An Indoor Playground for West Vancouver Families
West Vancouver has beaches, seawalls and some of the best parks on the North Shore. What it does not have is many places to take a four year old at 11 AM in February.
INNOPLAY sits on Welch Street in North Vancouver, about fifteen minutes from Park Royal, with a full indoor playground, an art studio and free parking right outside the door.
- Ages 6 months to 12 years
- Free parking directly outside
- Open seven days a week
- 1611 Welch St, North Vancouver
Getting Here from West Vancouver
From Park Royal, take Marine Drive east across the Capilano River and turn onto Welch Street. From Ambleside and Dundarave add about five minutes. From Caulfeild and the British Properties, the Upper Levels down to Taylor Way is usually the faster route outside school pickup hours.
Parking is free and directly in front of the building. No parkade ticket, no elevator with a stroller, no circling the second level of a mall on a Saturday.
What Is Inside
A climbing structure, ball pit and trampoline on one side. A separated soft area for babies and toddlers on the other, low to the ground and away from the running.
In between, an art studio with real supplies where kids paint, build with Magnatiles and Duplo, and make the kind of mess that is easier to clean up here than at your kitchen table.
There is comfortable seating for adults, wifi that works, and a glass meeting room our members use when they need to answer email while their child plays.
Things West Van Parents Notice on the First Visit
- Adults are not charged extra to sit with their child.
- There are washrooms inside the facility.
- You can bring your own water bottle and snacks.
- Staff are on the floor with the kids, not behind a counter.
- The play area is cleaned throughout the day, not once at closing.
These sound like small things right up until the Saturday you spend somewhere they are missing.
For Babies, Toddlers and Older Kids
Most indoor play spaces on the North Shore pick a side. They are either built for under fives or they are aimed at school age kids who want to climb. If you have a baby, a three year old and a nine year old, that usually means staying home.
Here they can all come. The baby and toddler zone is separated and soft, the main structure and trampoline keep the older one busy, and the art studio is the middle ground where they actually end up sitting together. Start with a drop-in play session and see how it goes.
Birthday Parties
Plenty of West Vancouver families book birthdays here because the party room is private, the play space is included, and you are not hosting twelve children in your own living room.
Have a look at our birthday party packages for what is included and what you can add.
School Breaks and Pro D Days
West Vancouver and North Vancouver school districts share most non instructional days, so our camps line up with your calendar. Full day programs run through spring break, summer and winter break, with art, building challenges and active play for ages 4 and up. See our kids camps for current dates.
It is a fifteen minute drive each way for three hours to yourselves, which most parents decide is a fair trade.
Questions from West Van Parents
Is it really worth the drive?
For a one hour visit, maybe not. For a two hour visit, a camp day, a birthday or a Friday evening, the drive stops being the deciding factor. Most of our West Vancouver families come for the longer options.
Do I need a membership?
No. You can book a single session any day we are open. If you end up coming often, our passes and memberships work out cheaper, but nothing is required up front.
Is there anywhere to eat nearby?
Marine Drive is a two minute drive with several options, and Lower Lonsdale and the Shipyards are about ten minutes east if you want to make an afternoon of it.
What ages is it best for?
Can I drop my child off?
From age four, yes, through our drop-off play option, so you can run errands or get to a meeting while they stay with our team. Under four, a parent or guardian stays with the child.
Planning Your First Visit
Book online or walk in. Socks are required for everyone including adults, and we sell them at the desk when they get forgotten. Weekday mornings are quiet and best for toddlers. Weekend afternoons are busy and better for older kids who want other children around.