15 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Vancouver, WA – Activities, Parks & Family Fun

Vancouver Community Library (Toddler-Teen)

We have one of the most phenomenal childrens sections in our library of any city I've seen; with engaging activities, something to discover around every corner, and books galore. It's downtown on C Street, and the entire third floor is dedicated to young ones, with half built out essentially as a children's activity center and the other half dedicated to studying, events, and teen rooms. To me, it's been one of the safest, free resources from toddlerhood on in Vancouver.

Drip Drop Art Studio (babe play - tweens)

Spare your home of creative messes and drop in to Drip Drop Art Studio for classes, camps, parties, and open studio hours! I adore watching what they're up to with the littles on Instagram, catering from 18 months all the way to 10 years old. One of the things I love most is their imagination-driven concepts; no fancy tools or ideas here... can you collaborate with other littles to make a space ship out of a box at Space Camp? Or drop in for Architect week to make a city skyline? From beads, to paint, to glitter and felt, your mini makers will come home with a unique treasure that sparked their creativity.

Sky Zone & Urban Air (Ages 5+)

It's a rainy day and your kids have cabin fever? Jump over to Sky Zone or Urban Air, Vancouver's trampoline parks. From freestyle jumping to a foam zone, a bouncy game of dodgeball, skyhoops, battle beams, climbing, and even a dedicated toddler zone, this is the perfect place to grab a year round membership to or host your next party or group event.

City Play for Kids, Play Street Museum, and Chicky Play Museum (toddler - 8 yo)

The Pacific Northwest winters call for imaginative indoor playgrounds to keep little ones engaged all year-round. Featuring tiny cities, from a school bus, to a restaurant, vet clinic, firehouse, park, and rotating seasonal activities, these are great places to drop into on a rainy day or plan a birthday party. Your children can enjoy these spaces with a one-time drop-in fee, or group play packages, and most of them take walk-ins, and the three of them are conveniently spread across Vancouver so there's always one nearby. Play Street is in Salmon Creek, Chicky Play is by the mall, and City Play is in east Vancouver.

Dizzy Castle

Looking for some indoor fun for a birthday party, special event, or family outing? Dizzy Castle is the place to be! With over 13,000 square feet of play space for kids to explore, it’s the Northwest’s latest and greatest indoor playground! They can let their imaginations run wild as they conquer our massive indoor castle or set sail for adventure on our spectacular 70-foot pirate ship. Little heroes can save the day in our snake pit, or slide in style down one of our triple-wave slides. The littlest of heroes can also take part in the adventure. Toddlers can enjoy their own miniature pirate ship, slides, and age appropriate toys.

Columbia Play Project (3-10yo)

Dedicated to creating exploratory play spaces for the young and young-at heart, the Columbia Play Project is just getting started and could use community support as they venture through their five-year expansion plan to create an exploratory play space. In the meantime, they have themed play kits, a mobile museum, and builder boards; a set of wooden pieces designed to offer children an opportunity to design and build their dream house. Book them for your next party!

Nikkei Park (2-12 yo)

Honoring Japanese American heritage and its history of farming in east Vancouver, this prehistoric dinosaur themed park is one of the most noteworthy parks in the city. The park at 52nd Street and 137th Avenue opened to the public in July, 2021. Children can dig for fossils, and adults can get some exercise in, plus enjoy a half-court basketball set-up and more than enough grassy spots to bring cornhole or croquet sets or just about any other yard game. Learn more about the Japanese heritage in Clark County Today.

Round 1 Bowling and Arcade (8 years +)

Located within the Vancouver Mall, this is a great place for family and friends, but also for teens to go independently. It's by far the cleanest Arcade I've ever been to; not like the ones of my childhood!! Every game is functional, it's not too busy, and it has great energy. There's also light eats and a bar open for some hours, to keep everyoune fed and happy.

Oak Tree Station (family & all ages)

On a sunny day, expect this food cart pod to be b-a-n-a-n-a-s, but it's worth it for good energy, sunshine, happy children letting loose on a huge green field, and tasty bites. There's a bar of draft beers and wine, Ice Cream Renaissance, and another little dessert spot. But on top of that, about 20 food trucks with food of every variety. Thursday nights are tasting nights, with small dishes for $5. We go there when we just need to get out of the house on a nice day. Bring a picnic blanket!

Big Al's (family & all ages)

Kids and adults alike will enjoy Big Al's bowling lanes and arcade. With a lengthy list of beer and cocktails, a full menu of pizza, burgers, salad, and more, spend a whole afternoon or evening here with friends or family. Big Al's FUN Card can be used to purchase anything in the building, including bowling, food, drinks, and arcade play which gives young ones freedom to enjoy all that they have to offer.

Klineline Pond & Salmon Creek (family & all ages)

Summer fun is here, from sandy beaches with safe swim areas, open grills for family bbqs and an epic splash pad for the little ones on a hot day! You can go fishing, take a long stroller walk down the 3-miles of nature trails, hop in a kayak, or just play in the park. The Annual Klineline Kids Fishing Derby is the largest event of its kind in Washington state. Each spring it introduces thousands of children aged 5 to 14 to the joys of fishing