Theme & Amusement Parks in Vancouver

Hours of activities come together under one roof at Laserdome Plus, where a 7,500-square-foot laser-tag arena, a rock-climbing wall, a 24-foot-tall Space Jungle, and an interactive LightSpace entertainment system make daylight seem frivolous. In the laser-tag arena, teams scurry up ramps through four levels of playing fields and ferret out opposing players hidden under the glow of violet LEDs and black lights. After honing teamwork, strength and stamina are tested at indoor rock-climbing walls equipped with 14 auto-belay ropes that make the wall scalable for all experience levels.

Kids aged 10 and younger explore Space Jungle, an elaborate jungle gym of rope bridges, lookout posts, web climbs, and a tunnel with a view into the laser-tag arena. For a challenge involving wits and motion in tandem, kids and adults pair up or challenge each other to games on the LightSpace interactive floor system. Its luminescent, pressure-sensitive tiles react to movement as participants play several types of motion-based or educational games. Vball, a velcro-based, no-mess version of paintball, rounds out the action-packed indoor offerings, each of which is available for drop-in or as part of a private party.

Built around a large 3-D globe, the multilevel 3,000-square-foot play structure inside Jumping Jiminy’s Playland and Cafe Inc. beckons youths with twisting tube slides, tunnels to crawl through, and ramps to clamber on. In the rest of the air-conditioned 8,000-square-foot facility, older kids challenge each other to bouts of ping pong and air hockey while the toddler area accommodates younger children with age-appropriate toys and business journals. As their kids play, parents can sip lattes and cappuccinos in the parents' lounge while surfing on free WiFi. Parent and child can reunite at the 80-seat café to snack on homemade soups and focaccia sandwiches, or sojourn in the party room to feast after 50-minute birthday play sessions.

Every so often, a pint-sized train chugs past, wending its way through lush foliage and myriad attractions. This type of whimsical ride is typical of an amusement park, but the surrounding greenery suggests a different locale. The train is driving through a one-stop shop and tourist destination known as Art Knapp Plantland, a 5-acre nursery, garden-supply store, kid-friendly playland, model-train oasis, and much more.

Art Knapp Plantland's inventory runs the gamut of plant supplies, from actual plants—such as flowers, trees, and the exotic pink blueberry featured in the video tour—to the fertilizers and landscaping equipment integral to kempt yards and vigilante park maintenance. While touring the grounds, patrons can also find an eclectic array of non-gardening items, from jewellery and golf shoes to hot-tub equipment.

The smorgasbord shopping center also hosts family friendly activities including a train ride, a mini-golf course, a model-train exhibit, and a zoo-like area that facilitates interspecies friendships without the sleep-inducing sorcery used by teddy bears.

The first years of a child’s life are some of the most formative, with kids quickly learning the mental and physical skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives. The instructors at The Little Gym help foster this growth with their signature brand of positive, nurturing activities, using scientifically based methods to help kids confidently master the basic skill sets needed to jump-start their successful lives. They tailor their classes by age group and activity type, helping babies as young as 4 months build motor skills and language development while instructing kids as old as 12 years old in karate, dance, and resisting the urge to tattle. Each of the classes incorporates three dimensions of learning, mixing physical movement with brain-challenging exercises and activities that build kids’ confidence away from parents.

Each reaching up to 70 feet, Coastal Climbing Centre's more than 100 routes create a staggering sight as interweaving patterns of colourful foot and hand holds stretch from the gym's padded floors all the way up to its ceiling. Visitors needn't feel overwhelmed, however, as the gym's staff can help them climb step by step. During drop-in sessions, instructors handle all belaying, letting climbers focus on solving each problem. Alternatively, instructors teach students to belay for themselves and master more nuanced climbing techniques, including back steps and the backstroke.

Away from the lead routes, approximately 80–100 bouldering problems challenge climbers in different ways. Devoid of harnesses and ropes, climbers must rely exclusively on a chalk bag and a firm grip. The gym's hang boards, rings, and H.I.T. Strips help build the required dexterity, and complimentary hot beverages can fuel visitors' steam-powered legs.