4.05.2018

Spring Break Staycation

Ahhhh, Spring Break.  It's like a love/hate relationship, right?  It always starts out feeling like a vacation and by the start of the second week, you're wishing you could drop your kids off at school, haha!

All kidding aside, I actually long for the days off I get with the kids because hubby and I usually work for the majority of the break.  This year, we took off the last couple days of the second week and decided to make the most of our 'staycation'.

First on our list?  One of our favourite attractions on the west coast:  Science World!


Being at Science World brings back so many memories of my childhood and, while its been renovated since then, a few of the original exhibits are still being featured (remember those science demonstrations on the main floor, or that majestic treehouse on the upper level, or that structure that takes photos of your shadow?).  It's such an amazing feeling to be able to share those experiences with my own children and also see first-hand how Science World has evolved since then.

I'd say you could typically get through all of the exhibits and shows within 3-4 hours.  However, if you're a visitor to the city, you may want to spend an entire day there to make sure you have ample time to get the full Science World experience - which will probably include a showing at the largest OMNIMAX dome screen in the world (tickets available here)!


Our favourite part of Science World?  The feature exhibition never fails to impress - the Science of Ripley's Believe It or Not! was pretty amazing in a weird/gross/cool way that you'd expect from Ripley's Believe It or Not!  Can you believe there was a man that was nearly 9 feet tall??!  It was pretty insane to see "him" in person and Zoë was more than willing to take advantage of a quick photo op:



The other galleries that were amazing (not to mention informative) was BodyWorks and the Wonder Gallery, which is geared towards ages 0-5.  You should also be prepared to spend a majority of time in Eureka! - an interactive playground that's seriously fun for all ages.

Next up on our staycation intinerary was Western Canada's largest indoor carnival, PlayDome at BC Place!

As the kids get older, this place seems to get more and more fun.  Both of them are at the age where they truly enjoy the rides and the joy on their faces.....well, we all live for that, right?  Fast forward to a week later and Jadon is still talking about his "exhilarating" experience on the Hellavator (I think he used the words "scary" and "terrifying", which means it was that good!) and how he couldn't stop shaking afterwards (see it was that good!).

PlayDome is a fun Spring Break event for the entire family that is geared more towards school-aged kids (in my opinion).


We also checked out the Vancouver International Auto Show, which turned out to be Jadon's "best day ever".  I'll post more about that on the blog later, but for now, here's a little sneak peak:


Finally, we ended our Spring-cation at the Vancouver Aquarium.  It seems every time we go to the aquarium, we end up discovering something new!


My tips for the aquarium?  Be prepared to spend time at each exhibit and gallery searching for those little and big fish, mammals and creatures.  You never know where they might be hiding!

Our favourite galleries would have to be the Graham Amazon Gallery (where you actually feel like you've stepped into an Amazon rainforest) and Treasures of the BC Coast.  For kids 0-8 years old, make sure you check out Clownfish Cove - an interactive play area which explores the oceans around us.  Speaking of Clownfish Cove, don't forget to check out the Canaccord Financial Exploration Gallery which houses the informative 4-D Theatre that's suitable for all ages!

While we initially didn't plan much for Spring Break this year, it's obvious that we didn't waste any time either!  A lot of our daily activities were last minute decisions - just the way we've always lived our lives.   I've always been a huge believer that spontaneity keeps life interesting and definitely not boring at all.  Oh, and we managed to squeeze in a birthday party, Easter egg hunts and a trip to the movie theatre.  Needless to say, I may need a vacation from our Spring-cation, haha!

What was the most memorable moment of your kids' Spring Break?  I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Disclosure:  Our family received complimentary entrance tickets to Science World, PlayDome and the Vancouver Aquarium in exchange for this blog review post and social media posts.  All opinions are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of Science World, PlayDome, BC Place or the Vancouver Aquarium and/or their associates.  


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