When I moved to Vancouver two and a half years ago, Kaiya suggested we make our own ABC of Vancouver book/list when she came to visit out west. So, when Kaiya and her little brother Kieran came to visit, we got to work. I’m happy to report that we completed every activity (except for one) in just one week. Kaiya was a little squeamish on trying sushi.

So, grab your kiddos and go on these 26 little adventures in Vancouver this summer!

Exploring Vancouver from A to Z

A is for aquabus, a little bus on the water! It will take you to Granville Island, Science World and more.

B is for beaches! Spend a day in the sand. Jericho, Kitsilano and English Bay are popular choices.

C is for Commercial Drive, a funky neighbourhood with an old movie theatre, cute coffee shops and more!

D is for doughnuts – there are plenty local favourites. Savour your sweet tooth at Cartems, Lucky’s or Honey’s.

E is for eggs and toast at Bon’s, Auntie J’s favourite place for breakfast. Breakfast is only $3!

F is for fish – Vancouver is known for its great seafood and sushi.

Grouse Mountain  Photo credit: grousemountain.com

G is for Grouse Mountain – it has a beautiful view of Vancouver from the top. Take the gondola or hike up – an 853-metre climb!

H is for heritage houses – there are many that are over 100 years old! Spot one with a City of Vancouver plaque explaining its history.

I is for islands, there are over 40,000 of them along the coast of British Columbia. Can you spot one from the shore in Vancouver?

J is for John Deighton, a.k.a. “Gassy Jack.” Gastown – the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver – was named after him. Check out the steam clock in Gastown, a popular attraction.

K is for Kaiya and Kieran spotting the mountains surrounding Vancouver!
Tip: You can just change my niece and nephew’s names to ‘kids’!

L is for the Lookout Tower or as Kaiya would say: “Vancouver’s CN Tower.”

M is for Mount Pleasant, Auntie J’s neighbourhood. Point out some of the big murals along Main Street.

N is for new friends! Talk to someone new and meet some friends! You never know what stories they’ll have and who you’ll discover.

Olympic Cauldron  Photo credit: Crystal McNab

O is for the Olympic Cauldron, from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Close by you’ll also spot the Digital Orca, a sculpture by a famous Vancouver artist.

P is for park, Stanley Park. In 2014 it was voted the best park in the entire world! In the park, there is an aquarium, hiking trails, First Nations totem poles and more.

Q is for quesadillas (and tacos! and burritos!) at Sal y Limon, the best Mexican restaurant in Vancouver.

R is for riding your bike! The weather never gets too cold in Vancouver, so you can ride your bicycle all year long.

S is for the ships coming into harbour at Canada Place along the waterfront.

Trout Lake  Photo credit: Marty McNab

T is for Trout Lake, a place where family and friends hang out. Check out the dog park, baseball diamonds, kids playgrounds and outdoor concerts.

U is for the University of British Columbia, which has plenty of fun things to do – from the Museum of Anthropology to the TreeWalk and more!

V is for the view from one of the North Shore’s suspension bridges! Swing over the forest at Capilano or Lynn Canyon.

W is for water – the ocean surrounds the city.

X is for XOXO (hugs and kisses) to Auntie J, your favourite person in Vancouver.
Tip: Replace my name with yours, so your kiddo showers you with affection! (Okay, so this isn’t really an adventure. But it’s always fun to be showered with kid kisses!)

YVR airport  Photo credit: Crystal McNab

Y is for YVR airport, where your airplane will arrive.

Z is for zoom, zoom! Take a ride on Vancouver’s SkyTrain, SeaBus or city bus.

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Whistler

Whistler – less than a two-hour drive north of Vancouver – is the perfect family getaway any time of year. In the winter, take your tykes down the snowy slopes. If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, try dog sledding or snowshoeing. And, in the summer, horseback riding, mountain biking, and zip lining are popular options. Don’t forget to take a stroll around the Village, where you can stock up on souvenirs, toys and tasty treats.

Squamish

If you have kiddos who love the outdoors, then Squamish is the place to go. Located just an hour’s drive north of Vancouver along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway, Squamish has plenty of outdoor activities for families with energy to burn. When the weather’s nice, hike the Stawamus Chief, head to Porteau Cove or stroll around Alice Lake. When the snow hits the ground, go for a snowshoe around the summit of the Sea to Sky Gondola.

Fraser Valley

The Fraser Valley – home to Chilliwack, Langley, and Abbotsford – will please the budding foodies in your family. Less than an hour’s drive southeast of Vancouver, this area is known for its agriculture. While the region has plenty of wineries and breweries, the Fraser Valley’s farms will satisfy the whole family. Favourites include Maan Farms (for strawberry picking), Willow View (for apple picking) and Krause (for pie tasting).

Tofino

A post shared by Tourism Tofino (@tourismtofino) on Aug 6, 2018 at 8:52pm PDT

Tofino, located on Vancouver Island’s west coast, is filled with family-friendly things to do all year round. Rent surfboards or boogie boards, go sea kayaking, check out the tidal pools, take a boat to Hot Springs Cove, watch the storms roll in, build sandcastles or roast marshmallows on the beach. The flight from Vancouver is just under an hour. If you take the ferry and drive the winding road from Nanaimo, the trip will take you five hours.

Victoria

Victoria, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, will excite the little historians in your crew. Travel back in time as you walk along the waterfront: the historic buildings here (like the Parliament buildings and the Fairmont Empress hotel) date back well over 100 years. And, there’s plenty to learn at the countless museums in town: Royal B.C. Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, and Emily Carr House are all popular choices. The trip to B.C.’s capital city will take you a half hour by plane or around three hours by ferry.

Okanagan

While the Okanagan Valley, made up of Vernon, Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos, is known for its wineries, there is plenty of family-friendly fun to be had, too. Float down the Penticton River Channel, check out Kangaroo Creek Farm just outside of Kelowna or pick your own produce at Davison Orchards in Vernon. There are also plenty of parks and beaches to discover in the summer and ski hills to shred in the winter. The Okanagan is located a five-hour drive east of Vancouver.

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