The Ashley Rhapsody

One of my favourite summer traditions in Vancouver has to be Theatre Under the Stars. ✨ Theatre Under the Stars

There’s just something about watching live theatre outside on a warm summer night. We packed blankets, brought our favourite snacks, and settled in for such a fun evening. (Pro tip: make a donation when you arrive and you’ll get one of the seat cushions—they’re worth it!)

This year’s shows are The Little Mermaid and Sister Act, running on alternating nights until August 22. We saw both, and if you’re deciding, The Little Mermaid was definitely my favourite. 🧜‍♀️ If you love 70’s vibes and a good nun, then Sister Act is your show!

If you’re looking for things to do in Vancouver this summer, family-friendly activities in Vancouver, or even just a unique date night, I’d absolutely add Theatre Under the Stars to your list.

Have you ever been? Which show would you choose? 👇

Follow for more Vancouver hidden gems, family-friendly adventures, weekend inspiration, and the best things to do around BC and beyond! 💛

Unpopular opinion: kids make vacations more fun.

Hear me out.

Is traveling with kids more work? Absolutely.

You still have to pack the snacks, carry the water bottles, navigate meltdowns, and somehow convince everyone to walk “just five more minutes.”

But I genuinely think our trips have become more memorable since becoming parents.

Our daughter notices things I’d probably walk right past. She gets excited over the smallest moments, whether it’s spotting a butterfly, riding a ferry, meeting a friendly server, or finding the world’s best playground. That excitement is contagious, and it reminds me to slow down and experience a place instead of rushing to check everything off an itinerary.

A few things that have made family travel so much more enjoyable for us:

✈️ Plan one “must-do” activity each day and treat everything else as a bonus. Less pressure = happier parents.

🍦 Build in time for spontaneous stops. Some of our favourite vacation memories have come from saying yes to an ice cream shop, a splash pad, or a playground we happened to pass.

🎒 Pack fewer expectations than snacks. Not every day has to go perfectly to be a great memory.

🌿 Let your kids help shape the itinerary. Giving them one or two choices each day makes them feel involved and excited about what’s ahead.

📸 Don’t spend the whole trip trying to get perfect photos. Sometimes the blurry, candid moments become your favourites.

Vacations with kids look different than vacations before kids—and that’s okay. They’re louder, slower, messier... and, in my opinion, so much more meaningful.

I’d love to know where you land on this one. Do kids make vacations better, or do you think vacations should wait until they’re older?

📍Family travel from Vancouver & the Fraser Valley | BC family adventures | travel with kids | family vacation tips | things to do with kids in British Columbia | Vancouver mom | Lower Mainland family travel

The sisters and I took in a show at Theatre Under the Stars … we’re thinking of making it a habit 🤭

When I told people I was heading to Prince George Tourism Prince George the response was... let’s just say people had questions. 😅

After spending a few days there, I think the better question is: why not?

Here are a few of our family favourites:

🏨 The Pomeroy Hotel Pomeroy Inn & Suites – If you’re travelling with kids, the pool is worth mentioning all on its own. I genuinely think my daughter would’ve stayed there all weekend.

🦖 The Exploration Place The Exploration Place – Dinosaurs, fossils, reptiles, hands-on science exhibits... we thought we’d pop in for a bit and ended up staying way longer than planned.

🏡 Huble Homestead Huble Homestead Historic Site – Such a fun step back in time. We watched old-fashioned candy being made, explored the historic buildings, met the farm animals, and somehow my husband became very invested in pioneer life.

📚☕ Cait’s Sweet Bites at Books & Company– A charming little bookstore café that was impossible to leave empty-handed.

🍕Betulla Burning Betulla Burning – Easily our favourite dinner. Amazing pizza, a blueberry lavender lemonade I’ll still be thinking about, and watching the pizza dough fly through the air was dinner and a show.

🍳 Gramma’s Inn – Huge breakfasts, great coffee... and apparently where my husband fell in love . 👀

You’ll have to watch until the end of the reel to understand that last one. 😂

If Prince George wasn’t already on your BC road trip list, hopefully this gives you a few reasons to add it.

Have you been? Where should we explore next?