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| | British Columbia | Vancouver | |||
| The Waterfront | |||
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Canada Place – This is where cruise ships dock and the site of one of the city's poshest hotels. Built to look like an enormous sailing ship, it also houses an IMAX theater, but what's really fun for kids is going up and down the hundreds of steps at the back of the building, getting a great view of Coal Harbor and looking at the super cruise ships docked on either side. Drop a quarter in the telescope to spy on Stanley Park, North Vancouver, or a big cruise ship. | |
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SeaBus Terminal – Take the ferry to Lonsdale Quay. It's a big 400-passenger catamaran, Burrard Beaver or the Burrard Otter SeaBus, with lots of windows, and completely enclosed (which is good in rainy or foggy weather.) On the way, you'll have a good look at the big ships in Burrard Inlet. It's about a 15 min. trip each way. | ||
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Vancouver Lookout – Take an express elevator to the Harbour Centre at 555 Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver to this viewing platform and you'll get a spectacular full-circle view of everything for miles. Pick a clear day and you can see from the mountains to the ocean. While the kids run around and around the enclosed platform, you can relax with a latte. | ||
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Gastown – The "old town" part
of Vancouver, built right after the big fire at the turn of the century. Cobbled streets, gas lanterns, a steam clock add charm to the authentic Victorian buildings. A mixture of touristy shops and restaurants, it's a very pretty walk from the Lookout or Canada Place and leaves you close to Chinatown and the Sun Yat Sen Gardens. Year-round buskers can be found on almost every corner, and this is also the main site of the summer's Jazz Festival. |
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 Storyeum
(142 Water St.) – Storyeum is a 65 min. splashy multimedia show,
a fun introduction to British Columbia history. Live actors dramatizations
of First Nations creation myths and legends, arrival of European trading
ships, the 19th century gold rush, you feel like you're there. No minimum
age for kids and strollers are okay. |
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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – A replica of a 16th century Ming Dynasty garden, this is an oasis of tranquility on the edge of Chinatown. You can walk on arching bridges over lily ponds, climb natural rock sculpture, and take some of your best pictures framed by the Chinese gardens and architecture. Admission price includes a tour. 578 Carrall Street. |
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