Families and kids can find lots of things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day with this Top 10 List of Rainy Day & Indoor Activities for Kids.
1. Vancouver Aquarium
Image Courtesy of Tourism Vancouver
Visiting the belugas--and 70,000 other creatures--who live at the famous Vancouver Aquarium is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day, whether you have kids or not. But if you do have kids, the Vancouver Aquarium provides the perfect mix of fun and education in one spot.
2. Vancouver Museums & Galleries
Image Courtesy of Tourism Vancouver
One of my favourite things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day is to visit one of our city's great museums or galleries, an activity that's perfect for all ages.
- Push the stroller through the Vancouver Art Gallery.
- Play pirate aboard the RCMP schooner St. Roch at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
- Be awed by the large-scale sculptures and totems at the UBC Museum of Anthropology.
- Launch balls and parachutes in the Eureka! physics gallery at Science World British Columbia.
3. Bloedel Floral Conservatory
Photo by Dana Lynch
When it's cold and rainy ouside, one of the best things to do in Vancouver is the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, where it's always balmy and tropical inside. Situated atop Queen Elizabeth Park, the iconic Conservatory is small--families will likely spend about 45 minutes there--but it offers a great opportunity for bird watching, exploring and learning about ecology.
4. Kids Market at Granville Island
Photo by Dana Lynch
Often called the best venue for kids' shopping in Vancouver, the Kids Market at Granville Island is also a perfect rainy day destination: it offers families lots of things to see and play with, plus an indoor Adventure Zone--complete with ball pits and tunnels--for exercising the kids.
There are several more things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day at Granville Island, including exploring the landmark Granville Island Public Market, shopping, riding in the covered AquaBus, dining, or seeing a show.
5. Vancouver Theatre for Kids
Image Courtesy of Tourism Vancouver
Theatre doesn't have to be a special-occasion outing, it's also one of the best things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day. There are lots of options for last-minute theatre in Vancouver--check out Tourism Vancouver's Tickets Tonight for discounts on last-minute seats--or make a date for one of Vancouver's children's theatre events.
6. Capilano Salmon Hatchery
Image Courtesy of Capilano River Hatchery
The free Capilano River Hatchery provides one of the most unique things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day and is another destination that's interesting for the whole family. Located just past the Capilano Suspension Bridge (one of Vancouver's Top 10 Attractions) in North Vancouver, the Hatchery is just minutes from downtown Vancouver and gives visitors a chance to see salmon hatching in action.
7. Vancouver Ice Rinks
One of the things I love about living in Vancouver is that there are always things to do on a rainy day at my local community centre. Eight Vancouver community centres have indoor, public ice skating rinks, all of which offer public skates and some of which are open year round.
8. Vancouver Indoor Pools
Image Courtesy of Vancouver Park Board
You may not want to get wet outside, but why not dive into the water indoors? Like Vancouver's public ice rinks, Vancouver public pools are ideal indoor activities for kids when the weather is bleak.
9. Indoor Climbing Centres
Image Courtesy of Cliffhanger Climbing Centres
When it comes to exciting, different things to do in Vancouver on a rainy day, why not try an indoor climbing centre? Open to kids aged 5 and older, Metro Vancouver's indoor climbing centres can be fun for the whole family.
- Cliffhanger Climbing Vancouver
- The Edge Climbing Centre in North Vancouver
- The Rock Wall in Maple Ridge
If you're feeling really adventurous, check out indoor skydiving at The Fly Zone in Delta, the first and only vertical wind tunnel in Western Canada. Open to kids aged 5 and up.
10. Vancouver Public Library & Family Storytime
Your local branch of the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is a fun, free outing for little kids, babies and toddlers. I take my son to our local library all the time for reading, people watching, computer time, or for one of VPL's Family Storytime Programs (which is also a great way to meet other parents.)
