Kids and Vancouver
 

We'll be vacationing in the Pacific NW this summer and would like to do Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. We have 2 kids, 11 & 13. Any suggestions for fun stuff for them. Also, accomodations? Thanks

Get the kids on the water; harbor tours, rent a canoe in North Vancouver - Deep Cove area, etc. The Provincial Museum in downtown Victoria has lots the children will enjoy seeing, and the adults will enjoy it, too. They'll enjoy picking foods from the Granville Island Market, and then eating lunch outdoors at the market, watching the boats go by. The suspension bridge across Capilano Canyon and the gondola cars up Grouse Mountain are enjoyable adventures for kids visiting Vancouver. <BR>Plus there's another million things to do. <BR>All are good cities for kids. <BR>BAK

In addition to Brian's excellent suggestions, I would add: <BR> <BR>Vancouver: Stanley Park--rent bikes and do the seawall; also the aquarium is worthwhile. When you go to Granville Island, be sure to take the cute little passenger ferries; they're fun, and parking on the island is a real pain. <BR> <BR>Victoria: two thumbs up on the Royal BC Museum; it's excellent. You and your kids would probably also enjoy a whale watching trip to see orcas. <BR> <BR>Seattle: it's hokey, but kids seem to love the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square. Check out the fish throwers at the Pike Place Market. The Woodland Park Zoo is a must with kids, as is a ferry ride (you can just go to Bainbridge and back as foot passengers). <BR> <BR>However, I would really urge you to consider adding at least one destination to your trip that is outside the cities! IMO, the best things about the Northwest are out in the glorious scenic areas that surround us. It would truly be a shame to come here and just see cities, as nice as our cities are. A couple of suggestions: the San Juans Islands, the North Cascades, the West Coast of Vancouver Island (Tofino), or the Olympic Peninsula. <BR> <BR>Regarding accommodations, what price range? Each of the cities you mentioned has suite-style accommodations that would be suitable for families, but without knowing your lodging preferences, it's hard to make specific recommdations.

While in Vancouver you can't miss going <BR>to Science World, Stanley Park, gondola <BR>ride up Grouse Mountain is also a must do. In Victoria don't miss the Provincial Museums & the Underwater <BR>Sea World.

When in Seattle, visit the Pacific Science Center and the Boeing Plant Tour. Our children enjoyed both, and the Woodland Park Zoo, as mentioned in an earlier post. I've stayed at the Sheraton in downtown once. Beautiful and nice, but unfortunately pricey. You may want to stay outside of Seattle, like Bellevue (very nice suburb, with less expensive hotels) and make day trips into Seattle. <BR> <BR>When in Vancouver, if you like Chinese food, have a dim sum lunch or a seafood dinner. (Some of the best chefs from Hong Kong have immigrated here.) Or take in a sushi meal, which is very inexpensive and good here. In Vancouver, stay at the Wedgewood in the downtown area--very nice place and in the heart of downtown--or the Westin Bayshore, which is close to Stanley Park in Coal Harbour area. <BR> <BR>In Victoria, I can tell you which hotel NOT to stay in. The Chateau Victoria. I stayed there years ago, paid a small fortune for a dive of a room, and had a maid steal from me, and the hotel did NOTHING. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip!!!