Family-Friendly Spring Walks in Vancouver
Get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air on an easy family walk. These stroller-friendly walks include kid-approved stops like playgrounds, cafes, gardens, and beaches.
Stanley Park
The Seawall around Stanley Park is the quintessential Vancouver walk with incredible views of the city, ocean, and mountains around every bend. It takes about three hours to walk the flat, stroller-friendly path around the parks' perimeter. However, if that's too far for little legs, you can just do a small section.
A fun option for families is to start near the park entrance on Georgia Street and follow the paths past Lost Lagoon to Second Beach. Along the way, you can check out the exhibits at the Stanley Park Nature House or watch the ducks splashing in the lagoon. There's a great playground at Second Beach too.
Another kid-friendly walk in Stanley Park is to walk the Seawall to the Totem Poles and Brockton Point Lighthouse, then loop back around to the Vancouver Aquarium.
There is lots of paid parking in Stanley Park, or take Translink bus 19 from downtown Vancouver into the park.
South False Creek Seawall
Gaze across the water to the downtown skyline as you amble along the flat, paved pedestrian path of the False Creek Seawall. The 3.5 kilometre-long stretch of Seawall between Science World and has lots of family-friendly stops.
Start your walk outside Science World. You could spend hours inside exploring the interactive exhibits, but if you're short on time, pause outside the entrance to watch the balls drop and play a song at The Tower of Bauble sculpture.
Walk west on the Seawall to arrive at Olympic Village. If you're hungry, grab a snack at Terra Breads next to the giant sparrow sculptures called The Birds. When the little ones need a play break, stop at the playground at Hinge Park nearby. Kids will love the tunnel made from repurposed industrial equipment.
Continue along the Seawall under the Cambie Street Bridge. Kids won't be able to resist the allure of the new playground at Charleson Park. It has trampolines, a hill slide, and a pirate ship.
Finish your walk at the Kids Market on Granville Island. The entire building is devoted to children with kid-focused toy stores, cafes, arcades, and more. If the day is warm, hit up the free Granville Island Water Park just down the block.
Getting to this area of Vancouver by transit is easy. You can take the Expo Line Skytrain to Science World Station and Translink Bus 50 to Granville Island. Or take the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries between downtown and various locations along False Creek.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Spring and early summer are peak bloom at VanDusen Botanical Garden. The 22-hectare garden sprawls across several city blocks and includes over 7500 plant species. Admission is charged but there are discounts for seniors and children. As well, kids 4 and under are free.
Family members of all ages will enjoy strolling the paths through various ecosystems. Most of the paths are paved or crushed gravel and accessible for wheelchairs, mobility devices, or strollers. You can also pick up Sensory Support Kits at the Visitor Centre. They include tinted glasses and noise-cancelling earmuffs for neurodivergent visitors.
VanDusen Botanical Garden is very kid-friendly. The wide, grassy lawns offer lots of space to run and play. You can also try to spot hidden waterfalls, turtles, sculptures, and tunnels through the trees. Don't miss the hedge maze at the back of the garden - it's a kids' favourite. You can also sign up for Family Programs like storytimes or guided walks several times a month.
If you get hungry, you can buy snacks and meals at The Garden Cafe or Shaughnessy Restaurant. To get to the garden, take Translink Bus 17 from downtown Vancouver. You can also take the Canada Line Skytrain to Oakridge-41st Avenue Station and then walk 20 minutes to the garden.
Trout Lake
The flat path around Trout Lake in John Hendry Park in East Vancouver makes a great walk for families. Kids will enjoy watching for ducks and other waterfowl along the shoreline. The park also has two playgrounds and lots of green space for throwing a ball or just running around.
Trout Lake is also a fabulous spot for a picnic lunch. There are lots of cafes and restaurants along nearby Commercial Drive, so you can get take-out and bring it to the park.
From downtown Vancouver, take the Expo Line Skytrain to Commercial Broadway Station. From there, it's an easy 20-minute walk to the park.
More Family-Friendly Walks
Queen Elizabeth Park: Explore the paths and gardens in Queen Elizabeth Park. It sits on Vancouver's highest point, so it has great views.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: Wander across the famous suspension bridge and through the rainforest at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. They also have a kids' zone.
Kitsilano Beach: Stroll along the sand or the Seawall path at Kitsilano Beach. Kids will love making sand castles or playing in the playground.
Arbutus Greenway: The 9-kilometre-long Arbutus Greenway is a former railway line turned pedestrian walking path through Vancouver's west side. The section in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood has easy access to cafes if you need a snack.