Vancouver

Vancouver

Cacao Vancouver

End the afternoon with a stop at this West End chocolate shop on Denman Street, which makes its own bean-to-bar chocolate and sells outstanding drinking chocolate and truffles. Kids can watch chocolate being tempered through the shop window and choose from a wall of single-origin bars.

Vancouver

Granville Island Public Market

Spend the morning grazing through one of Canada's best public markets, picking up fresh fruit, local cheese, smoked salmon, and pastries from vendors like Lee's Donuts and the Stock Market soup bar. Arrive before 10am on weekends to beat the crowds and snag a picnic table near the water.

Vancouver

Tap and Barrel North Shore

Stop for lunch at this family-friendly brewpub on the North Shore waterfront with a dedicated kids menu, large patio, and views across to downtown Vancouver. The burgers are solid, portions are big, and the location next to the Lonsdale Quay makes it easy to combine with a SeaBus ride home.

Vancouver

New Town Bakery and Restaurant

A Chinatown institution since 1969, New Town is the place to try steamed BBQ pork buns fresh from the kitchen along with egg tarts, coconut tarts, and deeply inexpensive bowls of congee or wonton noodle soup. Order at the counter, grab a table, and let kids point at whatever looks good in the pastry case.

Vancouver

Dim Sum at Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant

Sea Harbour on No. 3 Road is consistently rated among the top dim sum restaurants in the entire country and the trolley-cart service makes ordering genuinely fun for children who can point at dishes as they roll by. Go for weekend brunch between 10am and noon and expect a short wait, which moves quickly.

Vancouver

Richmond Night Market (or Aberdeen Centre)

If your visit falls on a weekend from May through October, the Richmond Night Market is one of the largest night markets in North America and an absolute must for families who want to eat their way through Hong Kong-style street food, Taiwanese bubble waffles, takoyaki, and dozens of other stalls. If you are visiting off-season or want a daytime option, Aberdeen Centre mall nearby anchors a dense stretch of some of the best dim sum restaurants in North America.

Vancouver

Stanley Park Seawall

Rent bikes or a family surrey at Spoke Bicycle Rentals near the park entrance and ride all or part of the 22 km seawall loop with views of the North Shore mountains and Burrard Inlet. Kids aged 5 and up can handle the flat, paved path easily, and there are plenty of spots to stop and watch float planes take off from the harbour.

Vancouver

Vancouver Aquarium

Located inside Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium is home to beluga whales, sea otters, Pacific octopus, and a strong lineup of daily animal presentations. Plan at least two hours and arrive early on peak summer days to avoid long entry queues.

Vancouver

Beaver Lake Trail Picnic Stop

Pick up sandwiches and snacks from Whole Foods on Robson Street before heading into the park, then stop at Beaver Lake for a shaded picnic beside the lily-pad-covered water. It is a calm, pretty spot that gives kids a genuine forest-in-the-city feeling without a long hike.

Vancouver

Kids Market on Granville Island

Right next to the Public Market, this two-storey building is packed with toy shops, a small indoor play area, and a magic shop where kids can learn a trick. It is genuinely fun for the 5 to 12 crowd and easy to budget because most shops have low-cost items alongside the bigger stuff.

Vancouver

False Creek Ferries Hop

Catch a Aquabus or False Creek Ferry miniferry from Granville Island to Science World at TELUS World of Science for a scenic ten-minute crossing that kids treat as its own small adventure. The ride costs only a few dollars per person and gives you a great view of the Vancouver skyline from the water.

Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

The 137-metre suspension bridge swaying 70 metres above the Capilano River is legitimately thrilling for most kids, and the Treetops Adventure walkways through the old-growth forest canopy extend the experience well beyond just one crossing. Arrive when gates open at 8am to get the best photos and thinner crowds before tour buses arrive.

Vancouver

Maplewood Farm

A short drive from Capilano, this community farm in North Vancouver lets kids feed goats, watch pigs, pet chickens, and see a genuine working barnyard at a pace that never feels rushed. It is affordable, unhurried, and a good gear-change after the excitement of the suspension bridge.

Vancouver

Lonsdale Quay Market

Browse the waterfront market at Lonsdale Quay before catching the SeaBus back to Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver, a 12-minute crossing that costs only a regular transit fare. The upper deck of the SeaBus gives kids a memorable wide-angle view of the harbour and the North Shore mountains.