If your vacation plans include Pender Island and you’ve got kids in tow, you can trust that you’ve landed in the right place. It may often offer a peaceful escape for adults, but there are also plenty of things to do on Pender Island for kids.
Beaches and forests with endless space to get their sillies out. Sweet treats hidden inside magical fridges—it’s true! And a laid-back island attitude that can encourage even parents to let go of any lingering city energy.
But where should you start? Without further ado, here’s everything you’ll want to do on Pender with your kids this summer.
Outdoor activities
With everyone bursting with pent-up energy from the ferry ride, Pender Island’s forests and shorelines practically beg kids to run wild and let off some steam.
- The Enchanted Forest on Spalding Road. Start here for a place where little ones can hunt for real-life fairy doors tucked into the trees, collecting rocks and pine cones along the way to leave as gifts on their doorsteps.
- Magic Lake & Magic Lake Playground is a great place to spend the heat of the day in summer or let the kids loose for an afternoon along the sandy stretch of Mortimer Spit.
- Dog Mermaid Eco Excursions is your go-to for more adventurous types to paddle the coastline by kayak or SUP. They even offer summer day camps for all ages, teaching the skills to navigate coastal waters safely.
- Golf Island Disc Park, widely considered the best disc golf course in the region, is perfect for older kids and teens ready for a bit of friendly competition. Before you play, pick up discs at Pender Pharmacy or Pender Island Kayak, both of which stock everything you need to get started.
- Take a breather at Brooks Point and meander the coastline looking for whales and other spectacular Salish Sea wildlife.
Island treasures
Everyone, especially children, loves to come home with a souvenir or a one-of-a-kind knick-knack to remember their trip.
- The beloved Nu-to-Yu thrift store is a treasure hunt in the truest sense; you really never know what you’ll find. Kids can dig through shelves of toys, books, and curiosities and walk away with something special for pocket change.
- Talisman Books & Gallery offers a well-curated selection for all ages. With so many curios, games, and excellent books, it’s a reminder to everyone—kids and grown-ups alike—of just how much adventure and discovery can be found away from our screens. Don’t be surprised if you leave with a small stack of new reads, even if you came in just to look.
- The Pender Island Saturday Market at the Community Hall on Bedwell Harbour Road, open year-round from 9:30 AM to 1 PM. Every Saturday feels electric here, with more than enough entertainment for a few hours. You’ll find plenty of kid-approved snacks and family-friendly entertainment. It also gives everyone the chance to pick out a special one-of-a-kind souvenir to bring home.
- Make a detour to Living Earth Mercantile Studio & Gallery on South Otter Bay Road. The studio space is filled with a sense of magic and at least a few bowls of extra mystical stones to dig through for kids who love a cool rock or crystal.
Snacks
Before the midday hunger strikes and threatens to topple even the most pleasant Pender adventure, you’ll find several delicious solutions carefully sprinkled across the island.
- Seek out the legendary Cheesecake Fridge on Bedwell Harbour Road. It’s a self-serve roadside fridge filled with homemade personal-sized cheesecakes!
- The Fridge of Wonders near Magic Lake is another unmissable destination. Another self-serve stand brimming with fresh ferments, hot sauces, dressings, and seasonal surprises—definitely a wondrous discovery for adults. But what about treats that a kid’s very refined palate would appreciate? Your children will be happy to find a cooler full of handmade popsicles in the summer months.
- Pender Chocolates crafts beautiful small-batch chocolates that make for a midday treat (or a very grown-up souvenir). And, of course, the Saturday Farmers Market is worth another shout-out, because you’ll find all the above treats and more every Saturday, all in one place.
Last-minute ideas
What to do with kids on Pender Island today? For the latest and greatest happenings, check out the schedule over at Gulf Island Events. Festivals, kids’ camps, music, and more are all helpfully collected into an all-powerful tool for entertaining even the most discerning of children.
