Where We Spent a Wake Window: Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours
Location & Parking:
Parking: There is paid parking right in front of the museum.
Set your GPS to: Stanley Park is massive and my directions would likely cause more confusion. I highly recommend checking the official directions before you head in so you don't end up on a detour around the Seawall!
Paid parking is readily available in the lot next to the ticketing booth. Just note that they only accept credit cards for payment.
Official info: https://www.stanleypark.com/
The Damage Report ($):
Their prices vary by season - we visited during the peak summer season.
Under 2: FREE (must sit on an adult’s lap).
Ages 3–12: $40
Adults: $88
The "Whim" Factor: You don't need to book tickets in advance. You can just pay on the day. Tours leave frequently (every 30–45 minutes), and there are benches and space to walk around while you wait for your departure.
Wheely Friendly?
Technically no, but manageable. You can’t push a stroller onto the carriage, but the staff was helpful. They had us fold ours up and brought it on board. This was great because the tour didn’t end exactly where it started so we had a short walk back.
Snack in hand and ready for the ride to start.
The Snack Situation:
We were able to bring our own snacks on the ride for Yuyu which was key to keeping her occupied. However, there is a mini concession stand at the ticket office for drinks, snacks and frozen treats.
Potty Proximity:
There is a bathroom attached to the ticket office but it unfortunately does not have a change table. With that said, there is a stop at the Totem Poles 15 mins into the tour - there is a bathroom in the visitor centre with a change table.
Mum Musings:
Jamie and I had considered doing this tour before but were shocked by the price per adult - it definitely isn't a "let's just do this on a whim" activity for us. However, when Jamie’s parents (Nanny and Poppy) came to visit, it felt like the perfect occasion to finally go for it.
Stop at the Stanley Park Totem Poles
The Experience
The tour is a lovely, slow-paced way to see the park. The guide was incredibly informative, and since Gabe decided to nap on me, I actually got to listen to the history! Yuyu spent the ride bouncing on Nanny and Poppy's laps, so I’m not entirely sure how much of the commentary they actually heard, but everyone was happy.
The Totem Pole Stop
There is one scheduled stop at the Totem Poles. Even if you’ve seen them before, I recommend getting down. It was a great excuse to get out of the carriage, let Yuyu expend some energy, and get a closer look at the horses. She was equal parts amazed and frightened by the horses up close, which made for some pretty cute photos.
Toddler Tolerance Level:
This was the perfect length for Yuyu. Right around the one-hour mark, the novelty started to wear off and she wanted to chatter and move around the carriage (which isn't allowed for safety), so the timing was spot on.
Nap Roulette Options?
After the tour, we spent another 45 minutes walking through Stanley Park. It is always beautiful, and the fresh air combined with the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses earlier was a great recipe for a solid nap.
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.
