It's unlikely that the kids will get bored in Vancouver as there is a wide choice of attractions and things to do. The huge Playland has plenty of rides and gets busy during the summer, while the Children’s Library Square has some excellent educational resources. The water slides at Splash Down Water Park are great fun and there is a special Water Fun area for the toddlers. The Science World is the place to head to for the latest in science and technology and Maplewood Farm has some good shows and demonstrations.

Playland
This amusement park is one of the most popular family attractions in Vancouver. There are the usual rides including a wooden rollercoaster from the 1950s, as well as the hair-raising Crazy Beach Party and the wet'n'wild Flume. Height restrictions apply. Aside from the scream-inducing rides, there is a minature golf course, shooting gallery, climbing wall and a glass house. The Kids Playce at Playland has other rides and is a great spot to have a picnic on the grassy lawns. The park is located on Hastings Street, just outside of the city. It is open between April and September. Phone: +1 604 252 3583; website: www.pne.ca

Storyeum
This educational attraction is set in the heart of the historic district in Gastown. Storyeum tells the story of British Columbia's history by combining live performances and multimedia surrounded by theatrical sets. The journey starts by taking one of the world’s largest passenger lifts below the streets to the subterranean theatre. Walk through a series of nine sets and be entertained by some colourful characters. A popular feature is the collection of fossils and dinosaur skeletons, including a life-size animatronic T-rex. Phone: +1 604 687 8142; website: www.storyeum.com

Telus World of Science
A wide variety of hands-on displays shows how science plays a significant role in our everyday lives. World of Science is suitable for all ages and is both educational and entertaining. The huge Omnimax thatre is also popular and has a choice of screenings at various times.

Vancouver is home to a number of fascinating cultural attractions with museums, galleries and libraries making up a large percentage. Regardless of your preference, you will find a number of cultural offerings to suit.

Beatty Street Drill Hall
The Beatty Street Drill Hall is an armoury and home of The British Columbia Regiment, the oldest military unit in Vancouver. The class-A heritage building dates back to 1901 and has two large castle-like turrets with battlements. The parapet was made with limestone from Gabriola Island and the walls are over three feet thick. The Regimental Museum of the BC Regiment is open to the public on Thursday afternoons, and includes weapons, medals, uniforms and many photos relating to the regiment's history

Museum of Anthropology
Founded in 1947, the Museum of Anthropology is located at the University of British Columbia and is a teaching and research museum, as well as a tourist attraction. The collection of over 35,000 items focuses on the First Nations people of the Northwest Coast and is one of the most important anywhere. There are a large number of cultural artefacts, sculptures and totem poles including a storage gallery that is open to public viewing. The highlight is the yellow cedar sculpture the Raven and the First Men, which are shown on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill. The collection includes contemporary works and historical objects. Phone +1 604 822 5087; website www.moa.ubc.ca

Vancouver Art Gallery
The vast permanent collection of nearly 8,000 works is the largest in Western Canada and features over 200 works by local artist Emily Carr. There is a variety of modern and classical art from former and present artists. Several hundred works are added to the collection every year and there are some good temporary exhibitions organised. As well as a large number of paintings from Canadian artists, there are many international artists featured. The galleries reside in an impressive building that was built with marble imported from Vermont, Tennessee and Alaska. It features ornate stonework, ionic columns and a large central dome. The Annex Building was a former courthouse and has not been converted along with the main building. It is now a heritage site and still contains original items such as the judge’s benches.

Vancouver Maritime Museum
The maritime museum can be found in Vanier Park on Ogden Avenue. There are a number of exhibits including the 1944 arctic exploration vessel St Roch, model ships made from cardboard, and a display that traces the historical development of the Port and its facilities. The Alcan Children's Maritime Discovery Centre in the Heritage Harbour has a full-size replica of the wheelhouse of the tugboat Seaspan Queen and allows children to pilot a remote-controlled deep-sea robot. Phone: +1 604 257 8300; website: www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com 

Vancouver Museum
This museum is the top natural history attraction in Vancouver and the largest civic museum in Canada. It is housed in the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre building in Vanier Park, which was built as part of Canada's centennial in 1967. The huge number of artefacts have been collected from all around the world and are displayed in four different sections: Pacific Rim Collections, First Nations Collections, Vancouver Collections and the World Heritage Collections. Amongst the many important items are local popular cultural artefacts from the 19th and 20th centuries, taxidermy of local game and wildlife and a mummy that was bought in Egypt during WW I. Phone +1 604 734 7368; website www.vanmuseum.bc.ca

Vancouver Public Library
The iconic and radical library building in downtown Vancouver was completed in 1995 by architect Moshe Safdie. The exterior has a close resemblance to the Coliseum in Rome and consists of a seven-storey rectangular building, with an outer free-standing colonnaded wall that has study areas. There is an enclosed concourse which serves as the entry foyer that is overlooked by an internal glass facade. There is an interesting rooftop garden that is shown in photographs but can only be reached by a wooden ladder on the outside of the building. The library was built as part of a block that has offices, shops and restaurants. Phone: +1 604 331 3603; website: www.vpl.ca

A large number of immigrants have settled in the area over the years, meaning that diners will never be stuck for a choice of restaurants and dining options. There is a wide range of cuisines represented and the quality of the food is generally very good. Asian food is very popular and there are some great sushi restaurants that offer 'all you can eat' meals for a fixed price. There is a big Chinese population so Vancouver has become known for its excellent dim sum restaurants. The Victoria area has several places that offer it, especially on 41st avenue.

Most of the top restaurants can be found in Robson street and the city centre. The top hotels are usually one of the best places to eat and they serve a range of international dishes. Kitsilano and the West End have the largest number of eateries and the widest choice. Other good places to head for include Howe and Granville streets and the Gastown district.

Vancouver's proximity to the ocean means that seafood features highly on many menus. The city has developed a distinctive cuisine known as Pacific North-western, with some of the specialities being scallops and crabs.

Vancouver boasts a number of attractive shopping malls and some great weekly markets. The Pacific Centre is one of the main places to head for, with more than 150 shops and restaurants.

The historic Gastown has been transformed and is now one of the hippest places to shop and relax. You can also enjoy the old architecture, galleries and cafés. For alternative shopping, check out the boutique stores in Yaletown and Main street, south of Broadway. There is a good choice of fresh foods available at Donald's Market.

Tourists are able to reclaim the goods and services tax by going to a tax refund centre or Canadian Customs at the airport before checking in.

Vancouver is a sport-oriented city, partly due to the mild climate and the proximity of the ocean and mountains. Winter sports enthusiasts will enjoy the world-class pistes at Whistler, while there are three hills close to the city for those who don't want to travel far. If the thought of participation sounds too much like hard work, there is a good choice of spectator sports available.

Winter sports
Whistler is considered to be one of the top three resorts in North America, with over 5,000 vertical feet and 8,000 acres for skiers and snowboarders. There is a wide variety of terrain making it suitable for all standards, with heliskiing available for the experts. The resort is also popular during the summer months with hikers and climbers, and mountain bikers can try some exciting and steep tracks. Whistler can be reached by hiring a car or taking a Greyhound Canada bus. Closer to Vancouver are the three mountains of Cypress, Grouse and Seymour. They might not be up to the standard of Whistler, but they are easy and convenient to reach. Cross country skiing, hiking and night skiing are also available.

Water sports
With the number of lakes and the nearby Pacific Ocean, there is no end of water sports to choose from. Vancouver Island provides some shelter from the waves and the water temperature is surprisingly warm. Swimmers should head for Ambleside Beach, which boasts the most attractive sandy beach and some fine views over Stanley Park. Lynn Creek is also popular because of its deep pools and cliff jumping. Windsurfing is popular and the conditions are usually consistent year round. Jericho beach is the best place for beginners and those looking to hire equipment or take a lesson. Other water sports include sailing, kayaking and water-skiing.

Hiking
Vancouver’s stunning natural setting means that the area is a haven for hikers and casual walkers. The North Shore area offers the greatest number and of trails and the best views. The huge Baden Powell Trail stretches from Deep Cove to Horseshoe and can be joined in a number of different places. The 2.9km Grouse Grind Hike is the most famous and definitely the busiest. Once you reach the top there are some good views over Vancouver and the surrounding mountains. There are plenty of things to do including mountain biking, paragliding and further trails to explore. There is a cable car servicing the peak if you don't fancy the walk up or down. For the less adventurous, take a stroll along the promenade that connects Dundarave Village and Ambleside Park.