Spring Break is just around the corner. What does your family have planned? If you are sticking around town and looking for some fun ideas for things to do with the kids, there are a lot of great options in and around Vancouver. We are heading to Vancouver Island for the first week of Spring Break, but in the second week I am going to be hitting up a lot of the following spots with my kids. Here is my Vancouver bucket list for Spring Break 2022. (It’s worth noting there is no way we will be making it to all of these spots….but good to have lots of options!)
Skating at the Shipyards
This is one of those activities I’ve been meaning to do with my kids for the last few months and just haven’t made it out there yet. But, I am determined to do it during Spring Break! This skating season was extended until the end of March giving a great destination for those days off school. The ice rink is open daily between 1-8 pm. It is free to skate and skate rentals are available at a cost.
Burnaby Village Museum
The Burnaby Village Museum is a great place to explore with the kids. Check out the heritage buildings and learn all about how people would have lived in an old BC pioneer village. Grab a treat at the ice cream parlour and take a ride on the heritage carousel. During Spring Break the museum is open from 11 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is free and rides on the carousel are $2.65 each.
Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum is an awesome destination with the kids, and they have special programming during Spring Break. After touring the mine, the kids can head to the lab to learn about “mini mud monsters” that live at the bottoms of creeks, rivers, and wetlands.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Here’s another great option up in the Sea to Sky. It’s not an inexpensive outing for the family but it certainly offers spectacular views. You can go for a winter walk, snowshoe, go tubing and on Thursdays in March there is outdoor storytime between 10 am and 10:30 am. After storytime enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate and warm cookie fresh from the kitchen. Just remember to dress warmly!
Van Dusen Gardens
We visited Van Dusen Gardens during March break last year and had a great time exploring the gardens and getting lost in the hedge maze. The first day of spring is right smack in the middle of March break and the gardens are starting to bloom, so it is a really nice time to visit. Last year Van Dusen also put on a fun scavenger hunt that kids could participate in, no word yet if they will do that again – but hopefully they do!
Steveston and The Gulf of Georgia Cannery
We love heading out to Steveston to walk around, hit up the playground and enjoy some fish n’chips down by the water. But, I haven’t taken the kids to visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery before. Combining a delicious lunch by the water with an interesting tour of the historical cannery sounds like a great spring break outing to me! The cannery is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
T Rex Exhibit at Science World
Science World is always a favourite destination for my kids, but the newest exhibit gives us even more reason to hit it up. T.Rex the Ultimate Predator is a new exhibit that just opened at Science World. It’s included in general admission and allows you to come face to face with the 66 million year old marvel.
HR MacMillan Space Centre
The planetarium is a great outing for any budding space enthusiasts or if you have a child who loves to build. There is family friendly programming going on all march break long. Roll up your sleeves and build your own ingenuity helicopter from 10 am to 3 pm daily. All spring break activities are included in general admission, and they are recommended for children ages 7 and up.
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
This is another Vancouver museum offering unique march break programming. There will be drop in activities at this UBC museum at 12 pm daily. From identification tips and tricks to art, games, crafts and hands-on activities. Check out the calendar for a full programming list.
Water Taxi Tour Around False Creek
This is always a fun option with the kids, and as much as we frequent Granville Island it has been a while since we hopped on one of the water taxis. There are two options – False Creek Ferries and Aqua Bus, both have basically the same route except the False Creek Ferry has one extra stop around Kits Point. You can’t go wrong with either option. It’s fun to take the kids on the small boat and ride it around False Creek, get off at the Olympic Village and enjoy the playground there, then stop off at Granville Island for some lunch.
Kids Market Craft Workshop Series
Combine your water taxi tour with a fun stop at the Kids Market at Granville Island. The market is holding a craft workshop series for every day of spring break. Kids can take part in a free craft (that changes every day) between 11 am and 2 pm.
