One of the best ways to enjoy your visit to Vancouver is to take a tour of the area by bus, or boat, or even by float plane. There are many ways to explore downtown Vancouver, local mountain lakes and glaciers, and the North Shore including Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Grouse Mountain.
The Vancouver Trolley Company offers bus tours of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park, Gastown, Robson Street, Granville Island, Chinatown, and English Bay. Whale watching tours are also available seasonally. And another popular attraction is the many different Vancouver Harbour Cruises.
The more adventurous can take a float plane tour that includes a complete aerial view of Vancouver and the surrounding mountains. One of the most spectacular of these tours features the hanging glaciers and knife-edged ridges of Mount Mamquam (8,450 feet/2,600 metres) and a landing on an alpine lake, where the air is fresh and the water is crystal clear.
Vancouver is a great for the whole family to visit. Children will enjoy Science World, which is a kid-friendly museum that is entertaining and informative. It is also home to the famous Alcan OminMax theatre and its IMAX movies.
In the summer, another popular stop is PlayLand Amusement Park and its many rides and attractions. Younger children will enjoy the petting zoos at Maplewood Farm and at Stanley Park, and the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
Stanley Park also has many fish and marine life in its world-class aquarium. Another fun place is the Kids Only Market at Granville Island, which is a cluster of toy and clothing shops catering specifically to children. And to cool off after a long, fun day, there is Splashdown Water Park in nearby Tsawwassen.
