Photo: FlyOver Canada
While many Vancouverites like to go hiking in the rain, many choose to stay indoors on wet days. But you can still enjoy outdoorsy activities like rock climbing, wildlife viewing, mushroom picking, and more while staying inside. Here are our picks for the best indoor activities for outdoor lovers in Vancouver.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Did you know that the Greater Vancouver area has over a dozen indoor rock climbing gyms? With gyms from Squamish to the Fraser Valley, there’s bound to be one nearby. Most gyms have beginner climbing classes to show you the ropes… literally. And when you want to graduate from indoor climbing to outdoor climbing, they’re got courses for that too.
Photo: Cliffhanger Climbing
Vancouver Aquarium
If you love the ocean, be sure to visit the Vancouver Aquarium. You can hang out with barking sea lions or get mesmerized by floating jellyfish. Don’t miss the Graham Amazon Gallery to experience the heat, humidity, and wildlife of the Amazon rainforest, all indoors!
Photo: Oceanwise
FlyOver Canada
Experience a virtual flight across our nation at FlyOver Canada. This unique immersive attraction uses state-of-the-art technology to create the illusion of flying. You’ll hang in front of a 20-metre spherical screen that takes you through 18 different quintessentially Canadian landscapes from coast to coast. Special effects including wind, mist, and scents complete the experience.
Photo: FlyOver Canada
Online Foraging Classes from Swallow Tail Tours
Learn how to gather, prepare, and cook tons of different local mushrooms and other plants in one of Chef Robin Kort’s online foraging classes. Chef Robin’s Swallow Tail Tours offers in-person foraging classes and mushroom walks, but you can also learn at home at your own pace.
Photo: Swallowtail Tours
Origins Parkour
If you’ve always wanted to try parkour, check out Origins Parkour, which has locations in Vancouver and Port Moody. They have classes for both adults and kids or you can try out the equipment during their open practice time slots. Once you’ve tried parkour indoors, check out our recommendations for where to practice parkour outside around Vancouver.
Photo: Origins Parkour/Facebook
Bloedel Conservatory
Step inside the dome at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park to hang out with over 100 exotic birds surrounded by over 500 exotic plants and flowers. It’s a temperature-controlled environment, so it’s tropical inside year-round.
Photo: VanDusen Botanical Garden Association
Wildlife Cams
Enjoy Vancouver’s wildlife without leaving home. There are several webcams around the city, streaming live footage of wildlife all day long. Check the Stanley Park Heron Cam for a close-up look at life in a busy heron colony. Grouse Mountain’s resident grizzly bears, Grinder and Coola, are getting ready to hibernate. You can watch them on the Bear Den cam. The Vancouver Aquarium also has several live webcams. The otter cams are particularly adorable.
Photo: Vancouver Aquarium
