One thing that is never in short supply is any number of fun things to do with kids in Kelowna.
Nestled in the enchanting Okanagan Valley of BC Canada, families can be confident there’s plenty to give kids of all ages a memorable time and most often, a reason to return as well.
Fun Days with Kids in Kelowna’s Hot Spots
This article focuses on day visits. If you’re in Kelowna for several days or more, you can experience any number of its iconic destinations or repeat family favourites.
Family Fun: Kelowna Outdoor Venues
Day visits or short stays can be kept simple just by spending the day at City Park. The boardwalk is lined with vendors and artists to enchant you and entice you to take a memento home. This is pretty much a one-spot-for-all kind of place to position yourself for the day. Not only is City Park super-popular and centrally located but it’s right next to Hot Sands Beach and its marina area.
This awesome location also has Kelowna’s best ice-cream shop, Moo-Lix close by. Yes, this goes perfectly with beach and park fun. With something like forty flavours available and your choice served in homemade waffle cones, you are forgiven for using the kids as your excuse to get some!
The Waterfront Park has a path that allows you to go through City Park, grab an ice cream for Moo-Lix and loop back again. This unique Kelowna attraction is renowned for its amphitheatre and live entertainment on weekends and evenings.
Another popular day destination with plenty of attractions for kids visiting Kelowna with you is the iconic Gyro Beach. With Boyce-Gyro Beach Park right there on Lakeshore Road, you’d be hard-pressed to get to all its fun things for kids to do. Go on a trail or have a great game of volleyball before it gets too hot and then head off to swim.
Places like Stuart Park are one thing in the summer months and another in the winter. Get the kids out there to skate when the water freezes over and watch for free performances or join in family dance lessons.
Family Fun Kelowna Indoor Venues
Kelowna is not found wanting if the weather turns. An indoor attraction for kids can be readily found at Fun Bugs Indoor Playground, and JUMP2IT’s endless jumping castles - especially for toddlers up to six years of age. It’s guaranteed to keep them busy for hours practising all those essential major motor movements that set them up to be bright teens.
For older ones, the Capri Bowling Lanes are popular enough to remind you to book. Laser bowling is just a popular sport and your teens will be ecstatic to have experienced this high-tech, cutting-edge version of bowling. There are little lanes for kiddies and small, baby-safe types of bowling balls by the way, so this is indeed a great Kelowna family attraction. McCurdy Bowl Center is a popular and affordable hotspot with six 5-pin lanes and twenty-four 10-pin lanes. Families can start the little ones off on the 5-pin lanes and watch them graduate one day to a 10-pin.
Perhaps EnergyPlex is the most versatile Kelowna family attraction for all. It is undeniably the #1 indoor venue. Safe playgrounds and blow-up structures are perfect for toddlers to explore. For older kids, Lazer Tagging, Ballistix Ball shooting, and the Skytrax Aerial Park are hard to beat.
If you’re celebrating or having kids’ parties, Beyond the Crux Climbing Gym is kitted out for just that. Equipment and shoe rentals are available on-site and there is a professional belayer available if you require one.
Indoor & Outdoor Venues
Boasting over 140 arcade and redemption games for kids of all ages is Scandia Golf and Games. But there are not just indoor fun things to do on a Kelowna visit. Go-karting and outdoor mini-golf might just release the inner Andretti and the budding Tiger Woods, which could very well influence future career choices!
As the largest water park, H2O Adventure and Fitness Center is the most fun thing to do with kids in all of Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley. Settle on your favourite after trying the river run, water slides, wave pool, and then some. If the weather turns, head indoors to the gym and amp up your fitness as a family.
Kelowna’s Natural Environment Escapes for Kids
Treat your family to a no-tech day away from the albeit fascinating world of electronics and step out into nature. The benefits of immediate stress relief are palpable and a great way to reset the system.
- Arion Therapeutic Farm - open to all ages and providing the opportunity to interact with animals, this secret getaway educates and encourages animal care. Therapeutic Riding is a great way to destress everyone.
- Arlo’s Honey Farm - opening for the season in May 2021, the best varieties of honey in all the Okanagan Valley are found here. The interpretation centre will fascinate the kids without a doubt.
- McMillan Farm - take the kids hay riding, go through the kid’s hay maze and then tackle the largest corn maze in all of Kelowna. Animal petting is encouraged to connect everyone with the farm animals.
- Mission Creek Park - the perfect hotspot to familiarize yourself with the whole area. Information on the trails, walks, and parks are complemented by self-guided tours in compost Education Gardens and the Food Forest. Watch the salmon spawning and get the kids on the Go Fish program.
- Wildplay Kelowna - suspended obstacle courses, ziplines, and giant swings provide a whole new visual perspective. Courses designed for kids 6 - 12 and over mean there is something here for everyone.
- Myra Canyon Adventure Park - a very physical but fun activity centre with swings, balance boards, and disc golf. Most popular are the zip-lines, netted climbing, and rope courses. Bike rentals from here can give you wheels to explore far and wide.
Kelowna Spells Fun Things to Do with Kids
Truth be told, it is impossible to cover all that Kelowna has to offer when it comes to family attractions. Did we mention trampolines, foam pits, horse riding, and parasailing above? What about archery, paintball, and BBQ Boating?
Undoubtedly the more adventurous kids will want a shot at hydro flying when visiting City Park Beach. Get to the shows where the pros demonstrate all that can be done on these amazing machines.
The bottom line is that there are endless fun things to do with kids in Kelowna, which explains why it is such a premier destination whether that be for spectacular day visits or memorable vacation periods.
