Looking for things to do in the Fraser Valley on a rainy day? We have you covered — quite literally!

When it’s raining and pouring, life for little one’s can get rather boring — but it sure doesn’t have to be.

Rather than listen to the all-too-familiar chant of  ‘there’s nothing to do’ from housebound children and teens, why not use the time to get out and explore all the great events and activities at your doorstep?

With the Fraser Valley being so ‘family-centric,’ you’ll find there’s no shortage of things to do and places to go indoors that will keep your clan entertained and out of mischief.

In no particular order, here are just 8 things to do in the Fraser Valley on a rainy day:

Get active!

Cosmic bowling with my wee ladies at Cloverdale Lanes.

1. Let’s Bowl, Let’s Bowl, Let’s Rock & Roll

When’s the last time you and your family went bowling? Even our youngsters, who are ages 3.5 and 5.5, love to play! Bowling is a great indoor activity that burns calories and offers a chance for some friendly competition. Most bowling alleys have bumpers that certainly come in handy with wee bowlers. Also, check for cosmic family bowling that starts in the early evening — we went took our girls to Clover Lanes last weekend and had a blast dancing and bowling in the dark.

Here’s a listing of the bowling alleys here in ‘the Valley’

• Willowbrook Lanes, located at 6350 196 St., Langley
• Sandcastle Lanes, located at 1938 – 152nd St., Surrey
• Alder Alley, located at 27070 Fraser Highway, Aldergrove
• Clover Lanes, located at 5814 – 176 St., Surrey
• Galaxy Bowl, located at 32490 Simon Ave.,  Abbotsford
• Chillibowl Lanes, located at 45916 Wellington Ave., Chilliwack

Having a blast at the Winter Wonderland family skate at the Cloverdale Arena.

2. Ice Ice Baby

Figure skaters, hockey players and first-time skaters alike could always bundle up, lace up and take a spin on the ice at their local arena. While skating rinks are open year-round, there’s just something special about skating during the winter season. Don’t forget to warm up afterwards with some hot chocolate! You’ll deserve it after all those calories you’re bound to burn. And for those who are a little uneasy on a pair of skates (like myself), there’s no need to fret because there are little skater bars you can use to hold yourself up. I used one every time — ain’t no shame in that game!

Here’s a listing of the ice arenas in ‘the Valley’

• Langley Sportsplex, located at 20165 91 A Ave., Langley
• Aldergrove Community Arena, located at  2882 – 272 Street, Aldergrove
• George Preston Recreation Centre, located at 20699 42 Ave., Langley
• Matsqui Recreation Center, located at 3106 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford
• Abbotsford Recreation Centre, Abbotsford
• Centre Ice, Abbotsford , located at 3600 Townline Rd., Abbotsford
• Twin Rinks Ice Arena,  located at 5725 Tyson Rd., Chilliwack
• Cloverdale Arena, located at 6090  176 St., Cloverdale
• South Surrey Arena, located at 2199 148 St., South Surrey

For those Energetic Little Cheeky Monkeys

Having a family fun day at Chuck E Cheese

3. Go Bananas — Quite Literally!

• Great Escape 20645 Langley Bypass, Unit 104, Langley
• Go Bananas 19685 Willowbrook Drive, Langley
• Captian Kids 20165 91 A Ave., Langley
• Chuck E Cheese 6339 200 St., Langley (Fun Fact: Did you know they serve Beer & Wine? Just sayin)
• Play Abby 5 – 2043 Abbotsford Way, Abbotsford
• Fun World 102-15355 Fraser Hwy, Surrey

4. Jump for Joy

Are your kids bouncing off the walls? I know just the place to take the little monkeys. Extreme Air Park’s indoor Trampoline Park in Langley offers 42,000 sq ft of interconnected trampolines, including: 2 main jump courts, 3 courts of the 3-D dodge ball, trampoline basketball, and The Foam Zone the 8-lane foam dive pit. Great fun for the whole family!

5. A Royal Good Time

From indoor and outdoor mini golf to stepping up to bat in the batting cages or playing one of their many arcade games, there’s plenty to do at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford. Take the Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 and exit #95 at Whatcom Road. For more information, visit www.castlefunpark.com

6. Get Crafty

 The Four Cats Arts Studio in South Surrey offers a variety of exciting classes and day camps for kids.

7. Take a Blast to the Past

Visit Fort Langley’s National Historic site  Pan for gold and feel the heat of molten metal in the blacksmith’s shop at an 1827 Hudson’s Bay Company fort. Stroll past the palisade and meet the interpreters who bring the fur trading history of British Columbia to life. Note: Make sure to bring gum boots and an umbrella as part of the tour is outdoors in covered areas.  For more info click HERE.

8. The Birds and the Bees — okay, maybe just the latter 

This Surrey gem may just be the sweetest spot in ‘the Valley.’ The primary goal at Honeybee Centre is to bring the amazing world of the honeybee to the general public. This includes interactive displays, tours of the facility. There’s also honey tasting over at the Country Store – a great place to get candles, health products made from natural bee products and of course  – honey.

And there you have it my friends —8 things to do in the Fraser Valley on a rainy day to keep boredom at bay. For  even more ideas, check out Part 2 HERE.

Valley Mom