Once Upon a Time in Metro Vancouver

The lush, 400-hectare (988-acre) oasis that is Stanley Park is truly magical. Set in the centre of downtown Vancouver, the sprawling rainforest is packed with family-friendly activities, including several sandy beaches; an 8.8-kilometre (5.4-mile) stretch of seawall perfect for strolling, biking and snapping selfies; a majestic totem pole “forest”; the dreamy Rose Garden; tranquil Lost Lagoon; and much more. You can even take a private horse-drawn carriage ride in a Cinderella Pumpkin Coach.

Ahoy mates! Swashbucklers of all ages are welcome to board Pirate Adventures’ 50-foot ship for an exciting outing on the high seas (i.e. placid False Creek). Don pirate gear and “tattoos” before setting sail to search for sunken treasure, solve puzzling clues on a mysterious map and maybe even walk the plank. Beware of evil Pirate Pete – you may need to man the cannons!

Did you know brooms are a symbol of good luck? They sweep away bad fortune and protect against evil. Select your very own good luck charm at Granville Island Broom Co., a family business that sells beautifully handcrafted brooms that even Cinderella would covet. At this charming shop, you can watch broom-making in action and browse sweepers of all types, sizes and purposes (marriage or baby broom, anyone?).

Tourism Richmond’s Visitor Centre in Steveston is the perfect place to start your Storybrooke adventure. Pick up a self-guided walking map for $2.50 and shop from a selection of licensed merchandise such as Welcome to Storybrooke hoodies and t-shirts, mugs, magnets, playing cards and buttons. The helpful staff can also provide insider tips on Storybrooke and Richmond’s must-see attractions.

Wander the streets of Steveston and snap photos of the real-life Storybrooke Post Office (Steveston Post Office); order a latte at Storybrooke Coffee Co. (Steveston Coffee Co.); browse Purbeck Shoes (Pieces home décor and gift shop); and sample a piece of scrumptious, fresh-from-the-oven bread at Storybrooke Country Bread (Romania Country Bread).

Explore a fairy tale-like village at the 1930’s-era Burnaby Village Museum, which is fashioned after a days-of-yore tram stop community. Here, guests can chat with “townsfolk” outfitted in period costume, learn traditional welding techniques at the blacksmith’s shop and select a sweet treat at the General Store. Be sure to take a spin on the vintage carousel, where music from a 1925 Wurlitzer band organ plays a lively soundtrack. The village is also home to a sinfully sweet ice cream parlour that offers frequent ice cream-making workshops.

In fairy tale lore, gardens represent idyllic spaces of beauty and innocence. Century Gardens, situated next to the Burnaby Art Gallery, perfectly captures the calming and captivating power of an Eden-like space with colourful flowers spilling onto tranquil walking trails and a whimsical rhododendron display. After admiring the blooms, wander over to Hart House Restaurant, located in a Tudor-style structure along Deer Lake Park – and settle into a scene straight off the pages of your favourite fairy tale.

In 1898, a terrifying fire destroyed the downtown portion of this quaint city. Just two buildings survived, the Queens Hotel and the Met Hotel. These are just two of several historic buildings you’ll learn about on Tourism New Westminster’s self-guided tour. You’ll also pass impressive stone cathedrals, imposing courthouses old and new, and majestic City Hall (the Mayor’s house is nearby in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood).

This newly constructed, multipurpose Anvil Centre is home to the New Westminster Museum & Archives, which oversees more than 70,000 objects, photographs and archival records that cover 10,000 years of the city’s royal history. Meanwhile, the New Media Gallery is a magical experience that explores the close relationship between art and technology with exhibits that plug in, light up, respond, sense and even communicate with visitors.