Next summer, my family (two adults and two kids, 16 and 10) will be in Vanouver for two days without a car. We've never been to Vancouver, what should we put on our must-do list?

No need for a car in Vancouver, the public transport is good.

For some ideas, see the first three posts here:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/?s=vancouver

It seems difficult to leave the city and enjoy the great outdoors without a car in Vancouver. Where are the best places for a day trip via transit?

We just got back from Vancouver yesterday. We stayed in the downtown area (Westin Grand) without a car.
There was no problem getting around on public transportation.
If you want to get out of downtown to "enjoy the great outdoors", grab a trolley or HoHo bus to Stanley Park for some beautiful outdoor time.
You can also get a free shuttle to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is a bit farther out than Stanley Park. In addition to the bridge itself, there are several other interesting things you can do there, including a treetop walk, a cliff walk, and a nature walk, all within a beautiful redwood forested area. But keep in mind that you'll have to actually pay to enter the park (a bit pricey, but worth it) to use the free shuttle for the return to town.

Take the express bus out to Horseshoe Bay and catch the ferry to Bowen Island. Such beautiful scenery.

Rent bikes near Stanley Park and enjoy this bike friendly city the way the locals do.

Find your way by public transit to the UBC campus to visit the amazing indigenous displays and the Museum of Anthropology.

Catch the cute little ferry to Granville Island and eat your way around the food stalls.

So much to do a couple of days is just a beginning.

You can also use public transport to get to Lynn Canyon, which also has a suspension bridge, and is free.

We are heading back to Vancouver in a couple weeks so I dug up my trip report from a few years back. I am finding that it still holds up. It may help:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...rip-report.cfm

I've taken 3 trips to Vancouver over the last 11 years never with a car and have always found much to do to keep busy. I think the places mentioned so far are great and more than enough to keep you busy for your visit. I could add to that Grouse Mountain, the van Dusen Gardens and Queen Elizabeth Park (with the Bloedel Conservatory if you like seeing very colourful birds), accessible by subway. Honestly, though, downtown/Stanley Park/Granville Island and a visit to Grouse Mountain or maybe a suspension bridge and your 2 days will be filled.

Have fun! Daniel