I’ll be honest: travelling with three kids — ages 10, 8, and 5 — changes how you plan a trip. You’re not chasing every highlight. You’re looking for places that work for everyone. Enough excitement to keep kids engaged, enough breathing room to keep parents sane.
Vancouver delivered that balance better than we expected.
If you’re planning a family trip and want it to feel calm, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable, here’s how we approached Vancouver — and why it worked.
Choose a City That Does the Work for You
The biggest stress reducer came before we even arrived. Vancouver is naturally family-friendly. You don’t need to force it.
The city is compact, easy to navigate, and surrounded by nature, which means:
- Short travel times between activities
- Plenty of outdoor space to burn energy
- Flexible plans that adapt to kids’ moods
We stayed central so we could walk often, and that decision alone eliminated a lot of daily friction.
Build Your Days Around One “Anchor” Activity
With kids, less is more.
Each day, we picked one main activity and let everything else be optional. That structure kept expectations realistic and avoided the mid-afternoon meltdown spiral.
One of our anchor days was visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It checked every box:
- Outdoors and immersive
- Interesting for adults
- Genuinely exciting for kids
Our 10-year-old loved the height and views. The 8-year-old was all about the forest walkways. The 5-year-old felt adventurous without being overwhelmed. Everything was clearly marked, well maintained, and easy to move through as a family.
Balance Nature With Downtime
Vancouver makes it easy to alternate between movement and rest.
We spent time in Stanley Park, stopping near Prospect Point and the Stanley Park Pavilion, and letting the kids set the pace. Parks here don’t feel like filler activities. They feel like destinations.
That matters when you’re travelling with kids. You want places where stopping, wandering, and snacking are part of the experience — not interruptions.
Eat Without Overthinking It
One of the quiet wins of this trip was food.
Good food is everywhere in Vancouver. We didn’t have to hunt for “kid-friendly” spots. Whether we were near major attractions, out in the suburbs, or exploring nearby areas like Squamish, meals felt easy.
Some meals were planned. Many weren’t. And almost all of them were good.
That consistency removes stress. When you trust that you’ll eat well wherever you land, you stop micromanaging the day. A special shoutout to Juicy Joes, which our kids LOVED.
Use Vancouver’s Geography to Your Advantage
What surprised me most is how quickly you can move between environments.
In one day, we went from city streets to forest trails without long drives or complicated logistics. That variety kept the kids engaged and gave the trip a sense of adventure without exhaustion.
It also meant we could adjust plans on the fly. If energy dipped, we slowed down. If curiosity kicked in, we leaned into it.
Leave Space for Flexibility
Our best moments weren’t scheduled.
They were:
- Letting the kids linger somewhere longer than planned
- Taking breaks without guilt
- Saying yes to curiosity and no to rushing
Vancouver supports that kind of travel. It doesn’t punish you for changing plans. It rewards it.
Why Vancouver Worked So Well for Our Family
Travelling with kids doesn’t need to feel like a compromise. It just needs the right setting.
Vancouver offered:
- Nature that feels accessible
- Attractions that work across age ranges
- A pace that supports families rather than fights them
We came home with tired legs, happy memories, and the rare feeling that everyone got something out of the trip.
If your goal is a family vacation that feels calm, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable — not just survivable — Vancouver makes that easier than most cities I’ve visited.
