Summertime Family Fun on Vancouver’s North Shore

Vancouver’s North Shore has always been the answer to any parent’s favourite complaint to hear: “I’m boooored.” Without school days to keep them occupied, there are plenty of options on the North Shore this summer to keep your kids moving, laughing – and maybe even (gulp) learning?

Kid’s First Sundays at the Polygon Gallery is on now, each week up to August 14th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids and their families will convene outside on Cates Deck for some art-making under the sun, inspired by the Gallery’s current exhibition, Ghosts of the Machine which explores our relationship with the virtual world – perfect for the little gamer in your group.

Not far from the Polygon, Sunset Cinema at The Shipyards, until the end of August, is showing a free kid-friendly movie every Wednesday evening starting around – you guessed it – sunset. Catch classics like Wall-E, Night at the Museum and Back to the Future on a huge outdoor screen by the water.

Every Friday in the same location is Shipyards Live. One of the North Shore’s signature annual events, this party on the pier features live music on The Stage at Shipbuilders Square, food trucks, and local artisan vendors in a pop-up Friday Night Market. The Shipyards Splash Park will be open too for cool family fun, as it is all summer long from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting.) 

Of course, if you’re looking to spend some quality time with Mother Nature, there’s no better place than the North Shore. Grouse Mountain is the ultimate summer playground for kids. The Kids Tree Canopy Adventure will have your little ones climbing from treehouse to treehouse through cargo nets and wavy bridges high above the forest floor. For the little-older-set there’s zip-lining and a mountain ropes adventure too. 

Over on Cypress Mountain, the Eagle Coaster is the longest mountain coaster in Canada. Even your youngest can experience the thrill of flying down the mountain through twists and turns and trees, safe and snug in your lap.

But you don’t have to spend a dime to enjoy the best of the outdoors, as the North Shore is full of kid-friendly hikes to make a day of. Visit the Capilano Salmon Hatchery along the Capilano Canyon route, swing over the Seymour River on a new suspension bridge built along Fisherman’s Trail, or for the more adventurous, there’s Cypress Falls with its slightly steeper climb. 

Finally, for the cute and cuddly animal lovers (which is every kid?) Maplewood Farms is the last remaining farm on the North Shore and is home to over 200 animals and birds. Kids get up close to all kinds of barnyard friends like goats, chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, E-I-E-I-O. Pack along a lunch for yourself at the many picnic tables on hand, and don’t forget to pack some carrots for the rabbits!

For more information on these and other kid-friendly activities for summer, visit  vancouversnorthshore.com.