Vancouver with kids
Vancouver in Winter with Kids: Snow Days, Skating and Cosy Rainy Afternoons
Winter in Vancouver is mild and wet in the city, but snowy on the mountains 30 minutes away. That makes for a rare combination with kids: a morning of sledding in the snow and an afternoon at the aquarium, with no snow to shovel at the hotel.
This 3-day plan mixes snow days with indoor favourites. Check each mountain's conditions and opening before you go, and bring waterproofs for everyone.
Day 1 · Snow on Grouse Mountain
A gondola up into the snow, sledding and skating at the top.
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Morning
Grouse Mountain (opens Google Maps)
The Skyride gondola goes straight up into the snow. The Sliding Zone is included with your ticket (sleds to rent), plus a skating pond and snowshoe trails.
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Lunch · Lunch
Lunch at the top
Warm up with lunch in the chalet and the view over the city.
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Afternoon
Capilano's Canyon Lights (opens Google Maps)
In winter the bridge and rainforest glow with lights after dark (until about the end of January).
Day 2 · Downtown skating and the aquarium
Free skating, sea otters, and a cosy afternoon inside.
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Morning
Robson Square ice rink (opens Google Maps)
A free outdoor rink under a glass dome downtown, with free skate rental. Open in the colder months; check the season dates.
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Lunch · Lunch
Lunch on Robson Street
Ramen and noodle shops are a warm, kid-friendly choice.
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Afternoon
Vancouver Aquarium (opens Google Maps)
Sea otters, sea lions, jellyfish and a warm Amazon gallery, all under a roof.
Day 3 · Tubing on Mount Seymour, or a science day
More snow, or Science World if the weather is wild.
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Morning
Mount Seymour tubing and tobogganing (opens Google Maps)
The Toboggan Park has no age limit (bring your own non-inflatable sled); the Snow Tube Park has a tow back up for riders over 4 feet tall.
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Afternoon
Science World (opens Google Maps)
Hands-on science under the big dome, the perfect plan B on a stormy day.
Good to know
- Snow is up the mountains, not in town: the city rarely gets snow that stays. Cypress Mountain also has a tube park.
- Driving up: the mountain roads need winter tires and sometimes chains; the gondola at Grouse needs neither.
- Waterproofs win: rain jackets, waterproof boots and a spare set of dry clothes for the car.
- Winter events: Lunar New Year celebrations (late January or February) and the PuSh festival bring family shows downtown.
Make it a game
A Play Your Trip book turns your winter plan into an adventure: every stop a quest with a coin to collect, every place one tap from the map. Vancouver books are coming soon; see how it works.
Questions
Does it snow in Vancouver in winter?
Rarely in the city, where winter is mild and rainy. The North Shore mountains (Grouse, Cypress and Seymour), 30 minutes away, usually have snow from December to March.
Where can kids go sledding near Vancouver?
Grouse Mountain's Sliding Zone (included with the gondola), Mount Seymour's Toboggan Park and Snow Tube Park, and Cypress Mountain's tube park.
Is there free ice skating in Vancouver?
Yes, the Robson Square rink downtown is free, with free skate rental, in the colder months.