Spring break in BC: Vancouver and Victoria with kids

You can spend a morning at Science World, visit the Vancouver Aquarium or take a scenic seaplane tour for a new view of the city. With Harbour Air, you can also fly across to Victoria for a day in the capital. Whether you're visiting BC from overseas or taking a break closer to home, these ideas will help you plan your time.

Get hands-on at Science World

Under Vancouver's well-known dome, Science World gives children lots of chances to build, test ideas and find out how things work. You can move through the hands-on galleries at your own pace or catch a live science show, where everyday questions turn into demonstrations you can watch. Show times vary, so check the schedule on the day you visit.

For younger visitors, the Wonder gallery is designed for children aged 0 to 5 and their caregivers. It's full of water, light and building blocks. Children can send water through channels at the water table, make colourful patterns with light pegs or work together on something built from giant blue blocks.

Science World is a good choice for a rainy day, since the whole visit is indoors. If the weather clears when you leave, you can walk along the False Creek waterfront and see another part of the city before dinner.

Explore Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium sits inside Stanley Park, so the two fit easily into one day. The Aquarium shows families the animals that live in the waters around BC and beyond, and the park is right outside when you're ready for fresh air.

At the Pacific Canada Pavilion, you can see the Strait of Georgia exhibit from two levels. Start by looking into the water from above, then go downstairs to watch rockfish and sturgeon through the glass. Seeing the same habitat from two angles helps children understand how much life is hidden under the surface.

After a morning inside, it's a short walk out into the trees. With tall trees, ocean air and mountain views, Stanley Park is one of the easiest places in Vancouver to spend time outside with children. You can follow a forest trail, stop by the water or walk a stretch of the Seawall together.

The park has beaches, wooded paths and plenty of places to rest, so you can keep your visit short or stay for most of the day. Bring snacks and a rain jacket, since spring weather on the coast can change quickly. The city's park map is useful for choosing a route that suits your family and for checking any trail closures before you go.

Spend a rainy afternoon at the Kids Market

On Granville Island, the Kids Market is an indoor, two-storey market built around children. It has toy shops, a play area and an arcade, along with other shops and activities that make it an easy place to spend a wet afternoon.

Granville Island is also a nice place to walk around once the rain stops. You can browse the Public Market, find something to eat and look out over False Creek. It suits a day when everyone needs a slower pace.

Take your adventure into the air

A seaplane tour gives your family a new way to see Vancouver. On a clear day, you may see the city set against the harbour and the mountains around it. Our Vancouver Classic Panorama scenic tour takes off and lands on the water, which is part of what makes a seaplane flight different. You don't need to be travelling to another city to make a flight part of your spring break. The tour leaves from our Coal Harbour terminal, beside the Seawall near Canada Place. You can enjoy the harbour before boarding, then carry on with your day downtown after you land. Lunch on the waterfront makes a good next stop.

Make a day of Victoria

Across the water, Victoria gives your family another part of the West Coast to explore. Our flights from downtown Vancouver land in the Inner Harbour, close to the Parliament Buildings and the downtown streets. Start with a walk around the harbour, where boats and seaplanes share the water. If you'd like lunch with a view, The Flying Otter Grill is right beside our terminal. It's a convenient place to eat before heading out to see more of the city. For more ideas, our guide to a day in Victoria covers the harbour and downtown.

From the harbour, it's a pleasant walk to Fisherman's Wharf, where brightly painted float homes line the docks. It's a fun place to wander the docks, look at the colourful homes and watch the boats come and go. Keep an eye on the water too, since harbour seals and seabirds are regular visitors.

In the afternoon, Beacon Hill Park offers gardens, winding paths and play areas. You can explore the green spaces, stop by the flower beds or give the children time at the playground before you head back to the harbour. If you'd rather not rush, stay the night. An evening in Victoria and another morning on the Island can turn a day trip into a small getaway of its own. We also offer scenic tours from Victoria if you'd like to see the city from the air while you're there.

Plan a mix of indoor and outdoor days

Spring on the coast can bring sunshine and showers in the same afternoon. The easiest way to plan for that is to pair each outdoor idea with an indoor one nearby. Science World and the False Creek waterfront work well together, as do the Aquarium and Stanley Park. On Granville Island, the Kids Market sits right beside the paths along the water. It also helps to keep each day fairly simple. One main activity in the morning and a lighter plan for the afternoon leaves room for snack breaks, playground stops and the moments when someone needs a rest. Small moments can become highlights too, like watching a seaplane land in the harbour or finding a new playground on the way back to your hotel.

If you're spending a day in Victoria, choose your flights so you arrive in the morning and leave in the late afternoon or early evening. That gives your family time to explore without watching the clock. If you're visiting from farther away, staying downtown in Vancouver keeps most of these stops a short trip from your hotel.

Flying with your family

There is no minimum age to fly with Harbour Air. When you book, let us know if anyone in your family is under 12, including infants. Children under 2 fly free on a parent or guardian's lap, with one parent or guardian travelling with each infant. Please mention your infant when you make your booking. All of our aircraft carry infant life vests.

Families are welcome to pre-board, which gives you a few extra minutes to settle in before other passengers. You can ask for pre-boarding by calling our reservations team or when you check in. It can be a little noisy on board, so you can also ask for child-sized headsets at check-in.

On most of our aircraft, bags travel in the cargo area. Before you hand over your luggage, take out any small items your children will want during the flight and make sure they fit in the seat-back pocket. Arriving at the terminal a little early gives everyone time to check in and get settled without feeling rushed. You'll find more details, including baggage allowances for children and infants, in our guide to flying with children and infants.

Bring your spring break plans to life

Whether your family prefers science galleries, forest walks or a flight across the water, Vancouver and Victoria give you plenty of ways to enjoy a few days away from the usual routine. Once your dates are set, choose your flights so your family can travel on the same departure. Check opening hours and tickets for the attractions you want to visit, pack layers for time by the water and leave some room in the plan for things you find along the way.

Book your Harbour Air flights or explore our scenic tours and join us on the coast this spring break.