Where We Spent a Wake Window: Horseshoe Bay
Location & Parking:
Parking: Paid street parking was available right in the heart of the village.
Set your GPS to: 6750 Keith Rd, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2V1, Canada. It took us about 35 minutes to get here from Kitsilano. A surprisingly easy adventure.
Official info: https://www.vancouversnorthshore.com/neighbourhood/horseshoe-bay/
The Damage Report ($): Totally free to roam, enjoy the views, and play at the park.
Wheely Friendly?
Absolutely. We brought our double stroller, and it was easy to navigate the village. There is even a wooden pallet path along the water that handles the wheels perfectly.
Testing the Goldie’s donuts!
The Snack Situation:
The village is packed with options, everything from sushi and fish and chips to pizza by the slice. Since we’d already eaten lunch, we focused on the "sweet treat" category.
Goldie’s Donuts: The line outside Goldie’s piqued my interest. They have gourmet brioche donuts with decadent, unique fillings and none of the grease. I tried the Triple Berry Cream ( Yuyu picked it and then only had 1 tiny bite - kids.)
The Coffee: Jamie stuck to a regular coffee, but they had some wild options like a Peanut Butter Cream Latte.
Potty Proximity:
Public bathrooms are available, but since it was such a beautiful, warm day, we just opted for a quick diaper change for the kids right in the park.
Mum Musings:
This was a last minute adventure after Jamie’s co-worker mentioned how cute the area was. I didn’t have time to do my usual deep-dive research, but it turned out to be a wonderful wake window adventure.
The Vibe: Horseshoe Bay feels more like a mini seaside resort than a ferry terminal. The views of Howe Sound ( a network of fjords) and the surrounding mountains are absolutely magical.We walked around the pier and the village while window shopping at the little gift stores and restaurants.
The Playground: While I hung out on the grass with Gabe to enjoy the breeze, Jamie and Yuyu tackled the Horseshoe Bay Park playground. It has rubber flooring (my favorite), swings, slides, and arguably the best view of any playground in the city.
Picnic Culture: I was surprised to find that you can actually consume alcohol at this park. There were families everywhere with BBQs and picnics, it felt very communal and relaxed.
Toddler Tolerance Level:
High! We were there for 2 hours, but you could easily turn this into a full-day excursion. There is a pebbly beach right in front of the playground, and Whytecliff Park is only a 10-minute drive away if you want to explore more.
Nap Roulette Options?
We were content to head home after all that fresh air, but Yuyu was out cold within 5 minutes of hitting the road. It wasn’t ideal since it was so close to bedtime, and despite my best efforts to keep her awake, I failed.
Future Adventures: If we’d had more time (and a bit more prep!), I would have loved to hop on the ferry to Bowen Island. We also saw Sewell’s Marina from a distance, they offer boat and fishing tours that would be fun to check out next time.
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
