Weekends are my thang! We do our best to get outta the city for a weekend every couple of months. Even though getting out of the city seems like the norm in the Summer, there are lots of kid-friendly places to go to this Winter that are near Vancouver.
Storm Watching
If you want to see how wild the ocean can be, storm watching in Ucluelet is the place to go. Last time we were there we stayed at Terrace Beach Resort in a cute, rustic cabin.
Explore the forest and trails, watch how big the waves get. The power went out so bring board games, cards and your favourite snacks. The resort provides candles and all that. Then at night after the kids are asleep you can listen to the waves while you soak in your private hot tub on the deck overlooking the ocean.
Things to do: Read about Storm Watching on Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet
Tubing & Mining
If you’re looking for snow, head up to Squamish and stay for a night. The Sea To Sky Gondola is a must do! It’s stunning! Have lunch at the lodge then go tubing. *UPDATE Nov 2020 – The Sea To Sky Gondola is currently closed. Keep an eye on their website for when they’ll re-open*
Britannia Mine Museum is fun for any kid of all ages. They’ll give you a hard hat and you can ride an actual minecart into the mine. Blow up rocks and go panning for gold.
A little history
Victoria is a beautiful place to visit. We stayed at the dog-friendly, Oswego Hotel. The staff were so nice and Zoey our bulldog felt right at home. While you’re in Victoria, travel back in time and explore tiny shopping alleys and the cobblestone roads of downtown. Visit a real castle, Craigdarroch Castle, learn about BC’s history at the Royal BC Museum, and if you have a bug lover in your family the Victoria Bug Zoo will interest them. If you love vintage shopping, my favourite place to go is The Patch!
Shopping, Dining and Snow!
Whistler is an easy winter getaway for us. We have stayed at many different lodges but our favourite kid-friendly one is The Sundial Hotel. The suites are big, they have kitchens and you can get rooms with a separate living room with a pullout couch and bedroom. Grab snacks and a coffee at Pure Bread right beside the big playground. Go tubing, snowshoeing, skiing or snowboarding during the day and grab a meal at these kid-friendly restaurants with kid-approved menus: Pizzaria Antico, Spaghetti Factory in Crystal Lodge, The Mexican Corner by the Sundial and The Brewhouse Pub.
Amanda is a writer, photographer, videographer and a content creator with a passion for sharing stories. With her family of 5, they share experiences, tips and ideas that empower Moms to make memories with their families right here in British Columbia.
