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It’s that time of year when skies darken and ‘atmospheric rivers’ pop-up in our weather forecasts. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay home watching raindrops race down the windows. Richmond is brimming with brilliant indoor activities where downpours are never a factor. Need inspiration? Read on for some of our favourite local undercover activities––then start planning your umbrella-free days out.
Score a strike at Splitsville
It’s easy to sidestep the rain at one of Metro Vancouver’s favourite bowling alleys. There are 28 10-pin and 12 five-pin lanes to hone your technique on here, with lots of leagues to join if you fancy making a season of it. And when it’s time for a breather from all those strikes you keep making, there’s also a tempting menu of wood-fired pizzas and more to keep you indoors for a little longer.
Work up a sweat at the Richmond Olympic Experience
Tucked into the Richmond Olympic Oval––the city’s landmark 2010 Winter Olympics venue––sports fans love flocking to Canada’s first official Olympics museum. But there’s more to this attraction than fascinating displays of medals, mascots and torches from Games past. You’ll also find an inventive array of interactive activities, including state-of-the-art sports simulators. Fancy kayaking, surfing or sit-skiing without going outside? Now’s your big chance.
Enjoy a culture fix at Richmond Cultural Centre
Consider an extended visit to the Richmond Cultural Centre, home to the city’s main public library. Right alongside the library, you’ll find two free-entry attractions to keep you busy: the Richmond Art Gallery, with its innovative contemporary exhibitions, and the Richmond Museum, where exhibits explore intriguing local themes. The museum is open until 9 pm on weekdays, which means you can shelter from the rain for even longer.
Take the kids to The World of Kidtropolis
A covered mini town for under-10s––centered on a main street of kid-sized stores, businesses and more––children will happily spend hours in this make-believe utopia pretending they’re running a post office, operating a police station or simply pedaling around in Little Tikes cars. It’s an immersive way to encourage your children to play without using a screen, and you’ll be amazed at how much they love it.
Find a way out at Time Escape
Gather your friends and put your problem-solving skills to the test in one of several themed escape room games here. You’ll feel like you’re a million miles from a rainy day as you exercise your grey matter and try to move through the fiendishly tricky, hands-on tasks––and try to beat the game in your allotted 50-minute timeslot. Think you’re smart? There’s one way to find out!
Scale the heights at Clip n’ Climb
Never tried climbing before? This family-friendly attraction is the perfect place to discover this fun indoor activity. You’ll find 25 colourful climbing walls studded with around 75 specific challenges, with multiple age and ability levels catered to. Feeling daring? There are also two ‘super challenges’ to try here: the Leap of Faith and the Vertical Drop Slide. Check out the Cheap Tuesday deals and Friday-evening adults-only sessions as well.
Discover local wildlife at the Nature House
Richmond is studded with lovely outdoor spaces that lure locals when the weather is fine. But you don’t have to forget about the natural world when it’s raining. Instead, head to Richmond Nature Park and check out their free-entry Nature House. This excellent, kid-friendly facility profiles the region’s wild side with hands-on exhibits about regional flora and fauna. And if there’s a sudden break in the clouds, head out to explore the park’s easy trails as well.
Hit the slides at Watermania
A rainy-day magnet for activity-loving families, this indoor pool complex is a brilliant way to forget all about the weather. The 57-metre main pool is always popular, but it’s the fun-tastic wave pool that hooks most kids, with its waterslides and interactive features. Out of the pool you’ll also find an onsite sauna and steam room––the perfect way to disregard the deluge outside.
Step back in time at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
One of B.C.’s best industry-themed museums, this celebrated Steveston attraction serves-up a deep dive into the region’s yesteryear salmon-canning sector. Explore the preserved canning lines and evocative exhibits here, and you’ll discover just what it was like to work in one of Western Canada’s biggest fish-processing plants. Save time for the excellent gift shop here as well.
Hit the shops at three city centre malls
There’s no need to wait for the rain to dissipate if you want to indulge in a little retail therapy. Instead, head to one or all of Richmond’s fully undercover city centre malls. Aberdeen Centre is famous for its Asian-themed boutiques and huge Oomomo discount store; Lansdowne Centre houses big box retailers and more; and CF Richmond Centre offers mainstream chains and stores. All three are located next to Canada Line stations and they each have popular food courts if you’re keen to dine without unfurling your umbrella.
Last Updated on February 5, 2024 by Tourism Richmond