Stanley Park, located a 15-minute drive north of downtown, offers over 1,000 acres of land, mostly populated by dense forest landscapes. Take the kids on a walk along one of the many trails, or let them play on the playground where a pool and water slide will keep them busy for hours. Inside Stanley Park, families can take an hour-long horse-drawn tour that begins in the Coal Harbour parking lot. Also inside Stanley Park is the Vancouver Aquarium, which offers a whale pool and underwater windows.
Enjoy Vancouver's biggest attractions at your own pace on Vancouver Trolley Company's City Tour. Ideal for families that prefer the option of hopping on or off a vehicle during a tour of the city, the Vancouver Trolley offers trolley departures from each location on the tour at least every 20 minutes in summers and every 40 minutes in winters. Families may exit the trolley at any stop to enjoy the attractions, and then board the next trolley to complete the tour. Attractions on the City Tour include Stanley Park, the Steamclock in Gastown, and Waterfront Station.
Granville Island is located in the center of Vancouver, between False Creek and English Bay. For adults, the Island is filled with urban pleasures, including restaurants, markets and galleries. The Island also attracts children with its unique Kids Market, which is housed in an old factory with two annex buildings. Children can play and shop inside the many playrooms and toy shops, or enjoy the water park just next door.
One of Vancouver's sandy beaches, Kitsilano Beach is only a 10-minute drive from downtown and offers children an escape from the urban interior of the city. Families swim and play on the shoreline beach or can take advantage of the heated salt water pool that sits just on the edge of English Bay and provides panoramic views of the ecological reserves on Bowen Island on the other side of the bay.
