HR MacMillan Space Centre exterior

©John Lee/Lonely Planet

HR MacMillan Space Centre

Vancouver


Focusing on the wonderful world of space, admission to this kid-favorite museum includes a gallery of hands-on exhibits (don't miss the Mars section where you can drive across the surface in a simulator) as well as a menu of live science demonstrations in the small theater and a cool 45-minute planetarium show upstairs. Check the daily schedule of shows and presentations online before you arrive. The Saturday-night planetarium performances are popular with locals and typically draw a more adult crowd.

Peruse the website for a lively roster of additional special events, often including visits to the facility's observatory, a short walk from the main building.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vancouver attractions

1. Museum of Vancouver

The MOV serves up cool temporary exhibitions alongside in-depth permanent galleries of fascinating First Nations artifacts and evocative pioneer-era…

2. Vanier Park

0.07 MILES

Winding around Kitsilano Point toward Kits Beach, waterfront Vanier Park is more a host than a destination. Home to three museums, it's also the venue for…

3. Vancouver Maritime Museum

0.17 MILES

Teeming with salty seafaring artifacts, dozens of intricate ship models and a couple of walk-through recreated boat sections, the prize exhibit at this…

4. Burrard Bridge

0.3 MILES

Lions Gate Bridge gets all the kudos and much of the postcard space, but that's arguably due to being bookended by Stanley Park and the looming mountains…

5. Granville Island Public Market

0.48 MILES

Granville Island's highlight is the covered Public Market, a multisensory smorgasbord of fish, cheese, fruit, teas and bakery treats (near-legendary Lee's…

6. Kitsilano Beach

0.5 MILES

Facing English Bay, Kits Beach is one of Vancouver's favorite summertime hangouts. The wide, sandy expanse attracts buff Frisbee tossers and giggling…

7. Kids Market

0.55 MILES

A kaleidoscopic mini shopping mall for under-10s (there's even a special child-size entrance door), the Kids Market is crammed with 25 family-friendly…

8. Railspur Alley

0.63 MILES

Seemingly far from the madding crowds of the Public Market – at least on summer days when every tourist in town seems to be there – this back-alley strip…