Winter Family Vacation to Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rain or Shine Fun at Granville Island Markets and Vancouver Aquarium
Nov 15, 2008
Winter in Vancouver means fun activities no matter the weather. Although the weather ranges from warm and sunny days to rain and occasional snow, families can enjoy plenty of winter vacation activities indoors and out. Here are some suggestions for a winter family vacation when the weather sets the itinerary.
Winter in Vancouver: Visit the Vancouver Aquarium on a Rainy Day
On a wet day, take the crew to the Vancouver Aquarium to be surrounded by water. Spend the day watching the sea lions, belugas, sea otters, and dolphins and learning about the aquarium’s conservation efforts.
Clownfish cove is a large play area for children. Explore, too, the enclosure of exotic birds and the floor-to-ceiling tanks of fish, octopi, snails, and jellyfish. Lastly, don’t forget to visit the aquarium’s ancient-looking sea turtle.
Sunny Day Winter Activities at Vancouver Ski Hills, Stanley Park
On a clear day the views from Vancouver’s ski hills on the North Shore Mountains stretch for miles. Three ski hills lie within a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Mount Seymour, Grouse Mountain, and Cypress Mountain all offer lessons for children as well as ski and snowboard rentals.
In addition to skiing, there’s plenty of other winter fun to be had: try tobogganing or tubing downhill, ice skating on outdoor and indoor rinks, or venture out snowshoeing through the woods.
Stanley Park is also a great destination on a sunny day. The large park is close to downtown and features a fantastic seawall for walking or biking. The seawall leads to Third Beach, Second Beach, and English Bay where, if the weather is really warm, there are logs and benches from which to admire the view. Vancouver beaches—more than a dozen in total—offer a great dose of fresh air or a game of Frisbee when the rains stop.
Snowy Day Activities on Granville Island, Vancouver
When the snow falls in downtown Vancouver (only a rare occurrence, by the way) the city slows to the pace of a crawl. On snowy days, head to Granville Island where the pedestrian-friendly network of markets will keep everyone entertained. Take a brewery tour with the Granville Island Brewing Company: adults sample the tasty microbrews while children get a root-beer taster.
Then, visit the Kids Market to find toys, clothes, and treasures for the little ones. Next up, stroll over to the Public Market with its displays of scrumptious baked goods, produce and specialty foods. Warm up with a hot chocolate while looking out over False Creek, Yaletown, and the boat marina.
A little further up False Creek lies the alien-looking dome of Science World. Spend some more time inside (in the warmth) exploring unique hands-on exhibits.
No matter the weather forecast in Vancouver, a winter family vacation will be filled with fun activities that take advantage of the best the day has to offer.
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