10 Family Indoor Adventures For a Rainy and Cold Day
While Vancouver embraces the colder months, it's also a great time to try out fun indoor activities for the whole family. Kids will love a day at a museum, science centre, indoor rock climbing gym, swimming pool, and more.
Kids Market at Granville Island
The boutiques and restaurants at Granville Island are a fun rainy-day option for everyone, but if you've got little ones in tow, head to the Kids Market near the entrance to the island. This former factory is home to over 25 kid-focused shops, restaurants, and activities. Don't miss the two-storey Adventure Zone which includes an indoor jungle gym, a ball pit, and interactive games.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Vancouverites love outdoor sports, but since the weather doesn't always cooperate, rock climbers shift indoors when it rains. Our city is home to lots of indoor rock climbing gyms where you can try roped climbing or bouldering on shorter walls. Popular Vancouver gyms include The Hive Heights, The Hive Bouldering, Richmond Olympic Oval, The Hive North Shore, and Climb Base5 North Shore.
Science World
Science World's geodesic dome is one of Vancouver's most recognizable landmarks. Go inside to discover hands-on exhibits and galleries that explain science in a fun and approachable way. Don't miss the interactive Eureka Gallery where you can dance and make music or the Search: Sara Stern Gallery which brings you up close and personal with nature including a crawl-through beaver lodge.
Swimming
If you don't want to splash in the puddles outside, splash in a pool at one of Vancouver's indoor swimming pools instead. One of the best options is Hillcrest Aquatic Centre near Queen Elizabeth Park. Families will love the leisure pool with water toys, sprayers, and a lazy river. Or visit Watermania in Richmond or the Newton Recreation Centre in Surrey. Both have wave pools, waterslides, and water play features.
Arcades and VR Experiences
From old-school PacMan to new-school VR and everything in between Vancouver's arcades have games for everyone. A great option for families is the Kid's Arcade at the Adventure Zone in the Kids Market at Granville Island. They have lots of kid-friendly games and a prize zone where kids can redeem tickets for cool prizes. Other child-friendly arcades include CHQ Arcade in Metrotown, Capital City Arcade in New Westminster, and Central City Fun Park in Surrey. If you want to try out virtual reality games, Zero Latency and Evolve VR in the Fairview neighbourhood as well as VR Funtastic World on Granville Island are fun choices.
FlyOver Canada
Take flight with an immersive experience at FlyOver Canada. Experience the thrill of soaring over Canada's landscapes with moving seats, a wraparound screen, and wind, mist and scent special effects. Afterward, grab a snack at the Flying Whale Cafe.
Visit the Library
Vancouver's Public Libraries have tons of great family-friendly activities at 21 branches across the city. The Central Library in downtown Vancouver has an entire floor for kids with books, games, and STEM toys. The other libraries have dedicated children's areas as well. Check the events calendar to attend daily storytimes and other family-friendly events.
Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada's largest, with over 120 exhibits, most of which are indoors. Highlights include the Amazon gallery which has simulated thunderstorms and tropical temperatures as well as the touch pool area where you can get your hands wet as you interact with creatures from British Columbia's tidepools.
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
Escape the rainy weather with a visit to the stars at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Admission includes access to lots of fun space exhibits, live science presentations, and a show in the Planetarium Star Theatre.
Bowling
Bowling is a classic rainy-day activity, and Vancouver has two old-school bowling alleys both of which have been around for generations. Commodore Lanes in downtown Vancouver opened in 1930 and has been going strong ever since with 5-pin bowling and billiards on offer. The Marino family opened Grandview Lanes in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood in 1947 and still runs it today. They have both 5-pin and 10-pin lanes, as well as fun glow-in-the-dark bowling.