Family Fun (sorry non moms!)

If Vancouver was actually having a nice long hot summer, we would thinking of all the things to while away the days with our kids.

Today’s ideas are brought to you by the letter M.

The first is one of my year round favorites. Maplewood Farm is on the North Shore, just off the Dollarton exit on the Iron Workers Bridge.

It is a great place. A lovely and well kept ‘farm,’ filled with friendly goats, sheep, chickens, cows and so on. It’s fenced in park like setting lets parents relax a bit as their kids run around exclaiming over every bunny and sheep they see.

It is also relatively inexpensive….this I love. It is only $4.75 for an adult and $2.75 for kids 19 months and over. They don’t have concessions but you are welcome to bring a picnic. Just don’t feed the animals! They do milking demo’s with their lovely Jersey Cow and have many special events throughout the year.

Another favorite of ours is Maple Grove Pool. I am actually hesitant to share this gem as I don’t want to it to get too crowded.

Despite this pool being across town from us, we always make the effort. It is a perfect kids pool, with ‘beach’ access and surrounded by grass and trees. You can set up your little patch, bring a picnic and spend the day splashing safely in the warm pool. It is set in a gorgeous park on Yew and Marine. There is a fantastic play park too with slides and swings. Parking is the toughest thing to negotiate. We used to go quite late in the day and be the ’second shift,’ so to speak to avoid the early crowds. However, even when it is crowded, we have always managed to get a spot and set up camp and have a great time.