There’s a LOT to do outside in Surrey BC. And when you’re smack dab in the middle of a temperate rainforest region… well, during the fall and winter months you’re bound to encounter your share of rainy days.
Of course, we’d be crazy not to encourage you and your family to go outside, get wet and messy, and explore the breathtaking nature that Surrey has to offer. But sometimes it’s just nice to stay inside.
If your family trip to Surrey happens to be a wet one and you’re in the mood to stay warm and dry, don’t fret. There’s also a lot to do INSIDE in Surrey, especially for families.
If your kids are into animals, then the Urban Safari Rescue Society is the perfect place to escape on a rainy day. The society rescues and cares for exotic animals surrendered to them, as well as educates the public about animals, the natural world and conservation issues. Find out what moulted snakeskin feels like, meet a friendly dragon, and find out what animal can lick its own eyeball. They offer tours of their facilities, information on all the animals, and encourage people to sponsor the animals as well.
If you’ve ever suffered from FOMO or ‘Fear of Missing Out’, then you’ll definitely want to be a part of what some are referring to as ‘the next urban sports craze’. Coastal Climbing Centre is an indoor climbing gym that will take you to new heights … you’ll just have to work a little harder to get there! The facility caters to family members aged five and over and has climbing walls to accommodate a variety of skill levels (including first-timers).
If you’re just in the mood for some hands-on fun, then take the kids to Create-It Emporium. It’s an arts and crafts studio where minds can truly run wild and get creative minds going a mile a minute. Offering drop-in paint-your-own-pottery and glass fusion sessions, you’ll get a keepsake of your rainy-day adventures to remember. If your little one needs a little coaxing, Create-It Emporium has talented and trained teachers to help kiddos harness their talents in a cosy and comfortable environment.
Shake off the sillies and get active at Play Abby.This Fleetwood neighbourhood indoor play space is designed for children up to the age of 12 … and their parents! With 7,500 square feet of excitement, the kids will be busy for hours on playground structures and slides, the indoor rock-climbing wall and Bubble Ball soccer. Then head into the darkness of the GLOzone playground. With glow lights and pumping music, it’s like a kid-friendly rave.
Being trapped in a room with your whole family might not sound like fun, but hear us out. Escape rooms came into existence around a decade ago and were originally inspired by the escape-the-room genre of videogames. Since then, they’ve taken the globe by storm! E-Exit is Surrey’s very own escape room with themed rooms like Antique Museum – The Unsettled Spirit, 007 – Agents in Training, Cabin 13 and Psychiatric Unit: Spirited Away. Players are locked in the room and presented with engaging puzzles, riddles and mechanical components that allow the group to eventually ‘escape’.
Let’s bowl! Head over to Dell Lanes, for some friendly competition and crispy chicken wings. To get out of that gloomy day funk, visit during laser bowling, where rockin’ music will pump you up as you bowl on glow-in-the dark lanes between colourful lights and the haze of a fog machine.
Playing and learning? It’s possible at the Museum of Surrey. The Kids Gallery is all about sustainability and features green activities and interactive displays for children of all ages. Kids have the opportunity to experiment with electricity, solar power, and the greenhouse effect, pedal the energy bike and explore the awesome tree fort. And they’re having so much fun, they don’t even realize that they’re learning!
And for a good old-fashioned arcade experience, head to Central City Fun Park, Metro Vancouver’s largest indoor amusement park! Dust off your rollerblades, or traditional roller skates and take a turn on the indoor roller skating rink or channel your inner Tiger Woods on the nine-hole miniature golf course. And be sure to check out the bowling lanes, arcade games and Hologate virtual-reality game.
Whatever you choose to do on your rainy family day, have fun and stay warm and dry.