100 Things to do in Vancouver with the Kids When the Rain Hits!
The snow is gone, and every day calls for rain. So what to do with rambunctious kids when the skies open? Lots in fact. Here’s our epic list of 100 things to do in Vancouver with the kids when the rain hits !👇🏼🌧☔️
Top 100 Rainy Day List
Blow off steam at an indoor playground
If you’re looking for some kid friendly Vancouver fun indoor playgrounds are a great choice because they’re pretty much always open, they facilitate active play and you don’t have to worry about the weather.
- The Adventure Zone >> Read more
- Science World & Wonder Gallery >> Read more
- Go Bananas >> Read more
- Jungle Jac’s >> Read more
- 6Pack Beach >> Read more
- APEX Adventure Park >> Read more
- Kidtropolis >> Read more
- WestSide Family Place >> Read more
- Little Marines Training Centre >> Read more
- Kids Play Cafe >> Read more
- Open Gym at your local community centre
- Hive Bouldering >> Read more
- Clip and Climb >> Read more
- We Play Gym, Surrey >> Read more
- Origins Parkour >> Read more
Rainy day fun: Awesome indoor playgrounds in and around Vancouver
Go swimming
Indoor pools are warm, covered and and inexpensive. Pus they’re often attached to a library or common area where kids can roam freely.
- Hillcrest Aquatic Centre >> Read more
- Killarney Pool >> Read more
- Vancouver Aquatic Centre >> Read more
- Canada Games Pool >> Read more
- Watermania >> Read more
- Edmonds Community Centre >> Read more
- Newton Wave Pool >> Read more
- Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre >> Read more
- UBC Aquatic Centre >> Read more
Visit a museum
Warm and dry, educational and important! Explore the amazing world of museums with the kids.
- HR MacMillan Space Centre >> Read more
- Vancouver Police Museum >> Read more
- Burnaby Village Museum >> Read more
- Vancouver Maritime Museum >> Read more
- Roedde House Museum >> Read more
- Museum of Vancouver >> Read more
- Vancouver Art Gallery >> Read more
- BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum >> Read more
- Beaty Biodiversity Museum >> Read more
- Britannia Mine Museum >> Read more!
- Surrey Museum >> Read more
Go to a kid-friendly restaurant
Hungry? Go to a restaurant that welcomes children. Here are a few suggestions some with play spaces and others with kid menus and open areas.
- Circus Play Cafe >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Kids Play Cafe >> Read more
- Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Gluten Free Epicurean >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Sal y Limon >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Tap and Barrel >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
- Glenburn Soda Fountain >> Read VancouverMom.ca’s take here
Explore an art gallery or indoor experience
Whether it’s the mall for the mini train, the aquarium for fishy fun or a child-centred arts program, there are loads of broadening activities perfect for rainy days in Vancouver
- Vancouver Aquarium >> Read more
- Bloedel Conservatory >> Read more
- Metropolis at Metrotown >> Read more
- Science World >> Read more
- Lonsdale Quay >> Read more
- River Market >> Read more
- ArtStarts Gallery >> Read more
- Polygon Gallery Kids First >> Read more
- Collage Collage >> Read more
- Chorus and Clouds >> Read more
- The Public Library >> How to encourage literacy in your kids
Get active with baby or toddler
Winter is a great time to sign up for something active inside like mom and baby yoga, a fitness class or in a pinch, open gym at the community centre.
- Family Yoga Studios and classes >> Find a studio
- Go to mom ‘n baby drop in >> Read more
- Five gyms where you can get fit with baby >> Read more
- Open Gym at your local Community Centre!
Gear up and go outside
Some kids like to be outdoors no matter the weather. And we do live in a rain forest. Put on the muddy buddy and head out for a green forest walk, some local puddle jumping or watch the rush of a full flowing waterfall.
- Southlands Heritage Farm >> Read more
- Van Dusen Gardens >> Read more
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden >> Read more
- Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary >> Read more
- UBC Farm >> Read more
- Lynn Canyon & Ecology Centre >> Read more
- Capilano Salmon Hatchery >> Read more
- Twin Falls >> Read more!
- Gold Creek Falls >> Read more!
- Lighthouse Park >> Read more!
- Shannon Falls >> Read more
- Join the Brave and Free Littles Meetup
- Search tide local tide pools >> Read more
How to get your kids excited about going outside in the rain and cold
Head into the Snow!
When it’s raining in the city, it’s often snowy in the mountains. Go skiing, snowshoeing or tubing with the kids on the local mountains or go skating at one of the three outdoor skating rinks around town.
- Go Skating >> Read more
- Whistler
- Cypress Mountain
- Grouse Mountain
- Seymour Mountain
Go to a local event
In the winter months, there are plenty of indoor events for families. Check our calendar or weekly roundup to see what’s going on in Metro Vancouver each weekend.
Stay home!
Quite possibly the most challenging option of all, but sometimes, it’s just not feasible (or desirable) to leave the house! When the rain hits and stays, it’s part of Vancouver life. Am I right?
- Build a fort
- Dance party
- Throw down some mats and turn the living room into a giant gym
- Get the kids to help sort the laundry
- Watch Peppa Pig [insert favourite show] on repeat
- Take a giant group nap
- Pop some kernels and watch a movie
- Bake cookies – get the kids to decorate or add the chocolate chips
- Tea party
- Scavenger hunt (maybe you’ll find that missing shoe!) with prizes
- Sort the recycling
- Grab a bunch of books and play library
- Puddle jumping >> Read more
Cheap or free rainy day activities
Tell us what we missed? What do you do with the kiddos when the rain hits and stays? Tell us at #vancouvermom.
