There’s no getting around the fact that there are a lot of rainy days to contend with in Vancouver. It’s something you accept as part of living in this awesome place but as a parent, the rain holds different significance. It doesn’t automatically mean a cosy day of curling up with a movie, because, well the kids are running circles around the house and they need to GET OUT. While I fully embrace getting everyone suited up in rain gear and enjoying a rainy day outside, it’s still really awesome to have a go-to list of indoor places to hit up for family fun. Here are some of my favourite spots.
Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium has reopened its doors after being closed for more than a year! It felt so lovely to take my kids back there (and the first time for my toddler) when we visited last month. The aquarium is not an inexpensive outing, but that’s why if you think you will visit twice or more in a year it is worth getting a membership. We bought a membership and I enjoyed not feeling pressured to see everything in one visit – knowing we would be back again soon. With current covid protocols you have to book a time slot online ahead of your visit. What is nice about this, is it ensures no-overcrowding (in the past, a rainy day could mean a crazy busy time at the aquarium).
Science World
Science World is a fabulous place for kids of all ages. It is another spot worth getting a membership to as you can keep going back. My kids favourite area is the very hands on Eureka! section. There is enough to keep them busy the entire visit. There are also very cool live shows, a special section for the under-5 crowd and new, temporary exhibitions all the time. Under covid, you have to book a time slot for entry (which can be easily done online).
The Bloedel Conservatory
The Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park is a wonderful place to warm up and imagine you are on a tropical island. You and your kids can walk through the domed, tropical building and observe more than 100 exotic birds, and 500 exotic plants and flowers. It’s not a big place. It probably won’t take you much more than 30 minutes to walk through. But you can get a map and together identify all the birds and find out their names. It really is worth a visit!
H.R Macmillan Space Centre
The H.R Macmillan Space Centre is best suited for kids aged 6 years old and up, or for any slightly younger kids who are really interested in space. There is a Cosmic Courtyard Gallery with a few hands on stations and good, simple explanations with displays. The highlight of the centre is definitely the Planetarium. It has a show once every hour or so. Admission tickets grant visitors access to just one show per day. There is also a theatre featuring live science shows and demonstrations about gravity, geology, space travel, what it’s like living in outer space and other topics. My tip would be: Don’t arrive too late in the day or you won’t have much choice of Planetarium or live shows to watch.
Indoor Pools
Nothing tires my kids out quite like going for a swim, so an indoor pool is always a great spot to head on a rainy day. A lot of the pools were closed for part of the pandemic, but they are back operating now and ready for visitors. There are a lot of great ones to choose from across the Lower Mainland such as: Hillcrest aquatic centre, UBC pool, Killarney Pool, West Vancouver Aquatic Centre, Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby, The Canada Games Pool in New West, Newtown Wave Pool in Surrey, and Watermania in Richmond. Our family’s current favourite pool since moving back to Vancouver is the new Minoru Aquatic Centre in Richmond (it has waterslides, a lazy river, a rock climbing wall over the pool and even Canada’s largest hot tub!)
BC Sports Hall of Fame
Is your kid a sports fan? If so, this could be a great place to take them on a rainy day. The BC Sports Hall of Fame is located in BC Place Stadium at Gate A. There are some great exhibits with thousands of pieces of memorabilia including a Vancouver 2010 Olympics Gallery, Vancouver Sports Teams Gallery, Indigenous Sports Gallery, Rick Hansen Gallery and more. The highlight of any visit will most likely be the ‘Participation Zone’ where kids can race down a timed running track, try the rock climbing wall, shoot their best hockey shot and other hands of activities.
Extreme Air Trampoline Park
This is another no-brainer when it comes to burning some energy. There are three Extreme Air Park locations: Richmond, New West and Langley. I have visited the Richmond location with my family and everyone from us adults down to our two year old had fun time bouncing around. The Richmond location is huge (Canada’s largest trampoline park apparently), with 42 thousand sq feet of interlocking trampolines.
Clip and Climb
Clip and Climb Vancouver (though actually in Richmond) is a great thing for parents and kids to enjoy together. Everyone I know who visits it, ends up loving it! It is designed for children aged 4 and up. There are 75 challenges on 25 climbing walls, 2 Super Challenges: The Leap Of Faith & The Vertical Drop Slide. Some of those activities are limited to children 120 cm and taller. Online booking is required under current covid protocols.
