The kids are out of school and you crack open your wallet to discover nothing but dust bunnies. Not to worry, we’ve got plenty of free Spring Break ideas for you! Here are 18 family-friendly free spring break activities in Vancouver that will be sure to give you an ADVENTURE filled Spring Break!
Unlock a Playbox
The City of Surrey has a really neat program called the playbox. These boxes are located in 9 different parks and inside is a plethora of sports and games equipment you can use for FREE! Just register for the program and you’ll be able to play with all the equipment when you visit the park. Available at Holly Park, Guildford Heights Park, Hummingbird Park, Hjorth Road Park, Bridgeview Community Centre, Starr Park, Maple Green Park, Bakerview Park, and TE Scott Park. To register visit their website.
Get The Bikes Out
Dig the bikes out of the basement and get them cleaned and tuned up so they are ready to hit the road. Load up a backpack with essentials for the day (food, sunscreen, water, extra layers) and take the kids on a LONG bike ride through the neighbourhood. We like to stop every time we see a park… our record is 8 parks. If you’re looking for a longer adventure why not do a destination bike trip! Perhaps you choose Steveston, or want to hit the bike trails on Fromme mountain? Either way, biking season is officially around the corner!
Hit the Slopes – Use up your Ski Pass, or buy next years and ski this year for free!
If you have a ski pass this is your last month to use it, so gear up the kids and hit the slopes! If you don’t have a pass but think you’ll want one next year, NOW is a great time to buy it. You’ll get next year’s seasons pass purchase out of the way AND be able to ski for the rest of this year for FREE! Check out our article that compares all of the different prices and packages for each mountain here.
Brave a Suspension Bridge
Our region is known for its topography and with that comes a variety of suspension bridges for you to explore. Lynn Canyon is a popular one for locals, offering instagram perfect photos, kid friendly hiking trails around the canyon and and educational ecology centre. If you’re out in the Fraser Valley, Cascade Falls in Mission is a great place to take the kids out. Bring a picnic and you’ve got another adventure filled day!
Walk the World Famous Seawall
People from all around the world come and visit Vancouver’s beautiful seawall, but when was the last time YOU headed down there to explore. With beaches, playgrounds, and forested trails to explore, all you need to do is pack a lunch and head down there. Want more of an adventure for the kids? Why not take transit! It’s more cost effective, more environmentally friendly, and kids LOVE to take the bus! (Just ask them and you’ll see!)
Have a Campfire
Many local parks (like Derby Reach Regional Park in Langley) have fire pits for the general public to use. So load up the camping chairs, the roasting sticks, and some firewood. Text your friends to meet you there and grab some marshmallows and hot dogs en route to the park! The kids will have a blast eating s’mores and playing as the sun goes down and the adults can enjoy some much needed social time.
Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum
Located in Deer Lake Park, the Burnaby Village Museum takes visitors back to the 1920’s and allows guests to explore what a typical tram-stop community would have looked like. Explore the post office, bank, blacksmith shop, general store and school. Don’t forget to complete your visit with a ride on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel (rides are a minimal fee). Pack a lunch and head down towards the lake for a picnic and a walk!
Hit The Beach
We’re surrounded by beaches and yet never seem to explore them enough! Whether you head out to one of Vancouver’s iconic beaches or head to White Rock or to the Fraser Valley to explore one of the riverside beaches, the feeling of having sand between your toes is closer than you think!
Hike Your Heart Out
The number one comment I get on my account is “you’re lucky you get to go hiking so much!”. But this spring break it’s your turn! With so many hikes to explore, spring break is the perfect time to get your legs warmed up and ready for hiking season! Looking for a great family-friendly place to start? Check out The Top 7 Family Friendly Hikes in the Fraser Valley and one of our favourites, High Knoll Trail!
Have we given you enough Free Spring Break activities in Vancouver yet? Here’s more!:
Explore the Tropics at the Bloedel Conservatory
Located in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, the Bloedel Conservatory is home to over 120 free flying exotic birds and 500 plants and flowers. Make sure you grab a bird guide and children’s scavenger hunt from the front desk, then enjoy the warmth of the tropics as you explore and have some conversations with some chatty parrots! Take advantage of up to two free admissions with the purchase of a regular price adult ticket from March 1-29, 2018.
Head out on a Night Quest
Metro Vancouver Parks are always hosting amazing programs and on Saturday March 24th they are putting on a Night Quest at Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Little adventurers will love exploring nature in the dark, along a lantern lit trail. Meet up with owls, frogs, coyotes, and other nocturnal creatures. This family-friendly event is perfect for those with strollers and takes an hour and a half to explore! Please bring a lantern or flashlight but leave your pets at home. Meet at Park Centre on 16th Ave, 400 m west of Blanca St. To learn more visit their website.
Plan a Picnic
Let the kids be in charge and have them plan a picnic. I’m 100% serious… give them free reign and see what they come up with. Not only will it be entertaining, but potentially educational to see if they make healthy choices, or choose to spoil the family with treats. Either one is a win if Mom and Dad get a break from preparing a meal! Head out to a local park, bring your baseball gloves, frisbees, and soccer balls and get ready for a family filled afternoon of fun!
Go And Visit That Friend!
How many times have you said, “We really need to get together” and yet never make time for it to happen? Whether it’s someone who lives close, or you need to make a bit of a spontaneous road trip, going to visit friends is one of the most cost-effective and fun ways to explore an area. Let your friend guide you on local hikes, beaches, and points of interest to explore. So send that Facebook message and start planning!
Explore an Enchanted Forest
Aldergrove Regional Park invites you on a one hour nature quest! On Thursday March 29th from 10am to 1:30pm you’ll find out how trees talk to one another, look for forest spirits and rock trolls. You’re invited to dress in costume and bring food to roast over a campfire. Meet at Blacktail Picnic Shelter by the main park entrance on 8th avenue. To learn more visit their website.
Learn About The Birds
Bring your binoculars and scope out shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and more on this 2.5 hour bird watching amble. Suitable for little adventurers ages 9 and up this tour takes place on Wednesday March 14th, 2018 from 9am to 12pm at Boundary Bay Regional Park. You’ll meet at Cammidge House via the Centennial Beach entrance on Boundary Bay Road, in Tsawassen. Register online for FREE here.
Dig Out The Gift Cards
I don’t know about you, but I have a little stash of gift cards that I save for “someday”. However, this spring break I’ll be busting them out and spoiling my kids with a few dinners out after a day of outdoor adventures. I’m also going to use some of the toy store ones to purchase some new outdoor gear before we head out on a park picnic afternoon. My favourite thing to do is a bit of “Spring Cleaning” around the house and then reward the kids with a surprise trip to the store.
Enjoy an Old Fashioned Easter at Historic Stewart Farm
Meet the Easter Bunny, make your own rabbit ears, decorate egg-shaped cookies, get your face painted and take part in a scavenger hunt. This is the perfect Easter adventure and it’s free on Saturday, March 31st from 11 am to 3 pm at Historic Stewart Farm (13723 Crescent Road, Surrey).
Follow Footsteps: Explore Animal Signs
Can you be a forest detective? Learn how to identify various animal tracks by shape, size, pattern, gait, and more. Models and photos of different tracks will be on hand and there will be an outdoor walk for explorers to look for actual animal signs. This free program takes place on Sunday March 18, 2018 from 1 pm to 4 pm at Kanaka Creek Regional Park. Meet at 11450 256th St, Maple Ridge.
Fun activities to experience with your family don’t need to break the bank. There are plenty of free spring break activities in Vancouver! Have we missed any? Let us know what your plans are this spring break!
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Is this a sponsored post?: No, we just want to share our favourite free spring break activities in Vancouver with our followers so they can have an incredible Spring Break with their families!
