Daytrip Ideas for Family Fun
Check out these ideas for family daytrips and see how fun and easy it can be to incorporate active transportation into your excursions.
Vancouver Aquarium
With over 70,000 animals on display, daily interpretive shows and opportunities for hands-on animal encounters the Vancouver Aquarium is the perfect place to bring your family for some educational fun.
- How to Get there: Take the #19 Stanley Park/Metrotown bus, which ends just a short walk away from the Aquarium. During the summer, this bus service is supplemented by a short-turn shuttle bus that runs between Pender and Cambie Streets and the Stanley Park Loop.
Plane Spotting at YVR
The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has a new, free and public Observation Area, perfect for plane enthusiasts. Located on level four of the Domestic terminal, it's easy to get to from escalators by the food court. This area includes an interpretive centre, interactive video stations, telescopes, and of course, the best panoramic views in town for watching planes take off and land.
- How to Get There: Take the Canada Line SkyTrain, but make sure you're on the correct line. This route diverges once you get to Richmond, so ensure you're on the YVR/Airport route (as opposed to the Richmond/Birghouse route).
Burnaby Village Museum
Transport your family back to the 1920s in this recreation of a typical tram-stop community. Explore heritage and replica buildings, which are populated by period-costumed townsfolk who provide demonstrations as to what life was like back then. Popular spots include the blacksmith, the print shop, the garden at the farmhouse, the general store and perhaps the biggest hit, the 1912 CW Parker Carousel.
- How to Get There:
- Bus #144 SFU/Metrotown. Get off at Deer Lake Avenue entrance.
- Bus #123 New West Stn/Brentwood Stn/Kootney Loop. Get off at Canada Way entrance.
- Bus #129 Edmonds Stn/Metrotown Stn. Get off at Canada Way entrance.
Lonsdale Quay Market
This North Shore public market has a little bit of everything for everyone, including one of the best views of the city - from the other side. With 60 fresh food vendors, 25 boutique-style shops, 20 international food bars, and specialty kids' shops including play areas, it's an ideal place to bring everyone for some fun... and get the grocery shopping done.
How to Get There: Located at the North Vancouver SeaBus and bus terminal, it's pretty much at your feet once you get off the SeaBus.
Have other ideas for fun family outings involving transit, cycling or walking? Let us know by posting a comment below or Contact Us to submit additions to this article.