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Located on B.C.’s lower mainland and surrounded by oceans, mountains, and the mighty Fraser River, Vancouver is an outdoor adventurer’s dream.

Three nearby mountains (Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mt. Seymour offer skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing opportunities. The inlets and rivers offer water sports of all kinds, from boating, canoeing, and kayaking, to swimming and fishing. All this is coupled with all the best culture a modern city has to offer. There are museums galore, including several that are hands-on and kid-friendly, such as Science World British Columbia and H. R. MacMillan Space Centre.

Granville Island is a must-see destination. The famous Granville Island Market, with its colourful stalls selling fresh from the sea or farm food and unique products, is a great place to spend a morning. There are several spots on the island for kids as well, including the Kids Market, which includes a caboose and play area, and WaterPark, the largest water park in North America, with two slides and plenty of spray.

Vancouver has nearly 18 km of beaches and nearly 300 parks, but none is so well-known as Stanley Park. Its 400 hectares includes natural spaces where you can enjoy views of the water, mountains, and forests. Beautiful beaches are fun for swimming, building sand castles, and hunting for treasures such as crabs and seashells at low tide. The Stanley Park Seawall, part of the 28 km Seaside Greenway, is a popular place to walk, inline skate, or cycle and enjoy nature. You can also enjoy a miniature train ride through the forest or a horse-drawn carriage ride. If that’s not enough, you can visit the Vancouver Aquarium, check out the Stanley Park Nature House near Lost Lagoon, or splash in the Second Beach Pool and Water Park.

Vancouver Population

631,486*
*Source: Statistics Canada (2016)

Communities in Vancouver

Arbutus-Ridge, Downtown, Downtown Eastside, Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Grandview-Woodland, Hastings-Sunrise, Kensington-Cedar Cottage, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Kitsilano, Marpole, Mount Pleasant, Oakridge, Renfrew-Collingwood, Riley Park, Shaughnessy, South Cambie, Strathcona, Sunset, Victoria-Fraserview, West End, West Point Grey

Top Family Attractions in Vancouver

Stanley Park, Granville Island, Science World & Omnimax Theatre, beach, nearby mountains (Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour), Kitsilano Salt Water Pool, Capilano Suspension Bridget, Lynn Canyon, H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vanier Park, Vancouver Aquarium, Playland