Looking for recommendations for a short (3-4night) trip near Vancouver with a 3year old. I have no idea where to go!
Open to few hours of driving/ferries or short flights. Bonus points for recommending kid friendly accommodations!

Powell River! Freshwater lakes, ocean, Savary Island day trip, hiking, beaches,trails

Kelowna......you can then drive to lake country which is about half an hour away and there is a place where you can pet kangaroos!

Water slide park near twwassen mills

We love Crystal Cove at Tofino and so do our grandchildren. Lots of beach walking

ferry to Victoria!

Sunshine Coast

Hornby Island

Whistler

We went to Osoyoos in the spring. Stayed at Walnut beach resort. Great heated pool. Nice beach. Kitchenette for cooking snacks and meals and lots of wineries to sample for the grownups. Our 3 year old loved it.

Parksville and Qualicum... Coombs Country Market

osoyoos

Following

Victoria best to make reservations for the ferry... go to bcferries.com

Any thoughts on the zoo in Langley or the aquarium?

Aquarium is great, zoo is absolutely awful.

I second that the Zoo is horrible, but Science World is great!

My grand daughter is only 3

I went to Science work with my daughter since she was 2!

There are fun things at science world even for infants! 3 is the perfect age.

I wouldn't waste my money on the lame zoo. But the Aquarium is great.

Summerland Beach Resort. Safari Beach Resort in Osoyoos

Victoria,

Leavenworth

Seattle Zoo is amazing.
Tofino.
Great wolf Lodge in Washington .
A little further drive is Silverwood theme park in Idaho.
6.5 hour drive . Scenic stops along the way and very family friendly. Lots of great places to stay. Check it out!

I agree with the Seattle Zoo with a three year old in tow. It’s awesome. Can stay just outside of Seattle in Lynwood at the Homewood Suites which is awesome with kids. Great suites and a pool. Breakfast included. Then go do Pike Place Market and area for a day.

Stay in Canada to travel. Lots to see and do around Vancouver and in Vancouver island!

Here I'll help with ideas: Tofino. Go whale watching and see animals in their natural habitat instead of just in aquariums. Check out the sea life in tide pools when the tide goes down. cultis lake has waterslides and a theme park I think. Build sand castles on a beach. Hornby Island water is absolutely beautiful and warm but probably out of luck with accomodations this late. Science world in Vancouver. SO SO much to do in Canada!

Whale watching is amazing, but I would wait until your child is a bit older. My sister is a marine naturalist for a Vancouver based whale watching company, and honestly, little ones and whale watching are not always a great mix. The water can get a bit rough at times, and the boat chaotic when whales are sighted. Not really the ideal place to be trying to keep a 3 year old safe and entertained. As well, whale watches can stretch out up to 6 hours, depending on the distance to get to whales, so that can be a pretty long stretch for most kiddos to stay focused and not get cranky. Just saying this from experience, mine and my sister’s.

Great wolf lodge in Seattle

Harrison Hot Springs

Tons of great places to visit in Vancouver with a 3 yr old. Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain, Granville Island, Deep Cove, Ambleside Beach, Dundarave Beach and a drive to Whistler with a stop at Shanon Falls, Squamish. The possibilities are endless.

VanDusen Gardens on sunny day is beautiful wander.

Victoria. So much to do.

Beachside motel penticton

Saltspring Island.

So much to do in a d around Vancouver. White Rock or Crescent Beach. Stanley Park, Science World. You could do a circle trip to the island. Ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo visit Parksville, Coombs and then drive down to Victoria and return via Schwartz Bay. The opportunities are endless!

In vancouver there is plenty
With a 3year old I’m assuming you don’t want hassles
Boundary bay long beach tidal pools when tide is out lots to explore, big water far away concession on beach great sand
Science world when yr tired go to kiddie area they block it off so little ones can’t escape, you can have your tea/coffee and you kid will be able to wander in a confined area
Grouse mountain tram ride, stuff to do on top google it.
Many outdoor pools
Learn to fish places in Abbotsford
Britannia minding museum by Squamish very cool get to gold pan, underground mine,

Where do you live. Many people recommending Vancouver Island, but maybe you're there already? How open is your budget? Do you want to stay specifically in Canada? Do you want to do resort or active? Will your 3 year old really know the difference in your location or do you want a different break? Sometimes at that age it's great to pack a lunch and spend the whole day at Kits, 2nd beach or any of the great beaches we have and just relax. Get a beach tent so she can have a nap during the day while you relax. If rainy do the same at Hillcrest pool where there are amazing kids fun areas. Traveling for 3 days can be a joy killer, you all might enjoy less hassle.

Very good points! So we live in Vancouver but we haven’t explored the islands much. I’d like to stay in Canada and not drive too far. The budget is pretty open. We do go to the pools and do what you mention a lot but husband & I were hoping to “get away” for a few days so it’s mostly for us (but obviously have to entertain the 3yr old or it will be hell!) We are not the super adventurous type, so resort style is good and easy exploring

Bowen Island. Just a 20 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay. Check the Tourism Bowen Island website for accommodations and things to do.

Surprised that no one has suggested whistler yet

True, but we have definitely been to Whistler a few times..

Qualicum beach / Parksville!

Yes Parksville area, great family area. Try Tigh Na Mara Resort

I’m looking into Parksville and this resort. Is there stuff to do around the city too?

Parksville town is small and quaint. Lots of great beach for playing/looking for crabs. Very nice seawall walk. There is a huge and awesome playground in Parksville too. Nanaimo is only a 20 minute drive away with city type things to do

Duncan is 45 mins from the ferry; they have a great farmers market on Saturdays and a great pool for little kids

Realm Food Co in Parksville is delicious and great with kids.

Community beach in Parksville has water spray park that three year olds love. Nice beach for swimming. Departure Bay beach in Nanaimo has great spray park for kids and nice beach and playground. Transfer beach in Ladysmith has nice spray park and very safe beach and playground. Get ferry reservations.

The Sunshine Coast is beautiful

Elaine Shum this is a good one for you to follow

Bridal Falls has a camping resort with the water park for little ones next door. Also an easy hike up to the falls!

Kelowna. Wineries for mom and dad and a kangaroo farm for the kiddo!

Powell River is great. Beaches, hiking, water park for the three year old with awesome ice cream. Local brewery for the parents, so much to do

Sunshine Coast! Short 40 ferry min ride from Horseshoe bay

Steveston Village for fish and chips and great playground for little ones.

Vancouver Island between Parksville/Qualicum or Tofino. Less driving on the former and maybe easier with a 3 year old

And ocean village is a wonderful place to stay with kids!

Tigh Na Mara in Parksville. Great beach for fun in the sand. They’ve got log cabins that are pet friendly and have small kitchens for meals. The restaurant has fabulous food - in the summer they’ve got planned events for children. I highly recommend this place

Great, this is what I’m leaning towards!

They also have day camps for kids during the summer so you can enjoy the spa there which is amazing

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Parksville

Scoopemchuk Falls and Scoopemchuk Narrows on the Sunshine Coast as well as Harrison Hot Springs

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You mean Skoomchuk falls and rapids

Try Whistler... lots of hikes, walks, lakes, beaches, fun in the Village!

Expensive

Maplewood Farm in North Vancouver is great for little ones if you're staying in Vancouver. Family friendlty beaches in West Vancouver as well. Stay at the Holiday Inn North Vancouver - close to downtown and all the amenities of the North Shore.

I actually really love the fairmont in whistler. Great pool where you can spend the day plus lakes, and walkable to restaurants and stuff. Kinda pricey but cheaper than taking the ferry and then a hotel, and it’s a great drive

Kid friendly in Vancouver includes the Stanley Park Train, petting farm, and the Aquarium. Close by are Granville Island with a very popular Children's market, close by cute little Harbour Ferries for a boat tour around False Creek...a lovely break just sitting and enjoying the view. There is a fantastic new playground next to Science world....look for an AirB&B perhaps.

Following

Cultus Lake, One hour east from Vancouver abundance of camping, hiking. tourismchilliwack.com

Nice thing about the ferry to Victoria is that the trip is also fun rather than hours in the cart to get to the interior. There is lots to see and do there.

Hope BC, it's beautiful.....

I second the aquarium or Greater Vancouver zoo in Aldergrove. What time of year are you going? There is Playland in Vancouver right now