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Pacific Museum of the Earth
If you are visiting UBC and/or have a budding paleontologist, geologist, meteorologist or astronomer, visit the Pacific Museum of the Earth. This tiny museum is home to a dinosaur skeleton, a dinosaur egg, a tornado machine, a seismograph, and some beautiful minerals from around the world, including a huge amethyst geode.
The museum is located in the Earth and Ocean Sciences Building (6339 Stores Road) at UBC, between West Mall and Main Mall off of University Boulevard. There are a few metred parking spots between the EOS building and the Scarfe Education building ($2 for 40 minutes, $1 for 20 minutes), which can be accessed up Bio Sciences Rd from West Mall. Otherwise parking can be had in the West Parkade or sometimes on NW Marine Drive. Numerous busses serve UBC. The museum is a 10 minute walk from the UBC bus loop.
Admission to the museum is by donation. Nearby, on the Main Mall is the Barn Café where washrooms and food are available.
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The Reifel Bird Sanctuary
The George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary is a little gem of wild life. Situated on agricultural Westham Island, near Ladner, the sanctuary is a great place to spend the morning or afternoon walking outside, feeding the ducks (and maybe a chickadee), seeing herons and other great birds (e.g. the huge snow geese population comes through twice a year), and, if lucky, spotting an eagle or an owl.
Accessible only by car (unless you feel up to a good bike ride from Ladner), the Sanctuary is on the northwestern point of Westham Island. The island is connected to the mainland by a one-lane bridge (coming from Ladner village, watch for the Sanctuary signs on the river side of River Road West). Follow the road off the bridge all the way to the end. The Sanctuary is a sharp left at the black gates and along a drive bordering a pond.
Parking is free. There are washrooms and a picnic area between the parking lot and the Sanctuary's admission gate. It is best to take advantage of the washrooms before setting off on your walk. There are no facilities within the Sanctuary itself.
Admission is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children (2-14) and seniors (60+). Birdseed is $0.50 a bag. The Sanctuary is best suited to little children who stay in their strollers and for older children who are able to stay on the path.
There is a small Warming Hut near the admission gate for cold days. Take a thermos of hot chocolate and lunch and enjoy some time outside! Other handy things to take along include a bird book, binoculars, a camera, and appropriate weather gear, especially boots. There is a nice gift shop at the admission gate.
If you have more time in the day, some farms on the island are open the public at various times of the year. Keep your eyes peeled for signs (e.g. berries in the summer, pumpkins and honey in the fall).
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The Roundhouse and Engine 374
For children who love trains, the Roundhouse and Engine 374 is a boon. On the north side of False Creek, at the corner of Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard, the Roundhouse is now a community centre, but has, on the outside of the building, retained evidence of its historical function as the Western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. A turntable for re-orienting locomotives into the roundhouse stalls, and some of the switches are still in place.
Very happily, Engine 374, which pulled the first passenger train into Vancouver in 1887 is housed in a glass walled room off the east side of the building. This engine once served as a fabulous climbing apparatus for kids at Kits Park until it was lovingly restored in the 1980s. Today, the locomotive sits resplendent in her new home.
Admittance to view the train (and ring it's bell) is free. Volunteers host the site on a daily basis from 10am - 4pm, though these times are not guaranteed. To avoid melting disappointment, try Saturday (the Saturday volunteer pledged that he is always there).
Washrooms are located in the Roundhouse Community Centre (not accessible through the Engine 374 wing, but around the other end of the building). This site is best reached by bus, bike or on foot, although the community centre does have underground pay parking available (access off Drake) $1.5/hour until 6pm, $3 max after 6pm.
The area is super for walking and eating. A quick trip across the water to Granville Island on one of the little ferries leaving the foot of Davie Street is a treat.
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Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium provides endless entertainment for little ones. In addition to daily songs, stories and activities at 10 am in Clownfish Cove (the children's area complete with touch pools and seal hospital), the Aquarium is home to two baby Belugas, several dolphins, an octopus, frogs, seahorses, turtles, hyacinth macaws, sloths and a variety of other marine and tropical life.
If you live in or close to Vancouver, an annual membership is worthwhile. It is equivalent to just over 2 general admission adult visits. Children under 3 are free. Children 4 to 12 are $14.
There is a café within the Aquarium, but taking your own lunch or snack is a less expensive option. Parking at the Aquarium varies seasonally. From April to September it costs $2/hour or $8 a day. From October - March rates are for $1/hour or $4/day. Meters accept coins, Visa or Mastercard. The Aquarium will provide change for parking; however, it is best to come prepared with change or a credit card, as there is active ticketing in the park lots. The #19 Stanley Park bus runs from Pender Street downtown and deposits passengers 10 minutes' walk from the Aquarium.
The trick with visiting the hot tropical and outdoor viewing areas of the Aquarium in winter with small children is what to wear. Lugging coats and other cold weather paraphernalia is cumbersome and tiring. If you have an idea that you will be mostly inside, opt for leaving most of your layers in the car. If you have a stroller, it works well when it can double as a coat rack.
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