Whatcha Gonna do For Spring Break?

Today I took my kids to the Aquarium.  It was pouring rain outside and I swear every other parent and or grandparent in Vancouver had the same idea as us.  It was packed.  I kept thinking as we were battling the crowds how any day other than a Spring Break day would have been better.  My advice is to think out of the box and not do what everybody else is.

If you're still stuck on the idea of staying indoors give the Rainforest Reptile Refuge in Surrey a try or the Bug Lab in New Westminster.  If you're on a want-to-learn kick the U.B.C. Museum of Anthropology has family days on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month.  The going theme is First Nations Culture.  How about the downtown Library?  If that doesn't inspire your kids to take out a book, you've got an uphill battle ahead of you.

So far the weather this week hasn't been fantastic, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the great outdoors.  We visited Tofino last week and experienced  first-hand the phenomenon of storm watching.  Our kids loved having the wind make them run along the beach, and hold their arms up in the air.  At this point Tofino may not be an option for Spring Breadk, but if it gets windy what's stopping you from heading down to Ambleside Beach or Stanley Park and having fun in the wind.  Another outdoor activity is bike riding.  Not the most fun in the rain, but if the weather clears up, haul out the bike rack and head for the flatlands out in Richmond.  The dykes are great and so is the Iona Spit.  The Spit is a double-header because you can also do some plane-spotting while your at it.  Our kids have become experts on where all the different planes came from.

How about revisiting  your old neighbourhood.  Find out what changes have come about and reminisce about days gone bye.  If you're really gung-ho try getting to your old neighbourhood by skytrain.  My two younger kids have never ridden on the Skytrain.  It's one of those activities I keep meaning to do, but never get around to.  The Seabus is cool for kids too.  Combine the Seabus with lunch at Lonsdale Quay and make a day of it.

If you have itchy feet and feel like going someplace else, our tradition during Spring Break has always been to visit Bowen Island.  A day of bike riding and hiking is capped off with dinner at Doc Morgans.  If this doesn't do anything for you, consider La Conner, Washington.  We once went during Spring Break and saw lots of daffodils, but not many tulips.  Not as breath-taking, but we spared ourselves the crowds.  Let's see, what else?  If you're into bird-watching, you can try the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack.  Apparently this is the time to see the Herons nesting in the treetops.

We've had a ton of snow this year, so this is a good time to dust off the skis and head for the hills.  Cypress and Seymour have tubing which is a great way for families to have fun together.  Snow-shoeing gives you a  chance to appreciate how pretty snow is, and get some exercise while you're at it. 
    
Since the kids (and you) don't have to get up early for school, why not try a drive-in movie.  The Twilight Drive-in in Surrey is the only one I know of.  Your kids will have a blast eating pop-corn and drinking pop in your car while you watch a movie on the big screen.

Lastly, don't forget about St. Patrick's Day.  Over the past few years St. Patrick's Day has fallen during Spring Break, so the kids haven't had a chance to show off their green attire.  Try catching  the St. Patricks Day parade on Granville Street.  It's getting  bigger and better every year.

If you'd like to find out more about any of these activities check out our website www.findfamilyfun.com.  Let us know about what you did for Spring Break.