute walk from the market, which ended up being a lot for the littles at the end of our visit. I would recommend you take public transportation if you can.
I would also recommend you avoid the Kids Market unless you want to go shopping for kids’ toys, art supplies, costumes, clothing, stuffed animals, etc.
6. Stay in North Vancouver
North Vancouver, located just across the strait from downtown Vancouver, was a calm respite from the business of the city.
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.
Vancouver was a beautiful city, full of stunning views of blue ocean and tall mountains, and family friendly activities enjoyed by families of all shapes and sizes. I met so many families from different parts of the world, some tourists and some locals, all making this city feel safe and welcoming to families like mine.
Since accessing downtown Vancouver was tricky for our family via car, I plan on using more public transportation on our next trip to the area, or maybe just staying out of downtown! We loved the low-key vibe of Northern Vancouver, so much so I could even imagine living there.
We found local BIPOC families and tourists all enjoying the sunshine on the beautiful fall day we visited and felt right at home.
But then again, I haven’t been to Vancouver in the winter…and this California girl can only handle so much snow.
Have you ever traveled to a place and felt at home? Share in the comments below!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Vancouver, Canada with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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