Vancouver Planning & Tips

If you're driving or flying into BC, remember to bring your passports. A license is no longer a valid form of identification.

Many families combine a trip to Vancouver with Victoria and Whistler. To reach Victoria, you have to book a spot with BC Ferries and drive about 40 minutes north of Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Terminal. Ninety-five minutes later, you arrive just north of Victoria in Swartz Bay. From Victoria, you can take the Victoria Clipper ferry back to Seattle.

My favorite route to Whistler from Vancouver is on the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb. The train leaves from Vancouver every morning in summer promptly at 8:30 a.m. Views of the city and the forest of Stanley Park can be seen as the train hugs the waterfront, soon making your way above Howes Sound. This glorious body of deep blue Pacific Ocean water is backed by the Coast Mountains. As the train heads north away from the coast high into old-growth forest, the train slows near two impressive waterfalls, Shannon and Brandywine, before making its final ascent to the lofty peaks of Whistler. Some folks aboard the train will simply head back to Vancouver on the three p.m. return trip, but it would be wise to stay in Whistler, a four-season outdoor playground.

The Art of Smart Timing
Vancouver has a moderate climate, especially compared to the rest of the country. Even in December, the average temperature is 43 degrees Fahrenheit. July and August tend to be the driest months, with rain a regular occurrence from October though March. So in May, June and September, the prices might be reduced from summer highs, yet you could get that same sunny temperate weather.

Getting Around
Home to Granville Island and Stanley Park, Vancouver is a great city to walk around. I would avoid driving and take TransLink, the city's public transportation.

Off the Radar
Of all the sites listed above, the one families are least likely to venture to is the Museum of Anthropology since it's out of town. That would be a huge mistake. Make the extra effort and you'll be duly rewarded. Located on the University of British Columbia campus, it's a 20-minute bus ride from downtown. Buses 4, 10 or 99 will get you to the campus and then it's a 10-minute walk.

Visitor's Bureau
Tourism Vancouver