10 Places to Take Kids to Play in Vancouver

If your kids are like most, they have the energy reserves oil companies only dream about. So if another round of duck, duck, goose is causing your head to spin, take the kids to one of these 10 fun places to play in Vancouver.

Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment in Richmond is definitely a step up from the standard neighbourhood playground, and for the $1 million investment in this play area, it should stand apart. You won't find much plastic here, instead the play features have been made primarily from cedar and other natural materials, to offer a uniquely West Coast experience. It was designed to appeal to a wide variety of children's ages and stages of development and to combat the 'nature deficit disorder' head on.

If the rain is too heavy or you're planning a birthday party, check out Extreme Air Park, Canada's largest trampoline park. Interlocking trampolines and trampoline walls give a whole new meaning to the sport of jumping. Kids can play dodgeball, basketball, jump into a foam pit, try out a trampoline half pipe or just jump around like crazy. Special socks are required and are part of the admission fee for birthday guests, but need to be purchased if you are on your own.

For something completely different, why not try parkour. Parkour is gaining international momentum in fitness training circles for its focus on mastering obstacles and climbing structures with only your own momentum to propel you. Origins Parkour is a state of the art parkour facility on Main Street in Vancouver. Classes are available for kids aged 5–12, but single session visits are only available to kids 13 and older. Birthday parties and school break camps are also offered here.

Opened in 2011, this is Western Canada's only indoor beach volleyball facility. Bring the 7 and under crowd to Kidz Beach for Lil' Diggers, where they can play in the largest indoor sandbox in the city (and you don't have to remember sunscreen).

Five pin bowling is great family fun and perfect for little hands. Bowling shoes are a must, and rentals are available starting at infant size six and up. With computerized scoring, math doesn't have to be a strong suit (but it's fun to practice anyway).

Kids of all ages love this entertainment multiplex. Pop in for some laser tag or rock climbing, play in the Light Space, or explore their 24-foot tall jungle gym. Pizza, slushies and a few old-school arcade games round out this fun family outing.

This indoor trampoline park boasts three in-floor trampolines and three trampoline half-pipes with a foam pit and padded walls for soft landings (guaranteed to even exhaust Tigger). While you're there, say hello to Rango, the resident Panther Chameleon, and don't forget to bring your own water bottle.

This stunning 2010 Winter Games legacy building is open to the public all day, and their warm leisure pool offers water toys, spray jets, cannons and a lazy river. If you prefer your water frozen, pop over to the rink for a Parent and Tot Skate. Whether you prefer to swim or skate—Hillcrest is a blast.

Imagine a place that invited kids to come and play (old-school), where they can socialize, learn and explore, and requires no lineups or wait times to register for activities. Well, mompreneur Traci Costa from Peekaboo Beans has done it with their Pop Up Playdates, and we love their very simple mission: let them play.

Tired of telling your child to put down their video game already? Take them to Exit Canada in Richmond where they can escape to Ancient Egypt...for real. Participants are given 45 minutes and two lanterns to solve riddles and follow clues that will lead them to freedom, all with props and sound effects. The Lost Ship and Ancient Egypt rooms are best for kids (who must be at least 6 years old to play). Each room can take a maximum of 6 players, and an adult needs to be one of them. We love that Exit is about working together as a team to solve problems. Good to know: this event is not for kids who are afraid of the dark or claustrophobic, and they have special deals for birthdays.