H. R. MacMillan Space Centre

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, founded 1968, is an astronomy museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that is located at Vanier Park in Vancouver.  The Space Centre is named for H. R. MacMillan, a British Columbia industrialist and philanthropist.

Inside the building, there are live demonstrations on science in the GroundStation Canada Theatre, exhibits and games in the Cosmic Courtyard, and shows about astronomy in the Planetarium Star Theatre.

Source: Wikipedia

Kitsilano Beach

Kitsilano Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, especially in the warm summer months. Located at the north edge of the Kitsilano neighbourhood, the beach faces out onto Burrard Inlet.

The beach is home to the longest swimming pool in Canada, the salt-water outdoor Kitsilano Pool, operated by the Vancouver Park Board and open during the summer.  Toward the northern edge of the beach is a playground and a number of beach volleyball courts.

Source: Wikipedia

Shuswap Lake

Shuswap Lake is a popular summer time destination located in South-Central BC, where you can choose from many activities like outdoor adventures, golf, water activities, family fun, shopping, arts & culture, and culinary experiences.

The name "Shuswap" is derived from the Shuswap or Secwepemc First Nations people, the most northern of the Interior Salish peoples, whose territory includes the Shuswap.

Source: Wikipedia

Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park is a municipal parklocated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Its enclosed tropical garden houses 500 exotic plants and flowers and more than a hundred free-flying tropical birds. 

There are several other attractions in the park including: Arboretum, Celebration Pavilion, Bloedel Floral Conservatory, Fountains/Plaza, Quarry Gardens, Painters' Corner and Sculpture.

Activities at Queen Elizabeth Park include: Pitch and putt golf course, Disc golf course, Tennis courts, Lawn bowling Club and Tai Chi.

Source: Wikipedia

Barnston Island

Barnston Island is an unincorporated island located in the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area of British Columbia, Canada.  Located in the Fraser River between Surrey and Pitt Meadows, Barnston Island was named in 1827 for Hudson's Bay Company Clerk George Barnston. Great place to go bike riding flat paved road with few cars after the ferry off-loads with a distance of  9.7km.

Source: Wikipedia

9 O'Clock Gun

The 9 O'Clock Gun is a cannon located in Vancouver, British Columbia that is shot every night at 21:00 (9 p.m.) PT.  The gun is a 12-pound muzzle-loaded naval cannon, cast in Woolwich, England in 1816.  Seventy-eight years later, in about 1894, it was brought to Stanley Park by the Department of Marine and Fisheries to warn fishermen of the 18:00 Sunday close of fishing. On October 15, 1898 the gun was fired for the first time in Stanley Park at noon.

The 21:00 firing was later established as a time signal for the general population and to allow the chronometers of ships in port to be accurately set. The Brockton Point lighthouse keeper, William D. Jones, originally detonated a stick of dynamite over the water until the cannon was installed. The cannon is now activated automatically with an electronic trigger which was installed by the Parks Board electrical department. It is still loaded daily with a black powder charge. The fluorescent lights illuminating the gun from overhead go out exactly ten seconds before it fires, and turn back on a few seconds afterward.

Source: Wikipedia

The Drop (sculpture)

The Drop is a steel sculpture resembling a raindrop by the group of German artists known as Inges Idee, located at Bon Voyage Plaza in the Coal Harbour neighborhood of downtown Vancouver. The 65-foot (20 m) tall piece is covered with Styrofoam and blue polyurethane.

According to Inges Idee, the sculpture is "an homage to the power of nature" and represents "the relationship and outlook towards the water that surrounds us." The Drop was commissioned as part of the 2009 Vancouver Convention Centre Art Project and is owned by BC Pavco.

Source: Wikipedia

Whytecliff Park

Originally named White Cliff City, which opened in 1909.  Whytecliff Park is located near West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay Neighbourhood.  The park is currently home to more than 200 marine animal species and is the first Marine Protected Area in Canada. Sea lions can be seen sunbathing on the beach during summer.

The park is perfect for family barbeques with ample space and public washrooms. The park also offers great hiking, swimming and is a popular location for underwater diving.

Source: Wikipedia

Harrison Hot Springs Water Park

If you're looking for a place that's fun for the the whole family and need to cool down then Harrison Lake and Harrison River is the place to go!  Enjoy many water activites like fishing, boating, windsurfing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, or just soaking in the hot springs pool, Harrison is all about clear, clean, glacier pure water.

Souce: Tourism Harrison

Grouse Grind

The Grouse Grind is Vancouver, BC’s most popular trail.  Located in North Vancouver at the base of Grouse Mountain, the trail is so widely used that wooden steps were built on most of the trail to prevent erosion from further use.  This trail is not for the faint of heart, there are 2,830 stairs and has an elevation gain of 2,800 feet!

Reach the top of the peak and you can successfully say that you completed “The Grind”.  Then you can turn around and hike back down the mountain… just kidding!  At the top you can purchase snacks, shop, hike some more, or have lunch.  You can also purchase your ticket for the Gondola ride down the mountain.

Houston Trail

Houston Trail is a scenic loop that is located in Derby Reach Regional Park in Langley, BC.  The forested trail is 4 km long, is open all year round and is popular with walkers, hikers and the occasional horseback rider.

Britannia Mine Museum

For almost 70 years during the 1920s and 1930s, Britannia Mine was an important source of copper ore and was one of the largest mining operations in Canada.  The museum is the site of Mill 3, also called the Concentrator and in 1987 was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. 

Fun for the whole family, learn about the history of Britannia Mine and explore the grounds with underground train tours and gold panning demonstrations.