Winter Fun For Families, Inside And Out
December 23rd, 2010 05:42 AM
The North Shore is “the” place to raise your family. Surrounded by moun¬tains, oceans and rivers. With hiking trails and ski hills to fishing holes and bird-watching spots. Pick your recreational pas¬sion and the North Shore offers an abundance.
When I had my first son, the usual recreational adjustments had to be made... climbing in Squamish was lost, moun¬tain bike trips a thing of the past. We had to start looking for short walks with the pack which then turned into very slow walks with a toddler.
Just as the pace started to pick up the second came along. We attempted to get out but by the time we figured out “where” -- suitable for the stroller, toddler and dog, not to forget a tad of enjoyment for us -- we were exhausted. So I researched the recreational activities here that can be enjoyed by the family… at a family pace.
I’ve found out where the North Shore offers recre¬ation for every level. (I’ve also learned that unless I want to carry my child’s bike up every hill on the North Shore, it’s also nice to cross the waters and enjoy a family outing in a different, flatter community.)
Sometimes it’s difficult to fit it all in. Between all the organized recreation offered at school and in the community, it’s hard to find time to go for a trail walk. But it only has to be long enough to expand your lungs and not to hear a background hum.
Trails for all ages, suitable for winter outings:
Brothers Creek Forestry Heritage Walk, 1121 Millstream Road, West Vancouver. For short walks or longer hikes, this heritage trail was once used by steam donkey engines that powered a logging railway, transporting cedar logs to mills. Pick up an interpretive trail guide from the municipal hall, the West Vancouver Museum and Archives or call 604-925-PARK. Make a great walk a great adventure! Bring a little bag for each child and play Treasure Hunt. Find a pine cone, a piece of moss, a rock, a stick, a bug, etc.
Seaview Walk, across from Gleneagles Golf Course just east of Orchill Road, West Vancouver. This short, out-and-back trail offers impressive views of Fisherman’s Cove and Burrard Inlet surrounded by conifers and arbutus trees. Dogs off-leash area.
Cates Park Trails, 200 block of Dollarton Highway. North Vancouver. With waterfront trail, beaches, mixed forest, viewpoints, native totems and canoe. Dogs on-leash area. Did you know: the ancestral name for Cates Park is Whey-Ah-Whichen, meaning “faces the wind.”
Varley Trail Loop, Lynn Valley Road & Rice Lake Road, North Vancouver. Walk down Rice Lake Road and stay left. Don’t cross the pipe bridge. The gravel road ends and Varley Trail starts. You’ll come out by Lynn Headwaters Park. Cross the bridge and turn right. Walk up to Seymour Demonstration Forest and turn right past a small cabin. Loop down and cross the pipe bridge to Rice Lake Road. You can parallel Lynn River on a winding trail. Little wooden bridges cross marshy vegetation. Enjoy easy river access to stop and hang out. Can be muddy after rains... but kids don’t mind that!
Family indoor drop-in sports:
Badminton: Delbrook Community Centre, 600 West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. All ages: Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. All ages: Sundays 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Adult/Youth: Fridays 8 to 10 p.m. $12.50 family, $5.15 adult, $3.35 child. Bring your racquet and a bird. Schedule subject to change: call 604-987-7529 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 604-987-7529 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Basketball/Open Gym: Delbrook Community Centre, 600 West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. All ages: Fridays 6 to 8 p.m. John Braithwaite, 145 West 1st St., North Vancouver. Family: Sundays 1 to 4 p.m.
Climbing: Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. Adults/children over 5: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Edge, 2-1485 Welch St., North Vancouver, with 60’ routes, 15,000 sq. ft. of wall space. www.edgeclimbing.com 604 984-9080 Did you know: climbing teaches and develops skills in partnership, communication, decision making, critical thinking, commitment, discipline, empathy, risk-taking and goal setting…
Gymnastics: Flicka Gym, 123 East 23rd St., North Vancouver. All ages: Saturdays 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. $6/person www.flickagymclub.com 604 985-7918. Did you know: that gymnastics requires agility, balance, strength and coordination and is often used to improve athletes in other sports?
Volleyball: Harry Jerome, 123 East 23rd St., North Vancouver. Family: Fridays 7 to 8 p.m.
North Shore realtor and mother Yasmeen van Bylandt has been growing a catalogue of kids’ activities on the North Shore. She has also added some kids’ events to our community listings on page 7.
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 07-Jan 08
When I had my first son, the usual recreational adjustments had to be made... climbing in Squamish was lost, moun¬tain bike trips a thing of the past. We had to start looking for short walks with the pack which then turned into very slow walks with a toddler.
Just as the pace started to pick up the second came along. We attempted to get out but by the time we figured out “where” -- suitable for the stroller, toddler and dog, not to forget a tad of enjoyment for us -- we were exhausted. So I researched the recreational activities here that can be enjoyed by the family… at a family pace.
I’ve found out where the North Shore offers recre¬ation for every level. (I’ve also learned that unless I want to carry my child’s bike up every hill on the North Shore, it’s also nice to cross the waters and enjoy a family outing in a different, flatter community.)
Sometimes it’s difficult to fit it all in. Between all the organized recreation offered at school and in the community, it’s hard to find time to go for a trail walk. But it only has to be long enough to expand your lungs and not to hear a background hum.
Trails for all ages, suitable for winter outings:
Brothers Creek Forestry Heritage Walk, 1121 Millstream Road, West Vancouver. For short walks or longer hikes, this heritage trail was once used by steam donkey engines that powered a logging railway, transporting cedar logs to mills. Pick up an interpretive trail guide from the municipal hall, the West Vancouver Museum and Archives or call 604-925-PARK. Make a great walk a great adventure! Bring a little bag for each child and play Treasure Hunt. Find a pine cone, a piece of moss, a rock, a stick, a bug, etc.
Seaview Walk, across from Gleneagles Golf Course just east of Orchill Road, West Vancouver. This short, out-and-back trail offers impressive views of Fisherman’s Cove and Burrard Inlet surrounded by conifers and arbutus trees. Dogs off-leash area.
Cates Park Trails, 200 block of Dollarton Highway. North Vancouver. With waterfront trail, beaches, mixed forest, viewpoints, native totems and canoe. Dogs on-leash area. Did you know: the ancestral name for Cates Park is Whey-Ah-Whichen, meaning “faces the wind.”
Varley Trail Loop, Lynn Valley Road & Rice Lake Road, North Vancouver. Walk down Rice Lake Road and stay left. Don’t cross the pipe bridge. The gravel road ends and Varley Trail starts. You’ll come out by Lynn Headwaters Park. Cross the bridge and turn right. Walk up to Seymour Demonstration Forest and turn right past a small cabin. Loop down and cross the pipe bridge to Rice Lake Road. You can parallel Lynn River on a winding trail. Little wooden bridges cross marshy vegetation. Enjoy easy river access to stop and hang out. Can be muddy after rains... but kids don’t mind that!
Family indoor drop-in sports:
Badminton: Delbrook Community Centre, 600 West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. All ages: Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. All ages: Sundays 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Adult/Youth: Fridays 8 to 10 p.m. $12.50 family, $5.15 adult, $3.35 child. Bring your racquet and a bird. Schedule subject to change: call 604-987-7529 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 604-987-7529 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Basketball/Open Gym: Delbrook Community Centre, 600 West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. All ages: Fridays 6 to 8 p.m. John Braithwaite, 145 West 1st St., North Vancouver. Family: Sundays 1 to 4 p.m.
Climbing: Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. Adults/children over 5: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Edge, 2-1485 Welch St., North Vancouver, with 60’ routes, 15,000 sq. ft. of wall space. www.edgeclimbing.com 604 984-9080 Did you know: climbing teaches and develops skills in partnership, communication, decision making, critical thinking, commitment, discipline, empathy, risk-taking and goal setting…
Gymnastics: Flicka Gym, 123 East 23rd St., North Vancouver. All ages: Saturdays 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. $6/person www.flickagymclub.com 604 985-7918. Did you know: that gymnastics requires agility, balance, strength and coordination and is often used to improve athletes in other sports?
Volleyball: Harry Jerome, 123 East 23rd St., North Vancouver. Family: Fridays 7 to 8 p.m.
North Shore realtor and mother Yasmeen van Bylandt has been growing a catalogue of kids’ activities on the North Shore. She has also added some kids’ events to our community listings on page 7.
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 07-Jan 08
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