On a sunny day in Vancouver, throngs of people hit the outdoors and make the most out of Mother Nature's attractions. When the clouds move overhead and the droplets start to fall from the sky, you may feel a little helpless in your hotel room with your children looking up at you wondering what they're going to do. Fear not because Vancouver's rainy-day-to-do-list will keep you trudging around all day long for endless hours of entertainment. Forgot to pack an umbrella? Most hotels have some available for guests to use, so ask the front desk, and you shall likely receive.
Rain moves over Science World — Photo courtesy of Matt loves kicks
Science World at Telus World of Science is a favorite spot amongst the wee ones and will likely cause squeals of excitement when you tell them that's where you're heading. The first floor is where they do science experiments throughout the day and they're fascinating for both adults and kids. There's a list of what's going on by the stage, so you can plan your trip throughout Science World accordingly. On the same floor, you will find numerous games that are both fun and knowledgeable. The second floor is where you will find exhibits pertaining to the human body. The display that has you pull out a long rope to demonstrate how long your intestine is blows minds daily. Amongst these displays is also a temporary (but very large) display and has showcased Bodyworks and dinosaurs in the recent past. There's also an IMAX cinema at this location, so it's easy to spend a large amount of your day here.
A sleep otter at the Vancouver Aquarium — Photo courtesy of tgreyfox (Flickr)
A trip to the Vancouver Aquarium is also a great way to spend a few hours. If you're lucky, you will see a few seals and the occasional whale (more likely if you're taking a marine life tour) in and around Vancouver's waters, but you can't see what's lurking below the cold water's surface. The Vancouver Aquarium has impressive displays of the varying marine life throughout British Columbia's waters. The vibrant fish, plants, crustaceans and mammals are pleasing on the eye and interesting to read about on the information plaques beside each aquarium. The larger marine animals can be seen from both inside and outside of the aquarium, which is helpful on those rainy days. Should it be cool outside, you will warm up in no time when you step into the hot and humid Amazon display. There you will see all sorts of butterflies, a few sleepy Sloths, birds, fish and even some reptiles.
The beluga's swim by the indoor display window — Photo courtesy of dblackadder
For older children, the Vancouver Police Museum is a unique and interesting way to spend a couple hours. Located in between Vancouver's Chinatown and East Side is the city's old morgue, which is home to the museum. Inside you will learn about the Vancouver Police Department's history, weapon evolution, communication development and how women got involved. They have old uniforms, phone boxes, handcuffs and guns displayed that kids will think are cool. The room of confiscated weapons will also rank highly on their awesome-factor list. The actual morgue portion of the building has been kept intact and goes so far as to show organs and body parts along the cold, white walls. If you're not comfortable with your kids seeing that area, it's easy to avoid. The teenagers in your group will likely find the Police Museum to be eerily neat. Bring them at your own discretion!
If the rain should start to fall on your family Vancouver, don't fret because there's no shortage of fun things to do on a rainy day in this city. Put on those rain boots, grab an umbrella and take Vancouver by the horns.
