Discover the Best Place on Earth! There's no shortage of beautiful family travel opportunities here in Vancouver and on the West Coast of Canada.
British Columbia
Richmond Night Market
The influence of Asian culture in Metro Vancouver shines brightest at the annual summer tradition of the Richmond Night Market. It's a vibrant & busy night market, modeled on those found in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Vendors sell everything from Asian DVDs to clothing to care products to dollar-store toys. You can enjoy the displays of martial arts &…
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum
The newest museum in Vancouver has unofficially opened at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it includes not only a whale, but a whale of a tale.
The new Beaty Biodiversity Museum is holding some special, free public previews this summer in anticipation of its official public opening in fall 2010.
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The Museum will display…
The Best Campgrounds in British Columbia
It's no secret.
British Columbia has some of the most well-designed, best-located provincial (state) campgrounds anywhere in North America. We've camped all over this great land (and in the south too), and we who live and camp in BC know how lucky we are to have this all at our doorstep.
The firewood may no longer be free, and soon we'll be…
The Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is one of the top tourism sites in the city. It's also one of the most popular destinations for families living here as well.
We must have spent hundreds of hours at the Aquarium over the years. The kids had freedom to safely wander and run around in the play area, nurse 'sick' stuffed otters, and identify all kinds of cool…
A Walk on the Super Natural Side
Walking? Sixty-five feet up in the air?
That was my first thought when we were invited to tour the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at the UBC Botanical Garden. I have a fear of heights, and the thought of being that high up, walking on very bouncy, see-through metal bridges attached to large Douglas Firs didn't thrill me, at first.
But I am an…
Beautiful Bowen Island
Looking for a family day trip from the city that combines natural beauty with touches of modern civilization? You can't do better than a visit to Bowen Island, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, northwest of Vancouver, and now, also a 25-minute, 'express' water taxi ride from Granville Island (pedestrian-only).
Bowen Island has…
Vancouver Best Bets for Family Dining
Food plays a big part of any family holiday or one-day trip outing. Children can be picky eaters at any age, and finding a family-friendly dining spot to suit all tastes and appetites can be a huge challenge.
Vancouver is justly famous for its wide and affordable variety of dining out options. This multicultural mix has produced some of the best…
Whistler Wonderland
A quick family escape to Whistler for the weekend. Living in Vancouver, the temptation to get away for a few days of skiing and snowboarding is ever present during the winter months.
Whistler can be an expensive place for families. After all, skiing and snowboarding are among the most pricey sporting activities out there.
But, given that fact,…
The Vancouver Olympic Village Plaza
The Olympic Countdown clock is ticking down the days until the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies on February 12, 2010.
In Vancouver, it remains the calm before the storm. We're all going around town on our pre-Christmas business, with the holiday season top of mind. I think that the the penny will drop with a very loud 'bang' on January…
Cypress Mountain Provincial Park
The North Shore Mountains of Vancouver - Cypress, Grouse and Seymour - are spectacular sights that beckon Vancouverites and visitors to leave the city behind and get back to the great outdoors.
Not only do these mountains offer winter recreational activities such as skiing and snowboarding, two of them - Cypress and Seymour - are also designated…
Travelling Mom contributing to InsideVancouver.ca
It's been an exciting past few weeks at thetravellingmom.ca.
We received lots of comments about our article on Belgian chocolate - thank you for the feedback! It was a true pleasure to taste-test all of those delicious chocolate temptations on our recent travels in Belgium. We plan to volunteer for that task again - and soon!
Our efforts to…
The new view @ YVR
Thirty years is a long time to wait to see an airplane up close. Today I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the new Public Observation Area at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the first public viewing area at YVR in 30 years.
The Observation Area offers the public a magnificent view 'from the air side' of the take-off and…
Galiano Getaway
I wrote about Galiano Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands, in my article about the Top 5 100 Mile Holiday destinations near Vancouver. A recent visit confirmed its place on our list, and here are a few reasons why:
1. Short ferry ride. From the Tsawwassen ferry terminal it takes just one hour to reach Sturdies Bay terminal on Galiano Island.…
Zippin' in Whistler
There's nothing like overcoming your fear of heights by suspending yourself from a metal clamp attached to what seems like a thin metal cable 200 feet over rushing Fitzsimmons Creek in Whistler B.C.
But how about subjecting your beloved offspring to such an experience?
Now that we've done it, I can only say - go for it! Our 9 and 11 year olds…
To the Lighthouse
This Mother's Day, my family has decided to forgo the fancy brunch and lunch plans.
This decision was made easier by the fact that every restaurant my poor husband called (last night) was of course full to bursting with reservations previously booked a week or more ago in honour of mom's' one day (morning?) break from cooking.
Rather than wallow…
The Great Outdoors
There's nothing like being all snug in your sleeping bag, fast asleep in your tent.
Suddenly, you are awakened by a murder of black crows right above your campsite, cawing incessantly, and very, very loudly. It's 5 AM and nature's alarm clocks are saying 'Good morning in the great outdoors!' (I understand why a group of crows is referred to as a…
A 100 Mile Holiday - Recession-proofing your Summer Vacation
Planning a holiday during a recession, when many of us are watching every dollar we spend, seems a bit decadent and in many cases simply impossible. Is this summer really the best time to take a holiday?
Taking inspiration from local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year…
Day Trippin' - Our Top 5 100 Mile Day Trips
The 100 Mile philosophy, inspired by local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, applies to our family's attitude towards rewarding day trips from our Vancouver home.
Think about your home-town, city and surrounding environment. What are all of…
A Break at the Peaks
Skiing and snowboarding for Spring Break is my idea of a fun and care-free family holiday.
Sun Peaks Resort, located north of Kamloops, BC, and a five hour drive from Vancouver, was just voted #2 Best Ski Resort in Canada (and #10 in North America) by Conde Nast Traveler magazine (2008).
This was great news as we'd booked a week of skiing there in…
Whistler Weekend
We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, we only go there about once a year, for a host of reasons; cost and difficulty in finding time off to get away being the two main ones. If your children are school-aged and busy with extra-curricular activities, finding…
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