Family Fun in Richmond, BC
Richmond is bursting with activities for families travelling with toddlers, teens and everyone in between. You're bound to find something to thrill the whole family: take your pick from ice skating, beach volleyball, go karting, visiting Canada's largest trampoline park, Pitch & Putt, and so much more. Many of these activities are appropriate for all ages and abilities; below is a list of recommended minimum ages to enjoy Richmond's family fun.
Wee Ones
Parents rejoice! You won't find playgrounds like this anywhere else. At Richmond's $1-million Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment in beautiful Terra Nova Park, kids will love the maze of tractor tires and paddock fence, the playhouse perched in the trees, the double zip-line, hammock swings, and trampolines as well as natural elements like the slough, hedgerow, fields and ditches. Younger children are drawn to the swings, smaller slide and ponds where they may spot dragonflies or frogs; while bigger kids, ages five and up, can take full advantage of fun elements like the slide-tower.
Nearby, Larry Berg Flight Path Park is perfect for plane spotting with the kids since its located directly in line with the end of the south runway at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Information boards describe some of the identifying features to look for so that even novice plane spotters can identify the aircraft overhead.
Then there's Richmond Nature Park, where a pedestrian boardwalk leads you through this remarkable peat bog habitat that is just a small example of the terrain that once covered much of Richmond. Picnic sites are nearby and it's free to visit.
School Age
Hop aboard a whale watching adventure off the waters of Steveston. Soaring across the waves in a Zodiac or cruiser is a thrilling activity that brings out the kid in all of us. In addition to spotting majestic Orca whales, you may also see porpoises, seals, sea lions, eagles and much more. Don't forget to bring a camera!
Nearby, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site is a great place to explore what was once the biggest and busiest of the dozens of seafood canneries along the West Coast, while the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site offers an interesting glimpse into British Columbia's seafaring past.
Don't leave Steveston without trying another of the village's popular family activities - renting bikes from Village Bikes and cycling the seaside trails along the dykes that surround Richmond. The trails follow and connect to the historic sites, parks and scenic stops, with places to pause for fish & chips or ice cream.
For indoor family fun, the Riverport Sports and Entertainment Complex features Watermania, a massive aquatic centre; a skating rink; Go Bananas, an indoor play zone; a movie theatre and much more!
Tweens & Teens
When the playground jungle gym doesn't cut it anymore, take your tweens and teens to Richmond's Extreme Air Park, Canada's largest trampoline park. Richmond is city of world-class indoor sports facilities, including Badminton Vancouver, the largest private badminton centre in North America, and 6Pack Beach, where you can play indoor beach volleyball.
If you're looking to head outside, Richmond Go-Karts offers one of the longest and fastest tracks in Western Canada, at 800 metres (half a mile) long! And be sure to visit Richmond's nine-hole Pitch & Putt course, located in Hugh Boyd Community Park, which is open from April through October.
Fun for All Ages
Don't forget to check out all the festivals and events happening in Richmond throughout the year, including the Salmon Festival, Maritime Festival, Chinese New Year celebrations, and monthly events at the Richmond Nature Park!
