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Mom's Guide to Unique Nature Places to Visit With Kids in British Columbia 

Discover unique nature and wildlife places to visit with kids in British Columbia: toddlers and teenagers alike will be awe-ed. Guaranteed. Nature trails and reserves, zoos, farms, train rides, and other outdoor attractions to enjoy this summer!

Beautiful British Columbia fascinates with its nature and wildlife. What's more important, the Province makes it extremely accessible for families with kids to explore and get inspired! In this post, we'll touch on the “tip of the iceberg” with the list of our own favorite outdoor attractions, nature spaces, wildlife and farm animals interaction opportunities, and other cool places to visit with toddlers and older kids when traveling through Beautiful British Columbia on your Canadian vacation (or staycation!).

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Kangaroo Creek Farm in Kelowna, BC

No, you don’t have to travel to Australia anymore to see and pet a real kangaroo! We have a Kangaroo Farm right at our doorsteps here in Kelowna, BC. Regardless of whether you have a child or not, you have to come to see it. Of course, every toddler will be blown away instantly.

Unlike a typical zoo, almost all the animals at the Kangaroo Creek Farm are ravaging the fields cage-free! Kangaroos, wallabies, ostriches, goats, capybaras, ducks, chickens, peacocks, rabbits, and even a large porcupine! Kids can also check out parrots, lizards, snakes, and turtles!

Best outdoor attraction to visit with kids in Kelowna, British Columbia: Kangaroo Creek Farm

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Kettle Valley Steam Train in Summerland, BC

How about taking your child for a ride on a real steam train? Easy! Just an hour from Kelowna, there is a unique old train attraction that will leave any toddler in absolute awe! Kettle Valley Railway runs its Steam Train twice a day: a 1.5-hour-long ride through the beautiful hills of Summerland. in Okanagan. 

Cool historical attraction to visit with kids in Summerland, BC: Kettle Valley Railway Station 

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The Enchanted Forest in Revelstoke, BC

Less than half an hour from Revelstoke, kids can find themselves amidst the world of fantasy and magic. The Enchanted Forest is spread through the wild forest with century-old cedars towering above hundreds of jolly figurines and houses out of popular fairy tales.

Three piglets, Snowwhite, gnomes, leprechauns, trolls, Humpy-Dumpy, fairies, you name it! Marvel at Alice’s Wonderland, join a tortoise for a cup of tea, or visit Dorothy at her Emerald City, or go down the dragon’s den to check on some captive princesses. The park staff adds more figurines each year.

BC's tallest and grandest treehouse is here too, and both kids and parents alike can climb inside!

So next time you travel to Revelstoke, add this cool nature attraction to your list to visit with kids (along with hiking Mt. Revelstoke and a visit to the Three Valley Ghost Town).

Magical nature place to visit with toddlers in Revelstoke, BC: The Enchanted Forest 

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Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre near Golden, BC

Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Center is located just outside of Golden, 1.5 hours from Revelstoke. You probably won’t go there simply for the purpose of going there. Yet if you travel to/from Alberta with your child, consider stopping by! 

Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre is a family-run venture that promotes wolf conservation throughout the natural environment and public education. They hold interpretive talks, interactive school presentations, and field trips about wolves and their role in healthy ecosystems. Although your kids won’t be able to pet wolves here, they can enjoy watching and learning about these magnificent animals.

Unique wildlife places to visit with kids in Golden or Revelstoke, BC: Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre

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The DeMille’s Farm in Salmon Arm, BC

DeMille’s Farm is located on the outskirts of Salmon Arm. There is a farmer’s market, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and a couple of little things such as photo props here and there. 

DeMille’s petting zoo has pigs, sheep, goats, cows, horses, ducks, geese, chickens, turkey, peacocks, rabbits, and guinea pigs, just as many other petting farms in British Columbia. What makes DeMille’s farm unique though, are the llamas and alpacas! 

Parents can buy food in the nearby farmers' market and feed them. It is so much fun for both kids and adults when these cute soft alpacas start chasing you all around the farm to get a share of the pet food! Definitely stop by when you are in the area!

Amazing outdoor places to visit with toddlers in Salmon Arm, British Columbia: DeMille’s Farm 

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BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops, BC

BC Wildlife Park is located about 15 min east of Kamloops, and definitely should be on your list of unique things to do with kids. 

It is different from a regular zoo, as BC Wildlife park does not take animals from nature to use them as an attraction. The Park is a sanctuary for wild animals injured or rescued from captivity and is undergoing rehabilitation: it uses visitors' money to fully prepare the animals for their return into the wilderness. 

Most of the species living in the BC Wildlife Park are local to BC. You will find bears, wolves, cougars, bobcats, mountain goats, bison, raccoons, many birds of prey, and even one Kermode Bear! 

…and of course, they do have cute little train kids can enjoy a ride on through the park! So if you are ever in Kamloops and looking for things to do with kids, definitely check out BC Wildlife Park!

Thoughtful wildlife attraction to visit with kids in Kamloops, BC: BC Wildlife Park 

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Teapot Hill Hike near Cultus Lake, BC

Love Alice in Wonderland? You're invited to a Tea Party at the Teapot Hill trail near Chilliwack! Of all the non-commercial free things to do with kids at Cultus Lake, we'd rank this kids-friendly hike at the top of our fun outdoor family learning activities list!

Teapot Hill is an easy 6 km to-and-from hike that leads to beautiful views of Cultus Lake and Columbia Valley. NOTE: The trail is an uphill hike, so make sure your kids have proper hiking footwear appropriate for the season… 

What makes Teapot Hill so unique is that there are little teapots hidden all around the path. Your kids won't even notice the 3-hour hike once the treasure hunt is on! We've found 92 teapots and teacups hidden along the trail, but we've heard that there are over 100+ of them! Find all, and even bring your own!

Extraordinary nature trail to hike with kids near Cultus Lake in Chilliwack, BC: Teapot Hill 

P.S. Cultus Lake is on our list of Best kids-friendly lakes for summer swimming in BC.

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Atchelitz Village in Chilliwack, BC

If you are looking for unconventional and fun things to do in Chilliwack with your kids, or love unusual photography, or maybe you are an antique enthusiast, then definitely check out Atchelitz!  

Atchelitz Pioneer Village is an open-air antique museum with a collection of beautifully restored old houses with even the tiniest details. You’ll find a large fleet of farm machinery, cars, and even steam engines here too! Cosmos even found a toddler-sized tractor and had an ample opportunity to roll around the field in it.

Atchelitz visits are donation-based.

And typically the place is rather empty (‘cuz not too many people know about it), which is amazing for photography enthusiasts! 

Curious historical place to visit with kids in Chilliwack, British Columbia: Atchelitz Pioneer Village

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Greater Vancouver Zoo in Langley, BC

All kids love zooz. Not much else to say, LOL. It is only so amazing that we have Greater Vancouver Zoo here in British Columbia and so close to Vancouver. 

Dedicated to conservation and public education, the Greater Vancouver Zoo is home to many rescued, donated, and orphaned animals. Kids will find local BC wildlife, such as deer and bears here. But also some exotic species, such as lions, cheetahs, and hippos. 

Oh, and you know what our child loves the most? The Terrarium with bugs, spiders, lizards and roaches… yuck! Hey, but boys be boys, right? And if your toddler is anything like ours, you’ll save tremendously by simply getting the annual family pass. 

Fantastic place to visit with kids in Langley near Vancouver, BC: Greater Vancouver Zoo

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Fairy Forest at Redwood Park, Surrey BC

Redwood Park looks like nothing much on the map. Yet, surprise! Redwood Park is home to a super-cool public art project: the Fairy Land (or Fairy Forest)! A Short hike from the playground you’ll find an entire city of fairies. (oh, by the way, this trail is one of the stroller-friendly Vancouver hikes!)

Hundreds, if not thousands, of little fairy houses of all shapes, colours, and sizes are all over the place. Truly a find for any toddler, or any photographer for that matter! 

Here is what photography and videography equipment we use

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Here, at the Fairy Forest, it all started with someone placing a few fairy houses under a tree. Now, each time a child is visiting, they instantly want to make and bring their own house! ..and so they do! The Fairy City is constantly growing. Definitely worth the visit with your toddler.

Marvellous nature place to visit with toddlers in Surrey near Vancouver, BC: Fairy Forest at 27PC+8M Surrey, British Columbia

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HoneyBee Centre in Surrey, BC

HoneyBee Centre is a commercial honey bee farm located in Surrey, BC. They operate a honey gift store, a honey packing facility, tourist attraction, a High Tea restaurant and a fun family education station for kids and school field trips. 

One of the coolest things for kids to check out at HoneyBee Centre are theis glass hive, where they can see little busy bees crawling around, making honey and nursing their queens. 

Responsible learning place to visit with kids in Surrey near Vancouver, BC: HoneyBee Centre

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Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Surrey, BC

Surrey's Heritage Rail is a tram and train museum located at the heart of Cloverdale in Surrey, BC. Operated and maintained by Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society it provides for an ultimate family learning experience, presents a collection of historic electric trams (aka old trains), and offers daily fun kids train rides. 

Is your toddler a fan of Thomas The Train? Then you can NOT miss the Surrey Heritage Rail experience!

Joyful outdoor attraction to visit with toddlers in Surrey near Vancouver, BC: Fraser Valley Heritage Railway 

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Bloedel Conservatory in Queens Park, Vancouver BC

The Bloedel Conservatory is a domed tropical garden located at the highest point in Vancouver – the top of Queen Elizabeth Park. Kids will find more than 100 species of macaws and parrots, and other tropical birds free-flying over your heads.

So if the weather is not so nice as to get outside, of all the things to do with kids in Vancouver on a rainy day, Bloedel Conservatory is one of the most unique and unexpected finds your kids will definitely enjoy!

Rainy day wildlife place to visit with toddlers in Vancouver, BC: Bloedel Conservatory

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Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Aquarium is home to over 50,000 fish and aquatic creatures. Through its exhibits, marine life interactive experiences, on-site shows, the Aquarium is a truly unforgettable experience for the whole family, especially younger kids and toddlers. In addition to being one of Vancouver’s major tourist attractions, the Aquarium is a center for marine research, conservation, and marine animal rehabilitation. So if you are looking for fun and educational activities for your kids, especially amongst things to do on a rainy Vancouver day – the aquarium is at the top of our list!

Bucket List marine life place to visit with kids in Vancouver, BC: Vancouver Aquarium

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Butterfly World and Gardens at Coombs near Qualicum Beach, BC

Are you spending a family weekend on Vancouver Island? Definitely stop at the Butterfly World!

Girls and boys alike will be guaranteed to be awe-ed. Well, not a surprise, as butterflies are amongst nature's most beautiful and delicate creatures. Butterfly World is a contained facility designed to replicate the natural environment, and hosts species from South America and Asia.

We find it similar to another very famous Canadian location – the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory in Ontario. Both are fantastic nature attractions for kids and adults of any age!

Fun wildlife place to visit with kids in Coombs on Vancouver Island, BC: Butterfly World

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U-Pick Berries, Apples, Pumpkins all across British Columbia

Any child will be eager to engage in fruit and berry picking activities, and British Columbia definitely has ample opportunity for young farmers. 

Some of the famous farms around Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley are Krause Berry Farms and Driediger Farms for delicious berries, Applebarn Pumpkin Farm, and Loft Country Farm for apples and pumpkins.  If you are in Okanagan, check out Mike and Lizzy’s Cherry U-Pick and Arndt Orchards for cherries, Covert Farms for blueberries.

Delicious outdoor places to visit with toddlers all across British Columbia: the farms!

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Nature Places to Visit With Kids in British Columbia Concluding Notes:

I hope our list of kids outdoor attractions, nature spaces, wildlife and farm animals interaction opportunities, and other cool places to visit with toddlers and older kids when traveling through Beautiful British Columbia.

As said, we are just touching “the tip of the iceberg” with BC's wildlife and nature attractions and outdoor places we've personally visited with our toddler, who is 5 yo at the time of this writing. As Cosmos grows older, we'll expand our findings with more age-appropriate places to visit with kids all across Beautiful British Columbia and beyond.

Make sure to sign-up to our newsletter so you don’t miss out on the new exciting outdoor adventures and family travel experiences

In the meantime, check-out our British Columbia Outdoors printable Activities for toddlers, and other kids outdoor and nature activities and homeschooling resources.

You can also download our FREE outdoor treasure hunts!

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Explore next: latest outdoors and travel experiences in British Columbia

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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