Ready for QUIZ TIME!? Sea otters, sea lions, snakes, and sloths… plus 60,000 other aquatic creatures — and it’s not the ocean, where could that be?

I bet you’re not quite sure, but let me tell you, all the Vancouver kids know the answer right! It’s their favourite spot in the city — Vancouver Aquarium!

Just so you know, I actually bought the annual pass — that should tell you something. I’ve gone way too many times to count. Rainy weekends, random afternoons when I’m in Stanley Park — I always find a reason to stop by. The jellyfish tank is my spot. I could stand there forever just watching them drift around. It’s quiet, kind of calming. Everything else just fades out for a bit. Doesn’t matter how old you are — this place always hits the same.

But my favourite part of the whole place? No question — the sea otters. You can actually book a Sea Otter Encounter, and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. You get to meet them up close, watch them play with their food, and learn all about their rescue stories. They’re funny, curious, and just straight-up adorable. One of the trainers told us their fur is so thick it can trap air and keep them warm, and that stuck with me. It’s wild how much there is to learn just from watching them for a few minutes.

If you’re into something a little different, the Aquarium also runs special events. There’s a cool one coming up for Mother’s Day — a night at the aquarium with a full dinner service and wine pairings. It’s an adults-only evening, so no kids running around, just chill vibes and glowing tanks. Pretty dreamy.

I promise, there’s so much to see. Sloths, snakes, sharks, tropical fish, stingrays, frogs, you name it. They’ve even got a Wet Lab where you can touch sea stars and other squishy sea things — perfect if you’ve got kids, or even for big kid like me (and you)!

It’s in Stanley Park, open all year, and worth visiting even if you’ve been before. If you can’t go right away, check out the live Sea Otter Cam on their website — warning though, you might get hooked.

Vancouver Aquarium: https://vanaqua.org/
Sea Otter Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R034rQ9gtQ