7 family-friendly activities in British Columbia

My family lives in a pretty fantastic part of the world: we're right outside Vancouver in British Columbia on Canada's west coast - or "the wet coast" as many of us end up calling it during the winter months. My husband and I have explored parts of this great province with the kids, but there are still lots of things I'd love to do with them. Here are 10 things I want to experience with my children in British Columbia:


1. Whale watching
There are lots of whale watching tours that depart from various places around Vancouver, and now that the kids are a little older (they're turning 7 and 11 soon), I think they might be ready for this kind of adventure! In the waters of B.C. there are Orcas (killer whales), humpback whales, and Pacific Grey Whales. Find out more here.



2. Staying at a ranch
Both my kids are very interested in animals, farms, things that grow, and the great outdoors. A stay at a ranch where you get to interact with farm animals, help out with some of the chores, and ride horses, would be a wonderful way to spend a holiday. travel.bc.ca has a listing with several so-called "dude ranches".


3. Driving across the Rockies
This is really a trip I want to do with both my kids, and my Swedish parents to show them the absolutely magnificent scenery through B.C. and into Alberta and across the Canadian Rockies. There are lots of things to see and do in places like Valemount, Jasper, and Banff.


4. Visit the Kangaroo Creek Farm outside Kelowna
Friends of ours recently visited this place with their kids and were so excited about all the fun they'd had on their visit: learning about and even getting to hold kangaroos. It's definitely something I'd love to do with my kids. Find out more at the Kangaroo Creek Farm's website.


 
5. Riding the Rocky Mountaineer through B.C. & the Rockies
This is a rather expensive way to travel through the British Columbia wilderness, but if I had the money, this is one trip I'd love to do with the kids. The Rocky Mountaineer has various travel options, but I'd love to go in the see-through dome cars - that would be a terrific experience. Too bad it's so darn pricey!


6. River rafting
There are lots of great rivers in British Columbia, and going for a ride down one of them would be a lot of exciting fun. Of course, depending on where and when you go, it might be a rough ride, but I do think my kids are old enough (and confident enough) to handle it at this point. Lots of information about this at the exploreBC website.


7. Caving
British Columbia is home to several places where you can go caving, for example Horne Lake. What a great way to go on an adventure and learn about flora, fauna and geology at the same time!