Fraser River Discovery Centre

The Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster takes the story of British Columbia's most important river and turns it into something kids actually want to explore. The museum is on the banks of the Fraser itself, so you can look out the windows and see the river the exhibits are talking about.

The star attraction for kids is the interactive river table where they can move pieces around to redirect water flow, build mini dams, and watch how water responds. The tugboat simulator lets kids try their hand at navigating a vessel through the river channel. These hands-on elements keep younger kids engaged far longer than a typical museum.

Exhibits cover the Fraser River ecosystem, salmon lifecycle, First Nations history along the river, and the industrial history of the waterway. The salmon migration display does a great job explaining the journey these fish make, and kids who've never seen a sturgeon are shocked by how big they get — the centre has life-sized models.

The building is compact and stroller-accessible, making it manageable for families with young ones. It's located right on the New Westminster boardwalk, so after your visit you can walk along the river, watch trains go by on the adjacent tracks (a bonus for train-loving kids), and grab food in downtown New Westminster.