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A Vancouver resident shares her favorite family activities in this exciting Canadian city.

Voted one of the "Top 20 Best Overseas Cities" by Condé Nast Traveler, Vancouver, Canada is a safe, clean, family-friendly paradise. Mind you, I may be a tad biased - our family has leaved here for over 20 years. But I'm probably not far wrong in my praise. For one thing, Vancouver is a beautiful city, bordered by lacy inlets of the Pacific Ocean, with snow-capped mountains rising to the north. It also basks in enviably mild weather. That, coupled with many outdoor recreational activities, makes for a great family holiday, especially in summer when the weather is typically warm and sunny. So when you come to visit, here's my list of favorite outings to enjoy as a family.

Stanley Park
Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6 Canada‎
604/257-8400
Walk, rollerblade, or cycle the 5.5km seawall encircling this majestic 1,000-acre woodland park in downtown Vancouver. We always marvel at the views of the downtown skyline and the seaplanes skimming over the Burrard Inlet. When our son was younger, he enjoyed checking out the occasional cyclist carrying a ferret or poodle in a backpack. If the kids are tired, explore Stanley Park in an old-fashioned, horse-drawn carriage. A must for younger children is the petting zoo and a ride on the miniature railway. And for the swimmers in your family, don't miss the outdoor heated pool at 2nd Beach overlooking English Bay (it's safe for toddlers, too.)
*Bike, rollerblade and toddler-trailers available at rental shops on nearby Denman St. One-hour horse-drawn tours depart every 30 minutes Mar.-Oct. The Ferguson Point Tea House is a beautiful fine-dining restaurant for that special evening out.

Vancouver Aquarium
845 Avison Way
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6G 3E2 Canada
604/659-3474
The largest aquarium in Canada and one of the five largest in North America, the Vancouver Aquarium is not to be missed.  In the simulated, noisy, underwater world of Arctic Canada, watch Aurora cavort with her babies, Qila and Tuvaq, and other Beluga whales. When our son tired of viewing the whales, he usually made a beeline for the sharks in the Tropic Zone and the giant octopus in the Treasures of the BC Coast Gallery.  New is Clownfish Cove, an interactive play area for small kids who can get hands-on (but oh-so-gently) with horseshoe crabs -- those weird, wonderful, pincher-free, naturally blue-blooded crustaceans that date back to the Jurassic Period, about 200 million years ago.   Celebrating a birthday?  Call ahead to arrange for a party complete with cake and hands-on activities.  One of the top aquariums in North America, it has seen 867,000 visitors in a year. 
*Located in Stanley Park, so if time is short, combine a visit with a park tour. 

Museum of Anthropology 

6393 N.W. Marine Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6T 1Z2 Canada
604/822-5932
About 170,000 First Nation people live in B.C. The Museum of Anthropology honors their culture by displaying one of the world's largest collections of Northwest Coast aboriginal art. Kids learn about potlatch ceremonies and other aspects of the Indian way of life from bowls and dishes, totem poles, canoes and other exhibits. They might even appreciate the collection of art by internationally-acclaimed Haida artist, Bill Reid!
*If young ones get restless, have them run outside where they can see the carved Haida family house and mortuary chamber.