Family-Friendly
Every parent knows the secret to a successful family vacation: You've got to wear the kids out. Channel their boundless energy into hands-on fun, and you'll all be in vacation-land bliss. Luckily, Vancouver has an almost endless number of family-friendly activities. And chances are you just might have some fun, too.
First of all, there's the great outdoors. Vancouver has nearly a dozen urban beaches, including Kitsilano, which boasts white sand, brisk ocean water and Canada's longest swimming pool. In the winter, cross over to the city's North Shore, home to three world-class ski mountains, which feature challenging runs, as well as snow-tube parks for non-skiers. And year-round Stanley Park, Vancouver's 1,000-acre central park, is a great place for a quick trek through West Coast forests or an easy bike ride around the seawall, the waterfront promenade. Finally, little daredevils will want to check out the Capilano Suspension Bridge a wobbly (but perfectly safe) span suspended 230 feet above the Capilano River.
When it's raining outside, bring the kids indoors to one of the city's interactive museums. Science World, housed in a gleaming geodesic dome, has hands-on exhibits on science and technology, plus an IMAX theatre. At the Vancouver Aquarium - Canada's largest - kids can touch the starfish, admire the sea otters and marvel at the big white belugas. Space exploration is the theme at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, while old ships and all things nautical are on display at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. To really spoil the kids, take them to Playland, an urban amusement park on the edge of the city featuring the famous - and terrifying - Wooden Roller Coaster.
Finally, the highlight of the year for lots of local youngsters and parents is the Vancouver International Children's Festival each May. Up to 50,000 visitors pour in for a week of theatre, music, dance and acrobatics for kids ages 3-12, all staged in tents on waterfront Granville Island.
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June 15 - June 16
- Vancouver Playhouse
- 600 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2P1
- Admission: $25.00/$20.00
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Contact:
Christina Florencio
- Phone: 604-618-7919
- Venue: Vancouver Playhouse
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August 10 - August 11
- Several Venues Across New Westminster
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Contact:
Van Dop and Associates
- Phone: 604-521-7887
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June 16 - June 16
- 6871 Roberts St.
Burnaby, BC
- Admission: $35.00 register at www.walktolive.ca
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Contact:
Prostate Cancer Foundation BC
- Phone: 604-574-4012
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May 26 - May 26
- HMCS Discovery, Stanley Park
- 1200 Stanley Park Drive
Vancouver, BC V6G 3C7
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Contact:
Vancouver Police Foundation
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June 02 - June 02
- W 33rd Ave & Heather St
Vancouver, BC
- Admission: Registration & Donations
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Contact:
Event Organizer
- Phone: 6048752345ext5437
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August 16 - August 18
- Vancouver Convention Centre East building
- 999 Canada Place Way
Vancouver, BC V6C 3C1
- Admission: $25.00-$200.00
- Venue: Vancouver Convention Centre
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November 28 - December 28
- Granville Island Stage
- 1585 Johnston St
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
- Venue: Arts Club Theatre Company - Granville Island Stage
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November 07 - January 05
- Stanley Alliance Industrial Stage
- 2750 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J3
- Venue: Arts Club Theatre Company - Stanley Alliance Industrial Stage
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May 25 - May 25
- 149 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4
- Admission: $35.00 (Adults) / $30.00 (Students & Seniors)
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Contact:
Pirouz Ebadypour
- Phone: 604-767-5522
- Venue: SFU Meeting, Event and Conference Services - Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
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July 06 - July 07
- VanDusen Botanical Garden
- 5251 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1
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Contact:
Tiffney Hsieh
- Phone: 604-695-5001
- Venue: VanDusen Botanical Garden
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December 02
- Essentia
- 2144 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6
- Admission: Free
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Contact:
Angelo
- Phone: 604-738-0321
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July 05 - July 07
- Waterfront Park Kelowna
- 1200 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P3
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Contact:
WetApe Productions
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June 01 - June 02
- Vancouver International Children's Festival Activity Zone
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March 23 - June 17
- Stanley Park Miniature Train
- Stanley Park
Vancouver, BC
- Venue: Stanley Park Miniature Train
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December 11 - December 22
- Pacific Theatre
- 1440 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6H 1M8
- Venue: Pacific Theatre
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July 08 - July 26
- 675 Belleville Street
Victoria, BC V8W 9W2
- Admission: $244. 10% Member Discount
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Contact:
Reception
- Phone: 250-356-7226
- Venue: Royal BC Museum
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June 15 - June 15
- Grouse Mountain
- 6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
- Admission: Various Prices - Please See Website
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Contact:
info@grousemountain.com
- Phone: 604-980-9311
- Venue: Grouse Mountain, The Peak of Vancouver
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May 19 - September 22
- 1128 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 0A8
- Admission: Free
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Contact:
Nanga Blaszak
- Phone: 604-689-1120
- Venue: Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
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December 04 - December 28
- York Theatre
- 1895 Venables Street
Vancouver, BC V5L 2H6
- Venue: Cultch, The (Vancouver East Cultural Centre)
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June 16 - June 16
- Western Front
- 303 E 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V3N 2K9
- Admission: Free
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Contact:
Kristin Lim
- Phone: 604-876-9343
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April 20 - September 15
- UBC Museum of Anthropology
- 6393 North West Marine Drive
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
- Admission: Adults: $16.75; Students & Seniors: $14.50
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Contact:
Museum of Anthropology
- Phone: 604-822-5087
- Venue: UBC Museum of Anthropology
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