Port Alberni for the Whole Family

Outdoor adventures, local eats and activities for families with older kids.

Family trips change as kids get older. Playgrounds might not hold the same appeal, everyone has an opinion about where to eat, and sometimes the best part of the day is having a little freedom to do your own thing.

Try something new together at Bomber Boulders, Port Alberni’s indoor bouldering centre. Source: bomber boulders climbing centre

Port Alberni works well for this stage of family travel. There are plenty of ways to spend time together without planning every minute, from climbing and bowling to swimming, movies, good food and places where everyone can simply hang out.

Spend Some Time at Harbour Quay

You don’t always need an activity planned.

Harbour Quay is an easy place to grab a treat, browse the shops and spend some time by the waterfront.

Head to Harbour Quay, grab something to eat or drink and give everyone some time to wander. Browse the shops, walk along the waterfront, climb the Clock Tower or find a table and watch the activity around the harbour.

There are plenty of options for a treat too, whether the vote is for gelato, a doughnut, coffee or something cold to drink. It’s an easy place to spend an hour without everyone having to do exactly the same thing.

Climb the Walls, Literally

If there’s energy to burn, Bomber Boulders offers something a little different.

This indoor climbing centre is dedicated to bouldering, which means climbing without ropes or harnesses, with padded flooring below the walls. There are climbs for different abilities, and climbing shoes and chalk are available to rent if you don’t have your own gear.

For anyone new to the sport, Bomber Boulders also offers a Bouldering Basics course for ages 11 and up. It’s a good option for families who want to try climbing together or for older kids looking for a new challenge.

Go Retro for an Afternoon

Bowling still works surprisingly well when everyone in the family is a different age.

Rainbow Lanes has been part of Port Alberni since 1960, with 16 five-pin bowling lanes, glow bowling and a pinball hall. It can be competitive if you want it to be, relaxed if you don’t, and particularly handy when West Coast weather changes your outdoor plans.

Five-pin bowling, glow bowling and pinball make Rainbow Lanes a good option for an afternoon or evening out. Source: Rainbow Lanes

Just remember that older kids are entirely capable of keeping score when a parent throws a gutter ball.

See What’s Playing at the Savoy

For a slower afternoon or an evening out, see what’s playing at the Savoy Theatre on Argyle Street.

The Savoy is Port Alberni’s independent cinema, showing current movies right in the centre of town. Catching a movie is an especially useful option after a busy day outside, when everyone wants a quieter evening, or when the forecast makes the decision for you.

Make a Splash

In summer, it’s hard to beat Sproat Lake.

As kids get older, a lake day can mean much more than sitting on the beach. Swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, tubing and other water sports can easily fill an afternoon. Families bringing their own boards, boats or fishing gear have even more ways to spend the day.

Paddleboarding on Sproat Lake is a great way for families with older kids to spend a summer day on the water.

Our Sproat Lake Recreation Guide covers beaches, paddling, boating, fishing and other practical information for planning time around the lake.

When lake weather is still months away, Echo Aquatic Centre & Fitness Studio gives families an indoor alternative. Public swim times change through the year, so check the current schedule before heading over.

Never Skip the Treat Stop

Older kids may be less interested in the playground, but enthusiasm for snacks seems to survive every stage of childhood.

Make room for a stop at Coombs Country Candy, where chocolates, fudge, brittle, caramel corn, ice cream and other treats are made locally. The old-fashioned candy shop has been part of the Alberni Valley for decades and makes an easy stop on the way into or out of town.

Make room for a treat stop at Coombs Country Candy, where chocolates, fudge and other sweets are made locally.

Around Port Alberni, there are plenty of other options when the request is for bubble tea, gelato, doughnuts, smoothies or a fancy coffee drink. Letting everyone choose a treat stop can be an activity in itself, especially when nobody can agree on what comes next.

Bring the Bikes

If mountain bikes are coming along, the Alberni Valley has an extensive trail network with everything from approachable rides to technical terrain for experienced riders.

Rather than choosing a trail based on someone else’s idea of “easy,” have a look through our Mountain Biking in Port Alberni guide and choose a route that fits your family’s experience and comfort level.

Bring the bikes along and choose from mountain biking trails for a range of experience levels around the Alberni Valley.

Not everyone needs to ride, either. One parent and the kids heading out on the trails while someone else enjoys a quieter hour in town can sometimes be exactly what a family trip needs.

Let Everyone Pick One Thing

Perhaps the easiest way to plan a day with older kids is to stop trying to plan the whole thing yourself.

Let everyone choose one thing. Someone picks the activity, someone else chooses lunch, and another person gets to decide where you stop for a treat. Spend the morning climbing, the afternoon at Sproat Lake and the evening at the movies. Or go bowling, grab something good to eat and leave the rest of the day open.

Port Alberni has plenty to keep the whole family busy, but you don’t need to fit everything into one visit. As kids get older, sometimes giving everyone a little say in the day is what makes spending it together more fun.