The Granville Island Toy Company

The Granville Island Toy Company's flagship location on Cartwright Street is right in the heart of Granville Island, steps from the Public Market and Kids Market. This is the original store that made the brand a Vancouver institution, and it delivers exactly what you'd expect — a packed, colorful shop full of toys that kids can actually touch and try.

The layout encourages exploration. Demo stations are scattered throughout, from marble runs to magnet tiles to puppet theaters. Kids gravitating toward one area while you browse another is normal here. The selection covers babies through about age 10, with wooden toys, science kits, dress-up costumes, outdoor toys, puzzles, and a strong puppet section.

Small items near the checkout are strategically placed and affordably priced — rubber ducks, bouncy balls, kaleidoscopes, and other pocket-money toys that make good souvenirs or party bag fillers. The staff know the inventory well and can point you to age-appropriate picks quickly.

Being on Granville Island means this store is part of a bigger outing. Combine it with the Kids Market (an indoor market full of kid-focused shops and a play area), the Public Market for lunch, and a waterfront walk. Granville Island can get intensely crowded on summer weekends, so a weekday visit is worth planning if you can manage it.