Family Friendly Travel for Vancouver, Canada
Shana Cherry is Co-Founder of WEE Travel Inc. a company founded by two sisters, Lesley Cherry (based in Toronto) and Shana Cherry (based in Vancouver), Their company rents out the latest can't-live-without-it baby gear to Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto visitors. They select high quality, brand name gear likely identical to the stuff your kids have at home. And they deliver right to your door. They do the research, they do the shopping, and they do the lugging. Their prices are very reasonable, equipment is in brand-new condition, and is safety inspected and sanitized after use. A brilliant solution to an otherwise daunting task. Check them out at weetravel.ca.
Vancouver is a gorgeous city summer and winter (even when it rains!!!) Here is a list of kid friendly and fun things to do while in our beautiful city.
Monday: First stop is definitely Granville Island and the Kids Only Market. (You do this first as it's probably a place the kids will want to go back to so you can use it as a bribe if necessary!!!) There are a host of things to do in the market- The Adventure Zone is a great climbing activity and Camelot Kids is a wonderful toy store. They are very selective with their picks so you can select from top notch toys. After an exhilarating couple of hours playing, walk over to the Granville Island Market for some great eats. Lots of different foods to choose from for everyone in your family. Lee's Doughnuts is a great treat, as is Terra Breads. Fresh fish, meat and poultry are in abundant supply and always fresh. There are too many great spots to name them all here.
Tuesday: Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium are a "must see". You can watch the beluga and dolphin shows and my son's favorite is Tag the sea lion. He is humongous and fun to watch, especially at feeding time when he is on "best" behaviour. If you stand right up next to the glass you're sure to get wet! There are hands-on activities downstairs and an array of beautiful fish. Another favorite area is the tropical garden where the birds fly around freely. At certain times of the year the butterflies have hatched and there are hundreds and hundreds flying about. Sometimes they will land on your arm!
Wednesday: Science World is unbelievable for every age. Most of it is "hands-on". We can easily spend a whole day in there. Depending on age, you can also go to the CN Imax (top floor) and check out the movie. It's on a gigantic screen and you almost feel like you're right in the movie. For a lunch break the White Spot, right in Science World, is a nice treat. The Triple-O burger is legendary! Their gift shop has some pretty unique items as well.
Thursday: You've been running around a lot so far and you're exhausted. Try out Le Petit Spa- Mummy and Me Spa Package. They offer a Reflexology Treatment for Mum – 30 minutes, an express pedicure – 30 minutes and reflexology for baby – 10 minutes. All for 80$.
Friday: Ready for more animals? The Aldergrove Zoo makes you feel like you are in another country! Lions, tigers, giraffes, and almost every animal you can think of. They have these great bike/carriages that you can rent for a family of four. The zoo is spread out over a very large area and there is a little train you can take around. Be prepared to do lots of walking- it's worth it. The zoo is about an hour outside of Vancouver.
Saturday: Perfect day for shopping! Be sure to check out Robson street, 4th ave, Commercial Drive and most certainly Main street (between 17th and 25th avenues). There are lots of unique, funky little stores for everyone to enjoy. South Granville also has a nice selection of stores and the Chapters on the corner of Broadway and Granville is a great place to unwind. You can browse through books while sipping your coffee (Starbucks is inside if you are so inclined) while your little one plays at the train table upstairs. It's especially nice on a rainy Saturday and they often have story time in the kids' section as well. Call ahead to confirm times.
Sunday: You have to hit at least one beach while you're visiting. Kits beach is the perfect one for a number of reasons: great playground, wonderful people watching, gorgeous views, tasty food, and a really nice walk that can go on forever if you choose. The Watermark Café is there and if you want something less "restauranty", there's take-out at the side of the restaurant.
If none of those ideas appeal to you then check out this website http://www.findfamilyfun.com/ for a complete list of what's happening in Vancouver, on a monthly basis. And remember, no need to bring your baby equipment for this vacation because WEE Travel Inc. will provide it all for you and deliver it to your accommodation. All equipment is like-new and safety checked and sanitized prior to every rental. We also service Victoria, BC and Toronto. Bon Voyage!!!
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