An unexpected stretch of sandy paradise exists on an otherwise gloomy industrial island.
Visits to this particular beach will never be ruined by sudden bursts of rain or chilly temperatures. You'll find no broken beer bottles in the sand, no ants or worms or cigarette butts. If you like, you can play volleyball until 1am (2am on weekends), no matter the season.
How can this be? Thanks to the visionary team behind 6Pack Indoor Beach, some of the best parts about going to the beach — namely, the sand and the sports — can be enjoyed all year round in a fully climate-controlled environment. "The sand is raked every day, and cleaned and tilled once a month," said Lisa Tam, programs and events director, during a recent visit. "It's a lot of work, but it's worth it."
6Pack Indoor Beach occupies an 18,000-square foot facility on Mitchell Island, a busy hub for shipping companies and auto-wreckers located under the Knight Street Bridge. With its 700 metric tonnes of sand, 33-foot ceilings, five beach volleyball courts, barbeque grills and bounty of beach toys, 6Pack Indoor Beach caters to beach lovers of all ages.
Since opening in June 2011, 6Pack has hosted some of the best volleyball players in BC but, given the versatility of the meticulously maintained sand, it also offers beach-themed birthday party packages and encourages parents and kids to drop in for pick-up games and frolicking in the sand.
Over Spring Break, 6Pack Indoor Beach is hosting its first-ever multi-sports camp. "Kids get to try different types of sports and get comfortable with running, jumping, catching, and throwing," said Tam. Also on the schedule: beach yoga, movie screenings, and sand sculpting.
Click here for Spring Break kids camps, including 6Pack.
