The weather is finally getting better, but this
wet spring has been a taxing time on outdoor-loving west coast families. But there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family
Fun
Granville Island Kids Market - The Kids Market offers not only great shops for all manner of kid-friendly toys and products, there’s also a fun family arcade, and a multi-level jungle gym to climb around in on a rainy afternoon. There are also special events on weekends, such as face-painting and crafting, to keep little hands busy. Just check out their web page for the latest news.
YVR
Airport – This
might strike some as an odd choice, but it can really be fun, especially if you
take the CanadaLine to get there, which can be an adventure in itself (if your
family doesn’t ride it on a regular basis). The free Observation Deck area in
the Domestic Terminal at the Vancouver International Airport offers an
unobstructed view of the runways, operations area, and the city of Vancouver.
The Observation Deck has telescopes, a model of the Airport, and displays about
the history of the Airport and Sea Island. And of course, there are shops and
restaurants to visit if you want to make a day of it.
Vancouver Aquarium – When our kids were smaller, we spent hundreds of hours watching the
sharks, frogs, and hundreds of sea creatures swim around, and tended to ‘sick’
sea otters in the kids area, pre-Clownfish Cove days. Taking out a family
membership allows you to pop in for a short visit on those
bouncing-off-the-wall days, and the safe, enclosed atmosphere allows for some
parent relaxation time.
Kerrisdale Play Palace – A reasonably priced, fun indoor play area for kids 12 and under, located at the Cyclone Taylor Arena in Kerrisdale. There are bouncy castles, foosball & ping-pong tables, rideable cars and toys, building blocks, and basketball hoops. Drop-in times vary according to age groups, and you can even reserve the Play Palace for birthday parties.
Science
World – (at the
TELUS World of Science) is another family-friendly rainy day location that
accommodates short or lengthy visits and an escape from the weather or just
plain boredom. There’s the Kidspace Gallery & Playground for younger kids
(2-6 years), the Eureka and Bodyworks Galleries focusing on music and the life
sciences, and of course theatre shows for an added fee.
Bonus: During its current renovation (spring 2011), everyone pays the kids entrance rate of $14.25.
Photo credits: Photobotic, Coralgeeks, Science World, S. Laroye.