Photo: Destination BC/Rick Collins
Want to plan some quality together time this Family Day Weekend? Go outside to the forest, the snow, the beach, and more. Here are ten ideas for kid-friendly outdoor fun around Vancouver this Family Day Weekend.
Until further notice, in line with the public health order, non-essential travel into, within, and out of BC is not recommended. BC residents, let’s do our part by continuing to stay small and support local with your immediate household, in accordance with the latest guidelines.
Explore the Beach
It may be too cold to swim, but there the beach is still worth exploring in the winter. Take a family walk on a beachside path or bundle up for a picnic on the sand. Plan your visit for low tide so you can check out crabs hiding under rocks and barnacles clinging to boulders. Use our list of Vancouver beaches to find one you haven’t visited yet.
Family picnic at Third Beach in Stanley Park. Photo: Tourism Vancouver/Hubert Kang
Try Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is one of the easiest winter sports you can try, which makes it great for families. Head to one of the North Shore mountains to rent snowshoes, then try one of our beginner-friendly snowshoe trail recommendations.
Go For a Bike Ride
Grab your bikes and helmets, then head out on a family bike ride. The Vancouver area has lots of flat cycling paths perfect for kids, and lots of them are completely car-free. Use our list of Vancouver’s best easy bike rides to plan your day.
Hit the Slopes on Skis or Snowboards
Skiing or snowboarding together is a fun way to spend Family Day. But it’s a popular time to go, so be sure to reserve tickets, rentals, and lessons in advance. Use our guide to skiing with kids in Vancouver to choose where to go.
Try the Hedge Maze at Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Van Dusen Botanical Garden is gorgeous at any time of year thanks to plant displays from around the world. If you visit with kids, don’t miss the hedge maze. Family members of all ages will delight in exploring the twists and turns of the maze and working together to find the monkey puzzle tree at its centre. Book tickets for the gardens online in advance.
Family at the hedge maze at Van Dusen Botanical Garden. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Sombilon Studios
Step Back in Time at Fort Langley National Historic Site
Fort Langley was an important fur-trading post along the Fraser River in the 1800s. Today’s National Historic Site is a reconstruction of the fort complete with wooden palisades and a working blacksmith shop. The site costumed interpreters to help tell the stories of the fur traders, gold prospectors, and First Nations people who lived and traded at the fort.
Visit a Farm
Take your little ones to a farm to see ducks, cows, sheep, pigs, horses, chickens, and more. Maplewood Farm in North Vancouver and Southlands Heritage Farm in Vancouver are both open for farm visits for small family groups. Visit their websites to book a time slot.
Go Sledding, Tobogganing, or Snow Tubing
Sledding is a fun activity for all ages and it is the perfect Family Day activity. And as winter winds down, it’s great to have one last day of snow play. Head to one of Vancouver’s ski hills to visit their sledding and tubing parks or cross your fingers for a snowy forecast for the city. Use our guide to find a sledding spot in your neighbourhood or at a ski resort.
Family sledding at Grouse Mountain. Photo: Tourism Vancouver/Grouse Mountain
Explore a New Park
Greater Vancouver is dotted with fabulous parks that protect forests, meadows, wetlands, and shorelines. Use our list of 15 urban parks around Vancouver that feel like wilderness to plan a family outing to a park you’ve never visited before.
Take a Hike
There’s snow in the mountains, but down at sea level, it’s still hiking season. Some of our favourite hikes for kids are Rice Lake in North Vancouver or Sasamat Lake in Belcarra. Hiking is a little different during the pandemic. Read our tips for getting outdoors during COVID-19.
