Stanley Park

Family Fun

Children's Farmyard

The Children's Farmyard is home to over 200 animals, birds, and reptiles belonging to about 50 different species. The present day Farmyard, built in 1982 and extended in 1993 is built on the original footprint of the Children's Zoo which was established in 1962.

Situated on just over one acre of land, two spacious heated barns, outside corrals and yards, and a small stream and pond provide for the comfort of the animals while giving children the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a rural environment.

The smaller farm animals such as sheep, goats and potbellied pigs, intermingle happily with visitors. Other farmyard inhabitants include donkeys, cows, rabbits, ducks, chickens, reptiles and even a llama.

The Children's Farmyard is part of "Rare Breeds Canada" and houses many endangered species of sheep, cows, and waterfowl. The Farmyard is an integral part of the major seasonal events at Halloween and Christmas and becomes exceptionally popular at Easter when the Easter Bunny and its Chicken sidekick assist the children in their quest for chocolate eggs hidden amongst the straw.

Miniature Train

In 1964, following the havoc created by Typhoon Frieda, which packed winds up to 129 km per hour, a clearing created by fallen trees in the forest was transformed into a horseshoe-shaped circuit by Deputy Superintendent Bill Livingstone, just right for the creation of the Stanley Park Miniature Railway. The Miniature Train has become one of Vancouver's most popular attractions and carries over 200,000 passengers per year.

Winding along a mile and a quarter of 20" gauge track, the train travels over trestles and through tunnels in a picturesque journey through the forest. There are three sets of cars and four engines, one of which is a replica of Canadian Pacific Railway #374, famous for pulling Canada's first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in the late 1880s. The real Engine #374 is on display in a special pavilion located adjacent to the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre.

Farmyard and Train Hours of Operation 2009
Feb 7 - May 15	11am - 4pm weekends only, weather permitting*
Mar 14 - 22 (Spring Break)	11am - 4pm daily
Apr 10 - 13 (Easter Weekend)	11am - 4pm daily
May 16 - Jun 26	11am - 4pm daily
Jun 27 - Sep 7	Train Farmyard	10:30am - 5pm daily 11:00am - 4pm daily
Sep 12 - 13	11am - 4pm, weather permitting*
Oct 9 - Nov 1	Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train
Nov 27 - Jan 2, 2010	Bright Nights Christmas Train

* For dates when open weather permitting phone the Info Line at 604-257-8531.

Picnics

Family reunions, getting the neighbours on the block together or a child's birthday party all add up to a special picnic destination for that perfect occasion. Stanley Park offers several picnic locations with a variety of services to meet your every dining desire. Book online and find out about permits on our Picnics Sites page.

Playgrounds

Vancouver's first children's playground was developed at Ceperley Meadow near Second Beach when Grace Ceperley willed an endowment for that purpose in the late 1920s. Today a seafaring-themed facility is located there, along with the emblematic, antique red fire engine, with other such facilities located at Lumbermen's Arch and near the Stanley Park Pavilion.

Second Beach Pool

Open from late May through Labour Day, this large outdoor pool located on the park's west side combines the best of two worlds - beach front swimming in a heated tank. The graduated depth makes this a perfect spot for young dabblers with a slide and other special features for the more adventurous. A special lengths area has been cordoned off for lap swimmers. The pool boasts one of Vancouver's best views.

The park's first bathhouse was built in 1912 and the next year 5,274 bathing suit rentals were noted in the annual report. Bathing had become very fashionable, so much so that the Park Board received several letters from the Vancouver Moral Association protesting the wearing of one piece wool bathers (much disapproved of by the VMA) opposed to traditional two-piece suits. Later Stanley Park was home to two "draw & fill" oceanside pools built in the early 1930s. These tanks were filled with salt water at high tide at the beginning of a summer week. The water warmed over the ensuing days and was released by week's end, all ready for a fresh refill at the next high tide.

In 1995, new health standards prompted the replacement of these pools with a heated, fresh water facility at Second Beach on the park's west side. This beautiful, heated pool opens from Victoria Day (third Monday in May) through Labour Day and is supervised. An admission is charged. As well, Stanley Park offers two bathing beaches, at Second Beach and Third Beach which are lifeguarded from 11:30am until dusk through the official swimming season.

Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours

Horse-drawn carriage rides are a fun, relaxing and educational way to learn about Stanley Park and its surroundings. The one-hour tour departs every 20-30 minutes, daily, rain or shine, March 15 to October 31, from the Horse-Drawn Tour kiosk beside the Information Booth on Park Drive, just off the Georgia Street entrance to Stanley Park.

More information is available at www.stanleyparktours.com

Traffic School

Children aged 5 to 8 can learn the rules of the road at this pint-sized motor course where young drivers use pedal power using miniature traffic signs and stop lights under the supervision of a Vancouver Police Department Officer.

2009 update: Traffic School is not operating this year. Contact the West End Community Centre at 604-257-8368 for information.

Vancouver Aquarium

Long a resident of the park, the Vancouver Aquarium is as educational as it is entertaining. Open daily, it is one of the most visited sites in Stanley Park with an excellent gift shop and café.

Hours: Summer: 9:30am-7:00pm; Winter: 9:30am-5:00pm.
More information is available on their web site at www.vanaqua.org

Water Park

The Variety Kids Water Park is Vancouver's largest outdoor spray facility and offers hours worth of summer fun especially for young children and families. Not a swimming pool but rather a series of water geysers and canons that surprise users at every turn, the ankle depth water and other specially designed features make this an accessible facility for all children.

• Open daily end of May through Labour Day
• Free
• Not supervised
• Located at Lumberman's Arch
  

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