35 Free & Cheap things to do with Kids in Vancouver

This great article comes from Lora Shinn of Cascadia Kids (www.Cascadiakids.com). Her website features tons of great ideas for things to do in our wonderful province....

Vancouver’s expensive, I’ve heard families complain. I beg to disagree. With the right attitude and approach, you’ll find tons of affordable, family-friendly fun in and around Vancouver.

Shoot your sister (or someone else’s) with a water cannon at the Variety Kids Water Park, Vancouver’s largest outdoor spray facility, according to the Vancouver Park Board.
Pet a goat at the Children’s Farmyard and ride a Miniature Train in Stanley Park.
Ride the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay Market and jump in the ball pit.
Eat a Japadog and walk along Robson Street for people-watching and shopping.
No fear! Cross a (free) 50-metre-high suspension bridge at Lynn Canyon, then learn about the Lower Mainland’s wildlife and plants at the Ecology Centre.
Ride the multicolored, tugboat-style Aquabus around False Creek. It’s like a mini-cruise, without the buffet, swimming pools or expense.
Pop your toddler into a trailer and ride the Seaside Bicycle Route.
Go for a pony ride at Maplewood Farm.
Time travel to in Burnaby Village Museum on half-price Tuesday.
Chat with a parrot (and over 100 more birds) at Bloedel Floral Conservatory, located in Queen Elizabeth Park — the highest point in the city, with killer views.
Nibble on locally grown goodies at a Vancouver Farmers Market (multiple locations).
Take a dip in the heated, sunny saltwater at Kitsilano Pool.
Enjoy one of the awesome festivals on The Drive (don’t forget to order your scoop of gelato from one of the Italian gelaterias).
Visit the Vancouver Maritime Museum and meet a pirate or seven. Not a bad price, but a real family deal with the coupons you’ll find on the museum’s site.
Go on a North Shore family hike for incredible views and kid-friendly trails.
Pick up Pokemon cards and egg tarts in Chinatown. Better yet, head there during the Chinatown Night Market.
Chill out on rainy or very hot days in the children’s area of the Vancouver Library, then walk among the library’s architecture, a harmonious blend of Roman and contemporary structures.
Jump on the bouncy castle and crawl through an inflatable obstacle course at the West End Community Centre’s enormous Kidz Zone.
Meander through the Nitobe Memorial Garden, one of the top five Japanese gardens outside of Japan.
Shop for saris and sweets at the few-blocks-long Punjabi Market.
Introduce your preschool Picasso meet modern art at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Tuesdays between 5-9 p.m., when admission is by donation.
Play in the toddler pool at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre.
Make your own lapel pin with a typewriter, paper, markers and the helpful staff at Regional Assembly of Text.
Share a basket of fish and chips and enjoy Steveston Village’s seaside charm.
Go on a bat or bird walk with the Stanley Park Ecology Centre.
Watch Harbour Air seaplanes take off and land in Coal Harbour while the kids play at the Coal Harbour Community Centre playground.
Watch an outdoor Movie in the Park or another free outdoor movie.
Ride the futuristic SkyTrain to an Asian-style mall in Richmond.
Walk among peaceful bridges and ponds at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden during the last half-hour of the day, when admission is by donation.
Play in the sand, barbecue hot dogs, splash in the heated pool and make new family friends at Second Beach.
Fly a kid’s kite in Richmond’s reliably windy Garry Point Park.
Take your photos in front of the cool, iconic sails at Canada Place.
Check out the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory with starry-eyed children on Saturday evenings, when admission is by donation.
Take your little engineer to Burnaby Central Railway for a ride on a mini-train. Kids actually sit on top of your train car – not in a train car.
Shoot down a water slide at Granville Island Water Park. If the kids work up an appetite, you’re lucky to be on Granville Island, where the Public Market’s cheap treats are just around the corner.