Summer Travel in Canada 2025: Exploring the West Coast with Kids

With summer around the corner, many families are looking closer to home for their next adventure and there’s no better time to rediscover the beauty of Canada. From coast to coast, the country offers a diverse landscape of experiences perfect for family travel, whether you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring charming small towns, enjoying the great outdoors, or just wanting to unwind at a resort.

In this multi-part series, let’s break it down by journeying across the country, exploring family-friendly destinations region by region, from the coastal charms of the East coast to the rugged beauty of the West. I’ll share some of the fun experiences my family has enjoyed, along with destinations that are still on our hit list.

In this post, we’ll be exploring the stunning province of British Columbia, where mountains meet ocean and adventure awaits at every turn.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver serves as the perfect gateway to British Columbia’s wonders, offering urban sophistication alongside natural beauty. Stanley Park remains a must-visit with its seawall perfect for biking, beaches, pools, parks, mini-train ride, and the Vancouver Aquarium. It’s a great place to go for a bike ride. Bikes rentals just outside of the park cost less than $10 per hour, which includes bike, helmet, and lock, making for an expensive activity for the whole family.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers adventure kids won’t forget, where they can run on a suspended bridge through a rainforest, exploring the treetop walk, meeting woodland creatures with knowledgeable staff, and witnessing the salmon run in fall. There’s even an interactive app providing an educational self-guided program through the park. 

Granville Island’s Public Market is a must-visit with plenty to try and sample for quick snacks (don’t miss Lee’s Donuts!) or full meals, plus entertainment by local artists. The Kids Market is full of toy and clothing vendors with an indoor amusement park on the second floor.

Another great option for kids is a visit to Science World. This place completely captivated our kids captivated. They could easily have spent more than our three-hour visit exploring the interactive exhibits, scheduled workshops, and educational presentations.

Recommended Stay: The Westin Bayshore Vancouver offers an excellent location with proximity to Stanley Park, a large outdoor heated pool (essential when travelling with kids), complimentary bikes for guest use, stunning harbour views, and spacious accommodations. 

Nightly rates this summer range from $400–$500 or 58,000–73,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This means you could redeem a 85K Free Night Award earned with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card towards your stay.  

If you don’t have US credit cards, then consider getting the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card. Paying for your Marriott stay with this card will earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent, helping you rack up rewards faster for your next redemption.

This hotel is part of the Marriott Luminous program, meaning guests paying cash rates can book through Prince Collection to enjoy valuable complimentary benefits including daily breakfast, a $100 USD property credit, and additional perks, all at no extra cost to you.

For a more luxurious stay, consider one of the three Fairmont properties in the city. My favourite is the Fairmont Pacific Rim which participates in the Accor HERA program and can also be booked through Prince Collection for additional perks as well. 

Whistler, British Columbia

Just 1.5 hours north of Vancouver, Whistler transforms into a summer playground perfect for active families.

The 360 Experience consists of three gondola rides taking you from Whistler Village up to the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains with amazing views throughout the journey.

The two mountains are connected by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which is the world’s highest and longest lift, offering breathtaking views of alpine landscapes, lakes, forests and glaciers.

There are many trails ranging in difficulty and length (shortest about 30 minutes), suitable for kids of any age. There are plenty of marmots and birds to view which kept younger kids entertained. Additional summer activities include biking trails, bear-viewing tours, whitewater rafting, and zipline and tree adventures. 

When you arrive back down at Whistler Village, take the kids to the Family Adventure Zone, which offers a variety of fun-filled activities for all ages, including mini golf, a climbing wall, bungee trampolines, a bouncy castle, a ropes course, and a 315-meter luge track. 

Recommended Stay: The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler is conveniently located near all the main activities in Whistler and has a fantastic indoor-outdoor pool that my kids really enjoyed. The accommodations all include at least a kitchenette, and for larger families who prefer extra space, there are two- and three-bedroom suites available.

Nightly rates this summer range from $300–$550 or 59,000–85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Read my detailed review of things to do in Whistler and our stay at this property here.

For an elevated experience, check out the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, which has summer dates starting at just over $500 per night. Both properties are part of our preferred partner programs, so book them through Prince Collection for additional perks.

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

The Okanagan Valley offers a completely different British Columbia experience, showcasing the province’s diverse landscapes with its semi-arid climate, pristine lakes, and family-friendly wineries. This region provides the perfect blend of outdoor adventures and relaxation, making it ideal for families seeking both active pursuits and peaceful moments.

Lake Okanagan stretches over 135 kilometers, providing endless opportunities for water activities. The warm summer waters make it perfect for families with children of all ages. Beaches like Kal Beach in Vernon offer sandy shores and gentle slopes ideal for young swimmers. 

Adventure seekers can explore hiking trails ranging from easy lakeside walks to challenging mountain paths with panoramic valley views. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail provides fun family-friendly cycling and walking paths following historic railway routes through stunning landscapes.

The Kangaroo Creek Farm just outside of Kelowna is a unique experience that kids will love, being able to pet and hop amongst these cute marsupials. The fruit farms are also plentiful, including the opportunity to go blueberry, peach, cherry picking, which was a treat for our kids.

Further south, Osoyoos boasts Canada’s warmest lake and a unique desert landscape. The town offers excellent beaches, a fascinating Desert Centre showcasing rare ecosystems, and the NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre, which offers an immersive experience into the rich heritage of the indigenous Okanagan people through interactive exhibits, nature trails, and a reconstructed village.

Along the way to Osoyoos from Kelowna, make a stop at Penticton, where you can hop on a river tube and float down Penticton Channel Lazy River Float. It’s a gentle, refreshing and relaxing ride which is a lot of fun.

Between Kelowna and Osoyoos are also numerous family-friendly wineries that welcome visitors with expansive grounds, playgrounds, and activities while parents enjoy tastings. Our favourite was Covert Farms, where they combined a farm tour with wine tasting (they even had a juice tasting for the kids!).   

Recommended Stay: The Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, features comprehensive amenities including pools, spa services, and easy access to waterfront attractions, and is located conveniently in the heart of downtown Kelowna. Nightly rates this summer range from $450–$700 or 47,000–70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

If you’re heading south to Osoyoos, check out Spirit Ridge, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. It makes for a great family resort, with spacious accommodations and had all the amenities we needed to make it our home away from home, including a kitchen, laundry machines, and vineyard onsite.

As a Category 4 property in the World of Hyatt program, the nightly rate this summer is 18,000 points, and would be a good option to burn a Free Night Award. 

Tofino, British Columbia

Tofino, situated on First Nation territory, offers quiet coastal inlets, ancient rainforests, and a laidback vibe perfect for families seeking natural adventures. Getting there from Vancouver requires a BC Ferries ride from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo plus 3–4 hours of driving, but the ferry journey itself is enjoyable for kids with opportunities to explore the ferry inside and out and potentially spot grey whales!

During low tide, you can walk far out onto the ocean floor. Our kids spent hours combing through rocks and tidal pools, looking for whatever creatures they could find. They discovered barnacles, mussels, anemones, shore crabs, hermit crabs, jellyfish, and even starfish! The excitement was never-ending. Cox Bay Beach and Chesterman Beach were particularly good for this.

When the tide is in, consider signing up for a family surf lesson, as Tofino is Canada’s surfing capital or catch a whale watching tour for an opportunity to spot grey whales and sea otters at play. 

If you prefer the woodlands, The Wild Pacific Trail system located near Ucluelet (40 minutes away from Tofino) is the most famous in the area. Here you can find gigantic 800-year-old red cedars, and walking a little further to the rocky bluffs, you can catch glimpses of seals and sea lions.

While in Ucluelet, visit Ucluelet Aquarium, Canada’s first catch-and-release aquarium where kids can have a hands-on experience with local marine life.

Recommended Stay: For an absolutely amazing stay, consider the Pacific Sands Beach Resort which is situated on 1,000 feet of beachfront and underwent a big renovation in 2018. The oceanside suites offer direct access to the beach, with outdoor showers and lockers perfect for families who love beach activities.

At check-in, kids received activity books, pails and shovels, and s’mores kits for the property’s fire pits. The resort offers complimentary daily educational programs for kids aged 5 and up, morning yoga sessions, and bike, surfboard, and paddle board rentals. Summer rates are high, from $600 per night and up.

Using Fixed-Value Programs 

As you move beyond larger cities, you’ll notice fewer big-name hotel chains, and some of best family-friendly resorts are independently owned. A great way to offset the cost of these stays is by using credit cards that offer fixed-value rewards programs.

For example, Scene+ points earned through a Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card can be redeemed against any travel purchases at a rate of 100 Scene+ points to $1.

Alternatively, TD Rewards Points earned through a TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card can also be redeemed for travel purchases. Every 200 points is worth $1 off travel purchases on Expedia for TD, which is the best redemption option for their program. 

Conclusion

British Columbia offers unparalleled diversity for family adventures, from Vancouver’s urban sophistication and Whistler’s mountain thrills to Tofino’s wild coastal beauty and the Okanagan Valley’s lake-centered relaxation.

Whether your family seeks cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, or peaceful natural settings, BC delivers memorable experiences that showcase Canada’s Pacific province at its finest. 

With strategic planning and smart use of loyalty programs, British Columbia’s treasures remain within reach for families seeking extraordinary Canadian adventures close to home.