Vancouver, BC with twin 2-year olds and no car

April 21, 2013 7:53 PM

Me, my wife, and our twin 2-year old boys are taking a day-trip to Vancouver, BC next Friday, mainly to get some paperwork taken care of at the Bentall Centre downtown (above the Burrard Skytrain station). We'll be flying in by float plane in the morning, will be finished with our appointments at 11am, and taking a ferry home from Tsawwassen in the evening. What to do in-between?

The types of things we're looking for:

• Somewhere to eat lunch. Near the Burrard Skytrain station would be best, because we'll probably be hungry right after our appointment. The default option would be the food court in the basement of the Bentall Centre, but I'd prefer something more interesting. None of us are picky eaters, but there should be something more-or-less toddler friendly on the menu and reasonably fast service would be best.
• Parks with good playgrounds for toddlers.
• Anywhere we could see freight trains (e.g., a switching yard)? The boys love trains.
• Is there a good place at the airport for watching planes take off and land? They also love planes.
• Libraries to hang out in.
• Quiet, calm places to escape to if we get overwhelmed by the hectic big city.
• Is there a part of Science World that would be appropriate for 2-year-olds?
• Might they enjoy the short documentary-style films that are shown at Science World OmniMax? They've never seen a movie or even watched TV, so it would be a totally new experience for them.
• Other ideas?

Everything has to be easy to access by public transit without much of walking, preferably near a SkyTrain station or major bus line. We won't have a stroller at our disposal, but are bringing backpack child carriers. I have visited Vancouver many times and basically know my way around the city and the major public transit routes.

I'd also appreciate any general advice on handling toddlers in the city, on busses, etc. We're total novices at going anywhere off our small rural island (pop. 900) with the kids. We've only done a few half-day trips to the small town of Sidney, BC (pop. 11,000) with a car. We don't even leave our property very often. The boys have never been in a city, so just about everything will be new to them. They're not used to seeing a lot of people or other children either. As such, we're not sure how much extra stimulation we'll need to provide vs. places to calm down. We basically don't know how to "do" cities with toddlers in tow, especially without a car, so any advice would be very much appreciated!

posted by Emanuel to Travel & Transportation around Vancouver, BC (12 answers total)

I haven't lived in Vancouver recently enough to give you good info on where to eat, but I did wrangle my own kid on public transit there until she was four.

If I were in that location with 2 kids, I'd head over to Stanley Park. It's a half hour walk, give or take, or there are a whole bunch of bus options. There are playgrounds and the beach, forest walks and the Aquarium.

Riding the Seabus is super cheap and super fun. And you'll end up at Lonsdale Quay which can be fun and will have places to eat that are a step up from a food court (but not a big step up). There are boats and float planes and cranes and freighter... stuff. And then right behind Waterfront Station (where you get on) there is a big trainyard thing. I don't think you an get right up to it, but I'm pretty sure there's a good view of it while you are walking down the "gangplank" to the Seabus.

Another option is to take one of the little ferries from Stanley Park across False Creek over to Granville Island. There is a big children's market that is full of a bunch of kid stores and lots of places to eat. The ferries also go to Science World so you could head there, too. It's been a long time since I was at Science World, but my daughter used to go there when she was a toddler with her daycare, so there is definitely stuff for them to do there. If I recall correctly, there is also a kind of kid corral that is just a more or less fenced-in space where kids can run around but not wander off and get lost.

So, there are lots and lots of fun things to do, I wouldn't worry about the stimulation part of the equation. What I'm wondering about is whether the boys are going to need a nap in the afternoon. That can make things a little tricky, unless you think they will snooze in the carriers? Maybe if the weather is good you can all relax in the park? That's the one thing I would give some real thought to.

Getting them on and off public transit, if you don't have a stroller to deal with, should be unproblematic, though on downtown routes you may have to stand. All the places I mention, with the exception of Stanley Park, are going to be really bustling. On the plus side, no matter how crazy the kids get (if they're likely to get crazy) they won't be disruptive. On the down, it has the potential to be overwhelming.
posted by looli at 8:24 PM on April 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm a couple hours south of Vancouver and get up there every other year or so, and I like to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the park around it. It's north of the city and I see there's actually a shuttle to there from downtown. Great in drizzly weather. If it's sunny, I like Vanier Park, south of the mouth of False Creek. Maritime Museum is pretty cool. It's also accessible by the little ferries in False Creek as well. You can take the ferry from just by Scienceworld. Grenville Island is cool, too; I forgot about the market mentioned above. (Also a great little brewery.)

I also worked at a science museum, and 2-year-olds in movies are hit and miss. Avoid anything 3D, because the glasses will probably annoy them. Typical LFF (large-film format) docos are around 45 minutes, which can be a lot for a 2-year-old, but hey, we've got to start with cinema sometime, right? LFF docos definitely concentrate on amazing visuals, and with the really little ones, go for something with fish, bugs, or larger animals-- anything with animate life. Avoid scenery/rivers/adventure-- scenery can be boring and adventure requires a narrative that'll be over their heads. Currently (Through the end of June) they're showing "To The Arctic" and "Flight of the Butterflies." Having seen neither, I can say that Arctic means icy scenery and polar bears. I'd say no. Butterflies? Emphatic yes. (Trailers here.)

Hmm, looks like Scienceworld doesn't sell Omnimax (which is a different company and technology from IMAX, but you might have to be a cinema nerd to care) tickets separately from admission, so be sure to get your money's worth in the museum. They have a play area so that you or your wife can split off and check out an exhibit while one of you watches the young'uns.
posted by Sunburnt at 8:32 PM on April 21, 2013

I believe there are shuttle buses that depart from West Hastings and Burrard-ish for Stanley Park, and I suppose you could take the same shuttle bus back to the downtown core after Stanley Park to get on the Skytrain to go to the bus depot for the Pacific Coachline bus to Victoria (I live in Victoria, have two young children, and have taken the seaplane to Van many many many times for work).

For watching airplanes, Vancouver airport has quite an awesome viewing lounge quite close to the Canada Line gates, so it's well-worth the trip (and the $15 fare per person from downtown to the airport on the Canada Line).

From the airport you could take the Canada Line to River Rock Casino and get public transit to the ferry. That would be a full day for me with two twin toddlers, and the Massey Tunnel is going to be typically beyond insane in terms of traffic - Pacific Coachlines takes Knight and avoids all that (but is nowhere near the airport).

Closer to the Bentall Centre, the new Conference Centre is pretty nice (it ought to be, since we paid $1 billion for it), with a beautiful promenade that stretches from Canada Place all the way to Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. It's great for toddlers, although you won't see any trains.

The food court below the Fairmont Waterfront, across from Canada Place (Waterfront Centre) is not a bad place to try for lunch. Lots of variety, cheaper options, plus actual daylight. It's where I would go with my kids
posted by KokuRyu at 8:51 PM on April 21, 2013

Speaking from experience, you need to limit activities with toddlers or they are going to have a meltdown. They go at a slower pace, and frequent transfers etc are going to be draining on them. I would choose one activity for the day besides the paperwork and do it.

Going to the airport is a cool idea, but just getting there will be pretty tiring for them, and then getting to the ferry terminal will be brutal. You have to get to the bus, wait for the bus, get on the bus (which is going to be crowded) and then walk onto the ferry. Very very hard for the little guys (we were just in Tokyo and used the trains, and after a while our 3 year old just decided he wanted to chill and not do anything, which is inconvenient to say the least if you are trying to get somewhere).

If it were me I would just aim for the walkway around the convention centre. For quiet time, just head for the lobby of any hotel, like the Waterfront, and sit on the couch. The Hotel Vancouver up Burrard has dogs in the lobby for guests, but I would imagine are going to be friendly with little kids.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:57 PM on April 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Coal Harbour Community Centre is about a 10 minute walk from the Bentall Centre. I'm pretty sure they have a playground.
posted by atropos at 9:37 PM on April 21, 2013

I live in downtown Vancouver and have kids. I would recommend taking the bus from Waterfront Station (one station past Burrard) and going to Granville Island. There is a playground with a tugboat there and a children's market, full of toys, trains, magic shop, and other things. You can wander around the island and see the cement trucks (worth your time), glass blowing, balls rolling around on tracks (occupies my now older kids even now - see near cement factory or ask), feed ducks at the pond, watch hordes of pigeons and seagulls and more. You can have lunch in the food market. Then you can take a ferry to Science World, which is fun for kids and adults of all ages. I started taking my babes when they were far younger than your littlest. However, I would not recommend the imax for children who have never seen tv. It is an Omnimax, meaning the giant (several storey) screen wraps around and moves. It can be intense and cause motion sickness, even in adults. Also, the stairs in there are super steep and even my 4yo was freaked out. I'd save it for a future visit or else just have one of you go with your older child. Honestly, there are so many things in Science World that I do not think you would miss the movie. In fact, you'd miss so many of the other wonderful things.

Alternatively, you could take the bus from Pender (near Burrard Station) and go for brunch or dim sum in Chinatown. Then hop the bus up Main Street to Science World. Science World is only a couple of stations from Burrard, so your kids should not end up worn out.

Stanley Park is also very lovely. But if it is raining, you won't care about the lovely so much. So make sure you choose a dry day. Many people choose the aquarium there when it is raining - it depends on how you feel about aquariums. The bus to Stanley Park is not too far from Burrard Station - catch the 19 at Waterfront Station.

Coal Harbour Community Centre is about 20 minutes on foot for kids, 10 for adults, over at Bute and Hastings. There is a playground on top and the waterfront area is lovely.

If you want your kids to see the city, I would start by walking around downtown for a little bit, then heading over to Granville Island. Depending on energy levels, you could take the little aquabus to David Lam Park (Yaletown) and go to the playground there. There's also a train you can visit (just the engine) at the Roundhouse and the area around there is nice to explore. Or, if you have more energy and time, Science World is great. But if all this is new to you, your kids may well be fascinated by Granville Island and an aquabus. Catch the Skytrain from near the Roundhouse (David Lam Park). Maybe your kids would be interested in seeing how kids who live in the city spend their days.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:48 PM on April 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

Sorry. I don't know why I thought you had an older child. Anyway, nthing the Waterfront food court. Or if the weather is nice, you could eat at a food truck, either in front of Burrard Station or up by the Art Gallery. And the Vancouver Public Library, which is half way to Yaletown, has a fantastic children's library (by Vancouver standards) with a toddler play area and toys and, of course, books. Plenty of places to eat around there,too.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:51 PM on April 21, 2013

For lunch, you could go to the cafe upstairs at the art gallery which is 2 blocks from Bentall.

To get to the huge central library, hop on the skytrain and go to Stadium station or just walk south on Robson if you end up going to the art gallery cafe. It's like 3 or 4 blocks. If you end up skytraining it from Burrard to Stadium, it's a 10 minute walk to the library at the corner of Georgia & Hamilton. If you walk along Citadel Parade St once exiting the station, there is a decorative army tank west of the crosswalk which the kids might enjoy having their pics taken in front of. At the library, there is a plaza that has food such as pizza. The kids floor is the bottom floor of the library and is great as Chaussette mentions.

Roundhouse Community Centre which is direclty south of Yaletown/Roundhouse station on the Canada line has a real, restored old-timey train (as mentioned above). Also near that station, if you walk North there is a park with swings just 2 blocks up. My favorite (but tiny) sushi place Yamamoto is also kitty corner from the park on Davie.
posted by oceanview at 9:55 PM on April 21, 2013

AQUARIUM! Definitely the aquarium. Lots to see and touch, a little cafe for lunch, lots of cool stuff in the park to see while running around to let off some energy. Have you been to the Vancouver Aquarium? They have shows explaining the various animals including seals and whales, and lots of amazing little exhibits, including the tropical room with the sloth and butterflies and birds.

It's possible the miniature train in Stanley Park will be operating either under normal hours, or for "Nation Days" celebrating First Nations people.

The right answer is the Aquarium :-)
posted by barnone at 6:22 AM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

A bunch of the busses running down Georgia St go to Stanley Park there isn't any need to get to waterfront station for the number 19. I know all the West Van busses go there (250,253,251 etc) stop next to the park and you can catch them right outside on the Georgia and Burrard corner.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 7:08 AM on April 22, 2013

I'd hop the skytrain from Burrard to Science World, especially since they like trains. Kidspace is made for their ages, my kids loved it. There's food at Science World as well. They loan out strollers so if it is naptime you could park the kids in strollers while you walk around and look at the other exhibits.

If they get bored there, if you are feeling adventurous and if the weather is ok (a lot of ifs) you can hop the aquabus to (Village>Yaletown>Granville Island) Yaletown and transfer on the aquabus to Granville Island. Or if you want to avoid walking, catch the skytrain back to Waterfront Station and then take the Seabus across to North Van. There's a little public market on that side of the water. Cheap fun for the price of a skytrain ticket.
posted by Cuke at 9:34 AM on April 22, 2013

@SpaceWarp13, they go close to the park, but they don't go in. It depends where in the park the OP wants to go. It can be a real hoof with small kids in the rain and wind (even today's wind).
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 12:13 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]