Family Oriented Places - Vancouver and Victoria

[azbaby8062]

We are trying to decide on whether we are going to accept the new itinerary for the June 7th sailing on the Carnival Splendor. I know nothing about these two ports and would like to hear from my esteemed CC members about family friendly things that there are to do in these two cities. I will be traveling with my BF and DS (8).

[SheilaNC]

Both are wonderful ports with lots to do. The museum in Victoria (sorry, I don't remember the name) is great for kids and adults, walking through the Empress hotel is lovely, taking a tour to Buchart Gardens is magnificent. Stanley Park In Vancouver and lots to do in the city. We just left the Splendor - no ports except one rainy afternoon in San Francisco to substitute for the 3 missed ports, yet had a good time because of our friends, food and service.

[Urban trekker]

In Vancouver:

 

The Kids Market at Granville Island:http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/island_experience/top10

 

The Aquarium in Stanley Park: http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

 

Telus Science World:http://www.scienceworld.ca/

 

are all reasonably close to the downtown core and easy to get two.

 

For eating try the Old Spaghetti factory in Gastown - ask to be seated in the old tram car which use to ply the streets of Vancouver when I was a kid.

 

http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/location_vancouver.html

 

If you have the time and the weather is clear a trip up Grouse Mt with its Grizzlies Bear display and Birds of Prey exhibit would be good also:http://www.grousemountain.com/summer/

 

Hope this helps and hope you enjoy your re-routed cruise and our great, friendly city

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[azbaby8062]

Thanks for the responses so far. I will check out the links.

[Putterdude]

The museum in Victoria is the Royal BC Museum but it closes at 5 pm. There is Miniture World at the side of the Empress Hotel and may want to consider a horse drawn carriage tour or perhaps just enjoy the buskers on the causeway of the Inner Harbour.

http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/MainSite/default.aspx

 

http://www.miniatureworld.com/

www.victoriacarriage.com/

http://www.tallyhotours.com/

http://www.causewayartists.ca/welcome.html

If I could just at to Ut's list there is the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.

http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

[Urban trekker]

PD - guess you missed it because of the excitement of the Canucks winning again but I did mention the Aquarium and provided a link.

 

They looked like a different team in the 3rd period last night - didn't see the first two but at least one of my friends who isn't a big beer drinker saved me a cheap beer.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[BCHappyGal]

Here are some of the places I take my Grandsons for summer fun:

 

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge over the Capilano Gorge, wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection at Brockton Point, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – hollow tree, many view points, and several restaurants. During the summer months there is a free shuttle bus that you can ride around the park on.

6) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock.

7) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

8) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.classicalchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

9) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. May artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

10) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.city.burnaby.bc.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

11) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

12) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

13) Queen Elizabeth Park – http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/QEPark01.htm -The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

14) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.pc,qc.ca/fortlangley

15) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours.

16) If you are a real animal lover than here is my latest find “Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre” It is located in Fort Langley about an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre is a leading non-profit Canadian facility that breeds endangered species in family groups for re-introduction back into their natural habitat in Canada and around the world. This facility is not a zoo their goal is to breed rare and endangered wildlife and re-introduce these animals back into their natural habitats. Presently Mountainview hosts over 50 species of the world’s most threatened animals and birds. See animals such as the spotted dog from India, Giraffes, and much much more. Here you do not wonder around as in a zoo rather you are given a guided tour with commentary on each animal group. Check it out at http://www.mtnviewconservation.org

17) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

18) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org

19) Dazzle your senses when you visit Minter Gardens nestled against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam in beautiful 'Super Natural' British Columbia. One of the most spectacular show gardens in the world! Eleven themed gardens are designed to dazzle the senses with massive displays of artistic floral designs.

Minter Gardens is located 90 minutes east of downtown Vancouver just off the Trans-Canada Hwy. #1 at exit #135. http://www.gardeningbc.com

[BCHappyGal]

On my above list items 1 - 9 excepting only Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge are all easy to do on your own using public transit or just plain walking from the ship (assuming that you will be docked at Canada Place) .

Provided you are docked at Canada Place you are right in the heart of downtown Vancouver and right at the start of Gas Town + next door to the Sea Bus terminal which is the public transit ferry that crosses the harbor from Vancouver to North Vancouver. You can buy an all day transit pass for $9. per person.

 

If you do that I would suggest you take the Sea Bus to North Vancouver and then catch the Capliano Road Bus to the end of its route which is the Grouse Mountain Tram Station. Once you have enjoyed Grouse Mountain reboard the bus and ask the driver to let you off at the Capliano Road Suspension Bridge. Once you have enjoyed the bridge and tree top walk in the rain forest reboard the bus and return to the Skytrain Station and back over to Vancouver side of the water. Once there walk through Gas Town it would be on your left as you exit the Sky Train Terminal. You can finish up your day in Gas Town.

[scottbee]

We are trying to decide on whether we are going to accept the new itinerary for the June 7th sailing on the Carnival Splendor. I know nothing about these two ports and would like to hear from my esteemed CC members about family friendly things that there are to do in these two cities. I will be traveling with my BF and DS (8).

 

What kind of thing do you like doing? Victoria has a lot to offer;

 

• Whale watching is very popular
  
• The Royal BC Museum is excellent
  
• Outside of town there is a very interesting park at Fort Rodd Hill (the old gun emplacements guarding the navy harbour)
  
• The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory was the largest telescope in the world when it was built.
  
• Gardens Gardens Gardens; Butchart, Hatley Castle (Royal Roads University) and the Lt Gov's residence are all excellent.
  

[The Nice Family]

Victoria -

 

My daughter LOVES the Bug Zoo. I can't vouch for it myself as I'm terrified of bugs but she's been there at least 3 times since she was 8-9 and still thinks it's great. It's small though so, don't think you'll be spending hours there (I'd say 45 minutes to 1 hour absolute max).

 

I took said daughter (now 10) to Miniature World just a few weeks ago. I didn't expect to like it, was doing it just for her, but I ended up completely taken with all of the amazing "worlds" that have been created. The detail is incredible (especially the circus town). We were there for an hour and a half and I would happily go back for another visit. I'm not too certain about the attention span of 8 year-old boys though - might not be his thing.

 

As has already been mentionned, the Royal BC Museum has something for everyone. It is really one of the most engaging museums I've ever visited. It also has an IMAX cinema so, you can take in a short film while you're there.

 

Avoid "Underwater (or Undersea?) World" - a complete and utter waste of time and money and this is not just my opinion.

 

Chinatown is also fun for little ones. Lots of exotic foods and little shops to explore.

 

There's also horse-drawn carriage rides but, really, I find them very very expensive for the area they cover and I don't think a little boy would get a great thrill from them. Victoria is extremely walkable but, if you want to get to, let's say Chinatown, in a hurry then I believe there are those bicycles that have double seats attached? Not sure what they're called? I'm talking about the ones that come with a driver, not the ones where you have to do the work. I would think any 8 year-old would get a kick out of that form of transportation.

 

I know what it's like to have an itinerary changed. You plan on certain experiences and then you have to shift gears and try to get excited about completely different ports. I won't say we've cruised extensively but, I think we've taken enough (6 cruises) to be able to compare ports and I can assure you - Vancouver and Victoria will not let you down. They're real places - like San Francisco etc. - not just outlets for the cruise line jewellery shops. I hope you take a chance and find out what BC has to offer.

[azbaby8062]

Thanks so much for all the information. I definitely have a lot to go through. My son is pretty easy to please. At first I was disappointed with the change but now I am looking forward to it.

[yogi2929]

DD wants to check out the University in Victoria. How far away is it from port?

[Sally Forth]

DD wants to check out the University in Victoria. How far away is it from port?

 

About a 20 minute cab ride, depending on traffic. UVic is a great school, with a beautiful modern campus. It's famous for the herds of rabbits that wander the campus. I have a niece and a nephew at school there now, and one who graduated two years ago.

 

I just wanted to add that if you have kids, some restaurants that look family-friendly are actually pubs according to BC liquor laws. Tourists often get upset when they aren't allowed in and they have a hungry family in tow. Chains like: Spaghetti Factory, Earls, Milestones, White Spot, and The Keg are fine because they have separate bar areas.

 

Viv

[yogi2929]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any brew pubs that we can take minors to? DD's like going to these also because some brew pubs have unusual root beers. They have discovered that there is other root beer besides A&W.

[scottbee]

DD wants to check out the University in Victoria. How far away is it from port?

 

About 6 miles, or an easy bus ride from downtown. Exit the cruise terminal, don't cross the street, and there's a bus stop on your left. Take the #30 or #31, get off downtown and transfer to the #14. Both buses run every 5-10 minutes. $2.25 total cost.

 

Was there something specific she was interested in at UVic?

[The Nice Family]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any brew pubs that we can take minors to? DD's like going to these also because some brew pubs have unusual root beers. They have discovered that there is other root beer besides A&W.

 

The Swan's Brewpub - near Chinatown. Excellent beers and a fantastic restored heritage building. Children are allowed in the outer, glass-enclosed terrace.

[The Nice Family]

Oops, forgot to say, they have an amazing root beer float. I took my daughter there almost a year ago now for her 10th birthday and they gave her one of these floats - she still talks about it!

[Kimjergen]

My two sons absolute favorite place that we visited in Vancouver was the Capilano Suspension Bridge hands down! They loved the bridge and exploring the forest with tree house like units all along the path on the otherside of the bridge (they were 8 &10 at the time) www.capbridge.com

 

In Victoria, we saw killer whales as we were riding on the farey on the way over. My kids were thrilled with it as there were even some baby killer whales in the pod. It was May and I don't know if being springtime helped but we also happened upon some belugas too. You should try to fit in the opportunity for some whalewatching as your son will be thrilled on his first sighting of one. We stayed at a family friendly historic B & B in Victoria right on the harbor in a 2-room suite with a beautiful view of the Empress from our balcony, and a very impressive breakfast and our kids just loved wandering downtown victoria watching the boats, visiting the government house etc and we found this wonderful fresh fish and chips place hidden down by the docks only a short walk away that had mostly locals.

[mississauga]

In Victoria, we have only been to the Empress Hotel and the surrounding souvenirs stores. It was very cold and windy when we were there last time. Since we were not prepared and therefore not dressed properly, we didn't walk around too much. This time, we would like to see Chinatown. Is it very far away? I assume we will probably take a bus from the ship and be dropped off and picked near the Hotel.