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Climate you’re in search of an area getaway, day journey or planning travels to BC, Squamish gives a lot for households. Situated alongside the Sea to Sky freeway, simply an hour from Vancouver, Squamish sits on Howe Sound with the majestic monolith, “The Chief” rising above the city.
Whereas it would not obtain as many guests as its huge brother down the freeway (Whistler), it is extra reasonable local weather, proximity to Vancouver and a plethora of outside actions, make it an amazing place to go to with children. In case you are headed to Whistler, remember to try our Whistler with children information.
Listed here are 8 nice issues to do in Squamish with children. We now have included a mix of outside actions, studying alternatives and naturally some yummy meals ideas.
Sea to Sky Gondola
The Squamish Sea to Sky Gondola gives epic views of Howe Sound, the coastal forest and naturally, the mountains. As soon as on the high you possibly can get pleasure from family-friendly climbing, a enjoyable suspension bridge, restaurant and instagram-worthy lookouts. There may be additionally an amazing playground on the high that the youngsters will love.
Littles will just like the 400 m Alpine Valley path which scavenger hunt playing cards. The 1.3 km Panorama Path results in an awe-inspiring lookout bridge and the 400 m Spirit Path takes you thru a cultural journey of the First Nations folks.
Household tickets price $121 (2 adults, 2 children 6-18 years outdated, 5 and beneath are free). The gondola operates day by day 9-5. This was certainly one of our favourite issues to do in Squamish with children (or with out!)
Sadly, this gondola was severely vandalized in 2019 and 2020, nevertheless, the attraction re-opened June 2021 and is likely one of the finest issues to do in Squamish with children.
Britannia Mine Museum
When you have spent any time on the Sea to Sky freeway, you will have in all probability puzzled concerning the huge white constructing hooked up to the cliffs, simply earlier than Squamish. For over 70 years, this was the location of the Britannia copper mine (the most important within the British Empire) and whereas the mine, now not operates, it’s now a Museum and Nationwide Historic Web site.
The Britannia Mine Museum is absolutely spectacular and our youngsters beloved all the interactive actions. There are quite a few buildings that you may discover to study extra concerning the geography, setting, mining and mining life. For a lot of the mines’ life, it operated as an organization city solely accessible by water from Howe Sound. My teenage daughter actually preferred seeing all of the festivities, recreation actions of the neighborhood.
Nonetheless, the actual pleasure for the youngsters was the prepare tour into the mine with an exquisite tour information. The entire household will get to don laborious hats to your journey underground and study how the miners labored. The tour finishes with a go to to the Mill, the multi-story constructing you see from the freeway. The children beloved “BOOM”, a light-weight and sound present and likewise preferred listening to concerning the motion pictures which were made right here.
One other enormous spotlight for the youngsters was panning for gems. The children are taught tips on how to use a pan to shift by way of the sand, the place they’ll discover a lot of minerals and stones, that they’ll take house. I needed to tare the youngsters away from this space!
We had been actually impressed with this museum and are so glad we visited. Entrance is $135/household (2 adults, 3 kids), $36.95/grownup, $19.95/baby 5-12, $28.95/youth 13-17, children beneath 5 are free. It’s best to ebook your admission time on-line upfront as walk-ups can not all the time be accommodated. The museum is open day by day 9-5. Plan to spend 1.5-2 hours+ there.
Get Biking
Squamish is a biking mecca and there are all kinds of trails appropriate for households of all talents. Deliver your bikes or lease bikes from one of many bike shops and spend a couple of hours exploring Squamish’s huge path community.
Youthful children and freshmen will benefit from the inexperienced Wonderland path which winds by way of lush rainforest. The SORCA mountain bike expertise park positioned at Brennan Park is a good place for teenagers to observe on the pump monitor, jumps and technical options.
For these with older or extra skilled riders within the household, the Diamond Head and Alice Lake path networks provide a plethora of trails. Our children love the quick and flowy basic – Half Nelson – a machine construct blue path at Diamond Head. The climb is a problem for them (9 and 11), however doable. Psudo-Tsuga is one other flowy path that was successful with the entire household.
For close by Alice Lake trails, park at Garibaldi Highlands College (solely after 4:30pm and on weekends in the course of the faculty 12 months) and climb Mashiter. Depart of Absence, Of Mice and Males, 50 Shades of Inexperienced are all nice blue trails. Trailforks has all the main points on the paths, routes and entry and parking.
Alice Lake Seaside & Swimming
Alice Lake is the right place to go to on a sizzling summer time day. Youngsters will love the sandy seashore, comfy temperature for swimming and floaties and docks for SUPing, canoeing or kayaking. The park is free to go to; park within the Day Use car parking zone (fills shortly on sizzling weekends). The Park is positioned a 5 min drive previous Squamish.
Go to Porteau Cove Provincial Park
This attractive, small Provincial Park is positioned proper on Howe Sound and gives waterfront campsites which are extremely widespread. Nonetheless, there’s additionally a Day Use space, good for a picnic and nice swimming on the pebbly seashore. Youngsters can even get pleasure from testing all the marine life on the seashore, particularly at low tide. Our children spent hours strolling alongside the logs on the seashore (manner higher than any playground!). Porteau Cove is about 10 minutes earlier than Squamish on the Sea to Sky freeway.
Hike “The Chief”
This huge monolith towers over Squamish from all angles and is a favourite for rock climbers. If your loved ones is up for the problem, the views are spectacular of Howe Sound and the encompassing mountains vary. I would not try this hike with children beneath 6 as a result of it’s a ton of stairs and fairly the grind. Climbing to the First Peak is just 4 km spherical journey, however plan 2-3 hours as a result of steepness. The hike begins straight away with limitless staircases going up, up, up. The higher sections are on rocks and the final part requires a ladder and chain rope. When you get to the highest and people panoramic views, watch the youngsters as a result of there are steep cliffs, however do not let that discourage you from this basic Squamish hike.
This can be a very fashionable hike and free reservations are required for the summer time months. “As of June 23, 2021, free day-use passes will likely be required to go to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park – Chief Peaks/Bottom Path. Reserve your free day-use cross at Uncover Tenting. Passes can be found to ebook beginning at 7am, sooner or later upfront of your deliberate go to.” – Parks Canada
Go to Shannon Falls
You possibly can see this majestic waterfall from the Sea to Sky freeway, however it’s positively price stopping in at this small Provincial Park to get a greater view. At 335m, it’s the third highest waterfall in BC and it’s a simple 350 m boardwalk from the car parking zone to the viewing platform. This can be a nice simple exercise to do in Squamish with children. The falls are positioned 5 km earlier than Squamish and proper earlier than the Sea to Sky Gondola, which make for an amazing mixed day journey.
Household-Pleasant Eats
We’re nonetheless speaking concerning the wonderful and creative pizzas from Joe Pesto’s Wooden Fired Pizzeria. Climate you get takeout or dine-in, do not miss this little gem. I beloved the “In a Pickle” pizza with pickles, dill, and mustard – sure pickles on pizza – so good! If you happen to aren’t up for pickles on pizza, there are such a lot of enjoyable ones like a burger pizza, reuben pizza, Joe-tziki. Solely open for dinner 4-8 pm.
If you happen to nonetheless have room, head over to Alice & Brohm for some scrumptious real-fruit, NZ type ice cream. They’ve two areas – one downtown and one on Mamquam Street.
In case you are craving Mexican or fried hen, the highway-side Sunny Chibas will hit the spot. They’ve yummy tacos and burritos and fried hen poutines that our youngsters beloved.
Squamish with Youngsters Verdict
Squamish actually embodies the distinctive “Sea to Sky” topography of coastal British Columbia and with its shut proximity to Vancouver, makes an amazing daytrip or weekend getaway. The climbing and biking is world class and there are numerous enjoyable household actions that the entire household will get pleasure from.