We loved Science World so much that we had to go back for a second round! We pretty much visited the same exhibits and watched the same performances, but we all felt less rushed and got to explore some activities we missed the first time. 

 
Besides the popcorn we treated ourselves to, Nolie couldn’t get enough of the giant ball shooter and Syd was thrilled again by the Keva block knock-down. 

  
 
We had a rollicking good time and left with four big smiles and some fist pumps!

We spent a beautiful, idyllic afternoon at the VanDusen Botanical Garden today. The kids relished the open space and had a blast running amok, picking up little rocks and twigs, and using their “outside voices.”

There were gardens of all shapes, sizes, and types. The kids were captivated by the stone garden and the central lake with shooting fountain. We saw beehives, fresh veggie beds, a medicine wheel, mole trails, and fascinating monkey puzzle trees.

   
   
The gardens are stunning and very large, so we explored a little less than half today. Our favorite area was the maze made out of hedges. Syd was so excited when we told her about it, and led us through the maze like a champ! She remained undeterred by the dead ends she encountered and kept trying different paths without getting discouraged. It was one of those experiences that truly surprised me, as her parent, and added another layer to her character in my eyes. 

Sometimes the most unexpected outings turn out to be the most fun. The Maritime Museum wasn’t top on our list of places to visit, but yesterday was a good afternoon for an indoor activity the museum turned out to be the perfect place. Between the real-live ship we were able to board and tour, and the super-entertaining kids area, it’s become my favorite indoor kid/family activity in the area. Second only to Science World, that is.

 
Syd and Nolie celebrated Talk Like A Pirate weekend with pirate hat crafts and even an eyepatch. They also loved the boat steering simulation that led them through icebergs, polar bears, and Eskimos.

 We made it to the aquarium today for a fun rainy-afternoon outing. Syd was the most excited to see the beluga whales, but it turned out the sharks were the animals to steal her heart. There were two of them sharing an awesome exhibit with a sea turtle and ray, and the kids were spellbound. 

 
Nolie used the word “big” to describe some sizable fish and repeatedly referred to the two beluga whales as “whale.” Two new words added to his vocabulary! Thanks, Vancouver Aquarium! 
The kids also loved Clownfish Corner, a newish play space for kids 8 and under. Some unique stations for being a marine biologist and a marine mammal doctor, plus the ever-popular boat with a, as Syd would say, “ginormous” steering wheel. 

We finally made it to Science World today! Syd has been eager to go since we got here, and she wasn’t disappointed. 

We saw animal exhibits, met Stan the T.Rex, played in spaceships, built foam block castles, knocked down Keva block towers, conducted mini science experiments involving air pressure and water, and used all of our senses in the shadow room. It was a busy and fun-filled afternoon of playing and learning. 

Syd ran from one thing to another, she wanted to make sure she did everything she could get her hands on. The demos were really well-done and entertaining, and Syd loved riding on her own personal hovercraft. Nolie was her little shadow and excitedly followed her to each station. Of course, his favorite activities involved balls – throwing, blowing, rolling them.

   
    
   
It was also another good reason to take the water bus. We bought round-trip tickets for one company, but ended up waiting a while for it after we just missed the previous one. Luckily, the weather was beautiful and sunny, but Syd was hungry and grumbled about waiting so long instead of being able to hop on the other company’s water bus. Last lesson of the day for mom and dad: it might be worth paying a little extra for one-way convenience!