VanDusen Botanical Garden
Family of 4
$30-40 CAD (~$22-29 USD) depending on season
Duration
1.5-2.5 hours
Best Ages
2-12 years
About
VanDusen Botanical Garden might sound like an adults-only attraction, but it's secretly one of Vancouver's best family destinations — especially once your kids discover the hedge maze.
Spread across 55 acres in the Shaughnessy neighborhood, VanDusen features extensive garden collections, a network of winding paths, and enough variety to keep families engaged for a full morning or afternoon. The hedge maze at the rear of the garden is the undisputed highlight for kids. It's a proper Elizabethan-style maze with hedges taller than adults, dead ends, and enough complexity to be genuinely challenging.
Finding the center feels like a real achievement, and kids will want to do it multiple times.
Beyond the maze, VanDusen has hidden kid-friendly features throughout. Turtle ponds where red-eared sliders swim to the surface. A waterfall garden with stepping stones.
Squirrels that are bold enough to approach (but shouldn't be fed). Wide rolling lawns perfect for a picnic or a game of tag. The Korean garden, the Mediterranean garden, and the Rhododendron walk each have distinct characters that keep the scenery changing.
The garden runs family programs throughout the year — storytimes, guided nature walks, and seasonal celebrations. The December Festival of Lights is VanDusen's blockbuster event: over a million LED lights transform the garden into a glowing wonderland, with light displays reflecting in ponds, illuminated pathways, hot chocolate, live entertainment, and dancing lights choreographed to music. It's one of Vancouver's top holiday experiences for families.
Spring is the most colorful season, with cherry blossoms, tulips, and magnolias creating a photographer's paradise. Summer mornings are pleasant for exploring. Fall brings dramatic foliage colors. Even winter has its charms beyond the Festival of Lights.
The garden is fully stroller-accessible with wide, paved main paths (though some smaller trails are gravel). The Shaughnessy Restaurant inside the garden serves family-friendly meals with garden views. Washrooms and baby changing facilities are available.
Admission varies by season but is generally affordable. Kids under 5 are often free. The Festival of Lights is separately ticketed and popular nights sell out in advance — book early.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Available
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Spring (April-May) for cherry blossoms and tulips. Summer mornings for pleasant temperatures. The Festival of Lights in December is magical.
Wait Times
Minimal; Festival of Lights in December may have 15-30 minute waits for entry
Nearby Food
Shaughnessy Restaurant is inside the garden with a family-friendly menu and garden views. The Oak Street corridor has numerous restaurants. Seasons in the Park at Queen Elizabeth Park is a 5-minute drive.
Why Kids Love It
Most kids wouldn't pick a botanical garden as their first choice — until they discover VanDusen has a hedge maze. The Elizabethan-style maze in the back of the garden is the kind of adventure kids dream about: tall hedges taller than adults, dead ends, wrong turns, and the triumphant moment of finding the center. Beyond the maze, the garden is surprisingly kid-engaging.
Turtles swim in the ponds and kids will spend ages watching them surface. Hidden waterfalls create little magical spots. Squirrels are bold and entertaining.
The wide lawns are perfect for running and rolling. In December, the entire garden transforms for the Festival of Lights — over a million lights wrapped around trees, illuminating pathways, and reflecting in ponds, with hot chocolate, entertainment, and a holiday atmosphere that enchants kids of all ages. Family storytime events and guided nature walks happen throughout the year.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Head to the hedge maze first — it's at the back of the garden and is the undisputed kid highlight
- The turtle ponds are near the maze — bring old bread crusts and watch kids and turtles connect
- Family programs run select days — check the website for storytime and guided walk schedules
- The Festival of Lights (December) is one of Vancouver's best family holiday events — book tickets early
- The garden is 55 acres — bring the stroller even if your kids normally walk
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes (the garden covers 55 acres)
- Stroller for young kids
- Sunscreen in summer, warm layers in winter
- Camera for the garden landscapes and hedge maze victory photos
- A picnic blanket — there are beautiful lawns for sitting
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$30-40 CAD (~$22-29 USD) depending on season
Tips to Save
- Buy tickets online for a $1 discount.
- Family memberships include Bloedel Conservatory access.
- Kids under 5 are free in some seasons.
- The Festival of Lights requires separate tickets — buy early as popular nights sell out.