We love doing things together as a family. But, like every other family I have met, we are really busy. So When I saw the Healthy Family Expo’s Metro Vancouver Summer Family Fun Guide, we called a family meeting (don’t worry, there were treats) and sat down with our giant family calendar and scheduled in the days and events (plus the logistics of the how and when) and we were off to the races. We already love family outings (and spend heaps of time together), but planning and putting aside time for fun that only involved us four at an actual third party location, was really needed and sadly lacking. This Summer Family Fun Guide was quick to remedy that! Really, why not take some time to search out some summer fun with activities that the whole family will enjoy, like we did?! We like fun. And we love the Healthy Family Expo. It was a no brainer, we could definitely combine these in the name of summertime fun!

We were so excited to try out the attractions for ourselves. And it was so much fun. Like really, REALLY FUN!! Consider this your summer fun kickstart. First things first, don’t forget to pack some tunes for the car ride! We were given a copy of Jessie Farell’s new album, Sparkle & Shine to listen to. It is inspired by nature and will put a smile on little faces. It made for some pretty impressive interpretive dancing in our household! You can preview or download this album on Apple Music or order the CD online, and also catch Jessie & The Gumboot Kids on CBC Kids.

 

Cultus Lake Waterpark

 

 

Few things say summer fun quite like waterslides! And these are quite the watersides. Definitely a 2.0 version of the water park and slides I remember growing up. With over 16 to choose from, we actually never got through them all, despite no lines! That may partially be because once we found our favourites, we would hit them again and again (I am looking at you tube rides). The large inner tube slide (that fits up to 5, I believe) got voted as our first pick, by all four of us. It is really fun, but not too scary or fast and only one person gets soaked each ride and its hilarious to see who it will be (spoiler: apparently it’s hilarious when it’s mom or dad who gets it). We actually have our second trip to the waterpark all planned and in the calendar already and a third in the works, so you know it’s a good time and well worth the hour and fifteen minutes it takes for us to get there! Clearly it was a hit! 

 

 

With a 6 and 10 year old – I found this a very ideal time to try out the waterslides. However, this park has it all – plenty of small slides, splash pads, water parks and play structures for the very young or timid kids and toddlers. There is also a nice array of medium and tube slides (that’s where you will find me and my 6 year old partner in crime). Then of course there are some daredevil slides for the adventure seekers. My ten year old was game for several of these, but there were even a couple that only her father attempted (and two even he didn’t try). Plus 5 hot tubs, a lazy river and LOTS of covered picnic benches and grassy areas. This is a truly family friendly place, from baby to grandparent, there is something for everyone. To add to the terrific set up this park has going for it, I also felt the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful, enough that it kept standing out through out the day. Overall the day left me very impressed. 

 

 

Now for my cohorts, the hit of the day and most talked about moment was when I went down a wide kiddie slide with both my daughters (like the adorable family before us had done) and in all my unmeasurable grace landed on top of the 6 year old, fully submerging both of us under the water, while still wearing my sunglasses. This was the highlight of their day and they still tell random strangers about it. You would fear this would traumatize a child, but no, I have never seen her laugh so hard in my life. And on the way home the kids got into an argument of who was going to get landed on by mommy first the next time we returned! Not exactly the legacy I was hoping for (or the Instagram-able image I envisioned), but with my epic ability to flail, a repeat is probably in the cards.

 

 

Britannia Mine Museum

 

 

This was awesome. Nothing short of awesome. And I am delighted to have a year’s pass, because I will be returning! We have driven past this mine our entire lives on the way to Whistler or Squamish, but never actually been in. And it was definitely our loss, because it is a terrific museum! We learned so much and all four of us had a great time. Not just the kids and not just the adults. It’s fair to mention that we are museum people, but this had something for everyone and each age group. It is a nice size and well set up for an afternoon of exploring history. It takes about 2-4 hours to see and do it all, depending how many questions your ten year old has about sedimentary rock and how engrossed your husband gets in panning for gold.

 

 

The actual mine tour is a must do!! Inside the mine is interesting, fun and informative. It is not scary or long, like I had feared. Basically it is straight through, not up or down and there is really only a few seconds were you can not see one end of the tunnel or the other. I would mention however that you get out of the cart in the tunnel and the ground is wet and muddy – so don’t wear your favourite footwear. The panning for gold was also a big hit with the Hubster and kids alike. They collected tiny gold flakes for a good 25 minutes or more (so basically we are independently wealthy now).

 

 

There was so much more to see and do there than I expected. I loved learning all the history and walking through the different buildings and learning about the town and the process of extracting copper. Plus anything from olden times and days past is a love of the kids and mine – so we fit right in. 

 

 

It didn’t hurt that my eldest was studying rocks and soil in school and had some pretty great questions and insights. In fact she has already been back again on a class field trip and they all loved it too. I would say if you have a museum that appeals to Grade 4 and 5’s (they unanimously rated it 4 out of 4) as well as adults and even a 6 year old – you have done something impressive. So there is plenty of reason to go check this gem of a copper mine, and all it’s history, out. As proud owner’s of year’s family pass, I definitely know we will be back, if for no other reason than to add to our newly, growing gold wealth!

 

 

Maplewood Farm

 

 

This was already a family favourite, especially with our horse loving, youngest! Who has been there 4 times already this spring. With this location, basically being 5 minutes from our place, we have been here more times than we can count over the years. We are always down for visit to Maplewood Farm. Every time we go, we seem to spend time getting to know a different space or animal better. There are milking demonstrations and goats to interact with and pet. Plus rabbits and birds to get up close with and even feed. It is also just a really lovely place to enjoy by taking a walk around the pond or enjoying a snack or brought lunch at the covered picnic benches. 

 

 

This is a great rain or shine family activity provided you dress for the weather, because it is fun to see which animals love or hide from the rain. It’s also fun to get muddy and splash in puddles if you are my 6 year old. Also while we are discussing pros, animals poop here as well, as that is what all animals do and this is hilarious and wonderful to some 6 year olds (and I suspect many other ages as well).

 

 

What I have always personally liked about the farm is that it is not a huge, daunting space. Rather it is a lovely, curated farm with a nice array of animals and birds to observe and interact with. I appreciate that it is not overwhelming to tired parents and very young children. It really is a space you could visit for an hour or two. Though there is plenty to see and do to keep an older child’s attention for longer as well.

 

 

It is also worth mentioning that you can host children’s parties here and that they have several great party packages available. We held a rather epic kid’s party here a few years back, complete with pony rides, that I can’t recommend enough. The kid’s and their friends are still talking about it and it was hands down the easiest party I have ever hosted or planned! 

 

 

So if you have never had the pleasure to appreciate the uniqueness and natural beauty that is Maplewood Farm – you really should. 

 

 

West Coast Railway Heritage Park

 

 

I did not know what to expect from this one attraction, having never been. However, I did know I really wanted to check it out. It was so quiet and lovely in the most serene, picturesque setting. We spent the afternoon exploring the village and train after train, only occasionally seeing another person, so I almost selfishly don’t want to draw attention to how amazing a place this is. It is a museum unlike any I have ever experienced. 

 

 

This outing was bit sentimental to me, as to this very day I have a large black and white image of the Royal Hudson hanging on my wall. It was my dad’s and he himself has always has had an image of the Royal Hudson hanging up for as long as I can remember. 

So trains? Museums? I was in! And so were my girls. 

 

 

It was a very warm Saturday when we headed off to Squamish for our train adventure. And that is exactly what we got! This was a museum unlike any I have been to. Basically you are completely left to your own devices inside the village and train yard to explore inside and out. It was incredible to climb through and up into these old trains and to discover engine rooms, snow ploughs, displays and antiques. The quaint, little yellow house on the property has one of  the most thorough turn of the century displays of daily life and details I have ever experienced. That alone is worth the drive. We were fascinated. And explored every nook and cranny (as only a few rooms were roped off to the public). The small train that took you around the property and gave you the lay of the land was good fun and the girls and I enjoyed ourselves on it. Overall I couldn’t believe there were so many trains that you were able to go inside and walk through (I fully expected to be admiring from the outside) – most with displays and details restored. We loved going through the engine room and climbing up into the Engineers seat (I mean who wouldn’t?)!

 

 

We went on an unseasonably warm day and needed a couple of water breaks (the trains obviously don’t have air conditioning) and sit down moments, plus an ice cream bar from the gift shop. This allotted me an opportunity to live the dream of sitting on the covered porch of the train station, enjoying the mountain view, while the kids played with the Thomas the Train tables, under covered tents. 

 

 

On the day we visited, I couldn’t help but observe them setting up to host an event in the main, modern hall. What a breathtaking venue this is for an event. I am thinking wedding or anniversary, especially considering the famous, restored Royal Hudson is currently located in this main hall! I would say having a party here would definitely elevate your summer fun to a whole other level! Anyway, my party planning ways aside, I cant wait to take my father and any other out of town guests, who enjoy history and trains there on their next visit.

 

 

I would say this museum has WAY more than meets the eye and is best enjoyed when it is not raining as you are in and out of buildings and trains, all over the large property and the toy train is obviously outside. There are many hours of interesting explorations and history, plus artifacts that can be explored. I would suggest taking the small train ride ($5 a person) initially to get a lay of the land and then walking and exploring at your leisure – camera in hand, because the combo of trains and breath taking views is hard to beat!

 

 

 

Cultus Lake Adventure Park

 

 

This was our first visit here and we had great afternoon together as a family enjoying the rides. This is a beautiful setting for an amusement park, just back from the lake (across the street from the waterpark). How often does an amusement park have an abundance of real tress (that provide much appreciated shade) in and around?! 

 

 

Upon arrival my youngest was thrilled to learn that at 6 years of age she had finally passed 48 inches. This also thrilled me, because this meant no disappointed tears as her older sister embarked on the ride of her dreams.

 

 

This park is well thought out for the younger kids and their caregivers. There are individual bathrooms throughout the park, water taps, snacks and drinks available for purchase and there is no cost to enter the park itself (ie. parents can come along to supervise and not participate) and ride passes can be purchased through tokens or a wrist band that allows unlimited access. It is also very clean and well maintained. 

 

 

There is a nice array of rides for younger kids and 3 more adventuresome rides for bigger kids, like my husband, as well. It was great to not have a crying 6 year old to console because her sister could go on rides she could not. At this stage of life, and with nearly four years in age between my girls, that’s kind of a big deal.

 

 

Make sure to explore the whole park! My favourite part was the Cultus Lake Boardwalk near the back. Not only does it offer shade and seating overlooking the park and a few rides, it boasts the most incredible soft serve waffle cones (can you say chocolate/vanilla twist?!) that result in spontaneous happy dances. 

 

 

I would say any camping trip to Cultus Lake would be made even better with a visit to the adventure park! If you were camping or lived near by, popping in for an afternoon would be great and it is perfectly set up to do just that.

 

 

Summer Fun Guide For The Win

 

This has really taught me that we are at the stage in our life where we need to have a family meeting and plan family fun time so we are not always just caught in the daily to-do’s. And this experience gave us the wonderful opportunity to do just that. To get out as a family and enjoy some of the amazing attractions we are fortunate enough to have near by! So, if making a summer bucket list seems daunting, why not just adopt The Healthy Family Expo’s Metro Vancouver Summer Family Fun Guide and make a ‘fun goal’ to hit all five of these attractions this summer?! You won’t regret it. Promise. Perhaps we will even see you there!