Kid Friendly ideas in Vancouver

[Freesia123]

You can walk or take the bus eSily and cheaply. It's about a mile.

 

[Freesia123]

If you are at the pan pacific. Ask directions to the Swabia (5 min walk) and take it across (less than $5, ) once off with your same ticket hop on the grouse mountain public bus. It'll be waiting for you. You can get off at the capilano suspension bridge or continue on to take the team up to grouse. The Swabia takes 15 mins, the bus part about 30. If you are on a budget take the 238 to Lynn canyon . It's a free suspension bridge and spectacular !

 

[tink too]

We took a cab to the aquarium due to time restraints (we checked out in the AM but we had an early evening flight so we visited the aquarium to fill our day). Got a cab back to the hotel, collected our luggage and set off for the airport.

Taxis were easy to find and were reasonably priced.

 

[squirrel]

Stanley Park, Granville Island(its an open air market place) the aquarium, playland, Kits Beach, planetarium, or lansdowne quay.

As a kid growing in Vancouver I loved going to Stanley Park they have a small petting zoo there as well. or you can rent bikes and ride around the sea wall.

It's Lonsdale Quay. You take the seabus (water taxi) across to North Vancouver.

Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre also has a smaller suspension bridge that's free and the actual Ecology Centre is by donation.

Science World and the Aquarium are fun.

Granville Island has lots of shops and playground for the kids.

As you can see there is a lot to do around the city.

 

[Freesia123]

Swabia = seabus.

 

[MousseauMob]

You can walk or take the bus eSily and cheaply. It's about a mile.

Thanks!

We took a cab to the aquarium due to time restraints (we checked out in the AM but we had an early evening flight so we visited the aquarium to fill our day). Got a cab back to the hotel, collected our luggage and set off for the airport.

Taxis were easy to find and were reasonably priced.

We might need 2 taxi's if 6 of us go, do you recall the approximate cost to the Aquarium?

 

[tink too]

Thanks!

We might need 2 taxi's if 6 of us go, do you recall the approximate cost to the Aquarium?

I'm sorry - I can't remember the cost, but just know for the few taxis we used, we found them to be reasonably priced.

I can say that larger cabs are not so readily available as we've found in Orlando - most of them are just cars.

 

[MousseauMob]

I'm sorry - I can't remember the cost, but just know for the few taxis we used, we found them to be reasonably priced.

I can say that larger cabs are not so readily available as we've found in Orlando - most of them are just cars.

good to know! Thanks!

 

[lbgraves]

We rented bikes from near the Pan Pacific and rode over to Stanley Park.

I would take the kids to Grouse Mountain over Stanley Park. The bears are adorable to watch and the view is amazing.

 

[Ware Bears]

We did Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge (although it was very crowded and I understand a good alternative is Lynn Canyon), Stanley Park where we loved the aquarium and spent nearly all day there when it should have only been a morning. We really loved Grouse Mountain, could have spent all day there watching the bears and we were lucky and saw the wolves at the bottom too.

There are free shuttle busses that go to the suspension bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Can you give me some info about this? (where to catch them/schedules etc.). Thanks so mucH!

They go from right outside Canada Place. There are also booths there where you can purchase your Grouse Mountain/Capilano tickets in advance to save queuing when you get there.

Grouse Mountain and Capilano put the bus timetable up on their websites nearer the time here and here.

 

[sdjen]

OP here. Thanks everyone for all of the ideas! It doesn't look like we will have any trouble filling our time in Vancouver and will probably want to stay longer

 

[Freesia123]

I grew up near Grouse. It's a spectacular area, especially if you aren't used to big trees and lots of green. That's what's so great about Vancouver, the nature / urban mix. I wanted to add that it is a very safe city. If you're walking around downtown , you neednot feel worried. You can take public transportation with your kids even at night and be perfectly safe. I do suggest that if you plan to visit Chinatown, that you do so during the day.

For a great family dinner walk out of the pan pacific and turn left into gastown. You'll find the Old Spaghetti Factory. For about $12 you'll get a three course meal and the decor is 1930s. There's even a trolley car in the restaurant.

If I were you, I'd take the seabus over to north van, take the bus up to grouse mountain, then either bus it or taxi it to Stanley park. Go to the aquarium in the afternoon and maybe the beach. Head back by cab (you'll be tired) to the spaghetti factory then walk back to the hotel.

What date are you going?

 

[lammerz]

I suggest the Aquarium. Stanley park is beautiful and has some great places to stop and look around. I believe the Aquarium just completed an expansion.
We plan to check out FlyOver Canada next time we go up. And we always have to stop in and grab a Tim Horton's donut.... just one of our family traditions

I second the going to the aquarium. My kids love it there. The Vancouver aquarium is right in Stanley Park - easy to find. If you go in summertime, Kitsilano beach or Spanish Banks beach areas are wonderful for picnics and a variety of fun things that are going on in summer - there are always festivals going on of various kinds - the Childrens festival, the street performers festival, lots of stuff.
Stanley park has a kids train and a splash pad as well. You can rent bikes at several places close to stanley park and go for a bike ride around it which is fantastic.
Vancouver is such a fabulous city. I used to live there and I miss it a lot!

 

[Chilly]

Can you give me some info about this? (where to catch them/schedules etc.). Thanks so mucH!

We got it right outside our hotel, the Blue Horizon and lovely Elaine has provided links for you.

They go from right outside Canada Place. There are also booths there where you can purchase your Grouse Mountain/Capilano tickets in advance to save queuing when you get there.

Grouse Mountain and Capilano put the bus timetable up on their websites nearer the time here and here.

 

[Tenkawa]

Vancouver resident here, AMA.

Skip the Capilano suspension bridge, not worth the $$. You go past it and get off at Cleveland Dam. Public park that is part of the same forest that the suspension bridge is on.

Best method for seeing things (IMHO).

From downtown, get on Seabus (Waterfront station, right beside the cruise terminal) to the North Shore, this is a 2-zone transit fare, approx $4/pp, good for 90min of travel. This is a boat ride of 10min that takes you across the harbour (excellent views) and puts you to Lonsdale Quay (Nice place to check out too), and a bus look. Get on the Grouse Mountain bus (I forget the number right now), using the transfer, and tell him you want to get off at Cleveland Dam. He'll let you know when to get off.

Hop off at Cleveland Dam and check it out! When you are done, walk to the same spot you got dropped off and get on the next Grouse Mountain bus. 5 more min up the road and it'll drop you at the base of Grouse Mountain. If you spent less than 1 hour at Cleveland Dam, you should be on the same pass.

Go up the Grouse gondola and explore. Excellent views up there.

Coming back down you can reverse the trip (To Lonsdale Quay, Seabus to downtown).

Easily saves a lot of money compared to the suspension bridge.
Sometimes Grouse does run free shuttles from Lonsdale Quay to the base, you just have to check out their web site.


Asides from that, here are some kid-friendly things to see and do:

Granville Island (touristy, but very nice)
Science World (Properly, Telus World of Science, but nobody calls it that), very cool science museum.
Vancouver Aquarium, in Stanley Park. Very cool aquarium, very cool park, walkable from downtown if you are up for about a 1 mile walk, otherwise tons of transit options.
La Casa Gelato - this is a don't miss local spot, but it is NOT transit friendly, and you can't really walk to it easily. worth going to though (google the name, you'll see)


BTW: Public transportation website is http://www.translink.ca They have a great trip planner on the site, plus some information on tourist stuff.

 

[matoke]

Nothing new to add, but I'll agree with others:

- Aquarium/Stanley Park. You can even rent bikes and bike around the sea wall. The petting zoo is gone but there's a miniature train that is a Vancouver tradition.
- Science World is fantastic on a rainy day and an easy ride on the sky train. There's an IMAX theatre that often shows really neat movies.
- Robson Street has great shopping and restaurants. There's an American Girl store opening, but I'm not sure the ETA. And if you do hang out on Robson, grab a burrito at Steamrollers. mmmmm.
- Fly over Vancouver is suppose to be really fun.
- Granville Island has tons of fun stuff including kids stores, bead stores, water taxis (Aqua Bus), and even a kids play centre. There's also some great plays put on by Carousel Theatre.
- beaches! Or just hang out at English Bay or Jericho Beach if the weather is great.

 

[twentytoez]

Vancouver resident here, AMA. Skip the Capilano suspension bridge, not worth the $$. You go past it and get off at Cleveland Dam. Public park that is part of the same forest that the suspension bridge is on. Best method for seeing things (IMHO). From downtown, get on Seabus (Waterfront station, right beside the cruise terminal) to the North Shore, this is a 2-zone transit fare, approx $4/pp, good for 90min of travel. This is a boat ride of 10min that takes you across the harbour (excellent views) and puts you to Lonsdale Quay (Nice place to check out too), and a bus look. Get on the Grouse Mountain bus (I forget the number right now), using the transfer, and tell him you want to get off at Cleveland Dam. He'll let you know when to get off. Hop off at Cleveland Dam and check it out! When you are done, walk to the same spot you got dropped off and get on the next Grouse Mountain bus. 5 more min up the road and it'll drop you at the base of Grouse Mountain. If you spent less than 1 hour at Cleveland Dam, you should be on the same pass. Go up the Grouse gondola and explore. Excellent views up there. Coming back down you can reverse the trip (To Lonsdale Quay, Seabus to downtown). Easily saves a lot of money compared to the suspension bridge. Sometimes Grouse does run free shuttles from Lonsdale Quay to the base, you just have to check out their web site. Asides from that, here are some kid-friendly things to see and do: Granville Island (touristy, but very nice) Science World (Properly, Telus World of Science, but nobody calls it that), very cool science museum. Vancouver Aquarium, in Stanley Park. Very cool aquarium, very cool park, walkable from downtown if you are up for about a 1 mile walk, otherwise tons of transit options. La Casa Gelato - this is a don't miss local spot, but it is NOT transit friendly, and you can't really walk to it easily. worth going to though (google the name, you'll see) BTW: Public transportation website is http://www.translink.ca They have a great trip planner on the site, plus some information on tourist stuff.

That trip planner is nifty!

 

[Tenkawa]

That trip planner is nifty!

Yes it is. You may notice that Vancouver residents gripe about our transit system, but it is one of the most efficient and technologically connected systems I've seen across many cities. Until you compare it to the likes of New York, it is pretty darn good.

A few quick trick of it:

1) Vancouver uses a hub and spoke system. What that means is that almost every Skytrain/Canada Line (rapid transit) station is a bus hub, with buses that serve the local area frequently. Of course, the further outwards you get, the less frequent that is, but overall it works extremely well. So always think in terms of "Bus to skytrain, skytrain to bus/destination". Often it is easier to head in the opposite direction for 5 min to a Skytrain station than 30min the way you want to go.

2) Vancouver uses a Zone system currently (will be replaced eventually, but at least the next year or two), where the city is broken into three zones. When you purchase a fare, it can be valid for one, two, or three zones, depending on where you want to travel (and costing accordingly). That ticket is valid for 90 minutes within those zones, no matter what direction, and this includes rapid transit, buses, and seabus. If you want to go out of the zone, but your ticket does not include it, you can get an "AddFare", which bumps to the next zone level

3) There is a daypass which you can purchase at any skytrain ticket kiosk. It is valid for an entire day, rather than the 90 minutes a ticket is normally valid for.

4) If you have a mobile data package, m.translink.ca has NextBus and Trip Planner in mobile form. NextBus uses trackers in the buses. On each bus sign there is a number at the top. enter it in, and you'll see the next 5 buses listed and how long they will be.

5) If you need help, @translink is their twitter account, and they respond really well to it. (You can also call)

 

[Made Up Name]

Yes it is. You may notice that Vancouver residents gripe about our transit system, but it is one of the most efficient and technologically connected systems I've seen across many cities. Until you compare it to the likes of New York, it is pretty darn good.

Great post! Thanks!