You've heard it before: Taking a toddler on vacation is merely parenting in a different city. But these toddler-friendly activities in and around Vancouver, Washington will turn your visit into an entertaining adventure for everyone. Load up your tiny tots and hit the road for a day of entertainment and enjoyment!
Indoor Play Spaces
This year, there has been a boom of play spaces opening in Clark County. Perfect for your one to eight-year-old, City Play for Kids in East Vancouver emulates daily life for kiddos with a make-believe vet clinic, café, and more. Junebug Play & Learning Space, just north in Ridgefield, keeps development needs for holistic play in mind for your 6-month to 6-year-old. Chicky Play Museum and Play Street Museum (focused on one to eight-year-olds) offer interactive exhibits and areas to let toddlers' imaginations run wild. Choose between Dizzy Castle's three-story castle and 70-foot pirate ship (with a miniature one for toddlers) and Kids Club's massive jungle with six slides for an indoor playground experience—refreshments and relaxing seating for adults too!
Learning Centers
The Vancouver Community Library boasts one of the largest discovery zones for kids in the nation, dedicating a whole floor for young explorers and readers. The Water Resources Education Center is dedicated to teaching kids about the water cycle with exhibits for exploring how water flows through a watershed, the benefits of trees, and the importance of waste management. Visit a historic trout hatchery at the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, surrounded by accessible nature trails and green space habitats. Toddlers will look up in awe at the WWII replica airplanes hanging from the ceiling of the Pearson Air Museum.
Creative Activities
Plan ahead to book a session or single date at Drip Drop Art Studio. Classes range in age and ability level, from two to 12-year-olds, and from sensory play to full art projects. Head to Kilnfolk Studio on the first Monday of the month for a Toddler Clay Date (ages zero to five). The activity rotates between pottery wheel, sculpting, and other art mediums for sensory exploration.
Parks & Playgrounds
You can't wander into a neighborhood and not find a park or playground worth exploring in Vancouver and Clark County's outskirt towns like Ridgefield, Battle Ground, and Camas. Notably, Nikkei Park's dinosaur-themed play structure and archaeological digging sandbox stands out as a fan-favorite among the toddlers. The water feature at the Vancouver Waterfront is a hit during the summer months, and the anticipation for the splash pad at Overlook Park is building.
Check out our Accessible Travel page for sensory-friendly amenities at different family-focused attractions in Vancouver.