a family affair

A fun (and frugal) Family Day itinerary with our Editor-in-chief Sarah Bancroft.
 
eat
Kirin Chinese Restaurant downtown is one of our favourite dim sum spots to meet friends – we’ve had as many as 30 join in. The bill is never more than $15 a head, the kids love the food, and no one notices if they use their chopsticks as drumsticks or drop their rice on the floor. Reservations essential. www.kirinrestaurants.com

skate
After lunch, our kids love the ice rink at Robson Square. Not only is it free (and the kids hot chocolates are a bargain) but parents have fun skating to the quirky retro soundtrack  (remember the J. Geiles Band?).
www.robsonsquare.com

culture up
We’ve bought a family membership to the Vancouver Art Gallery ($75) for the past three years running and it’s the best investment ever. We’re often there on Sundays when they run the "Making Place" on the fifth floor, with cool craft projects inspired by the current exhibits (free for kids under 12). It’s also funny to watch the dads go nuts building hotels out of Lego.  We often cap it off with a glass of bubbly ($5) in the Gallery Cafe. www.vanartgallery.bc.ca