February 14 is Valentine's Day, the day you're supposed to show your deep and abiding love for that special someone, that one-and-only, that eternal soulmate.

February 15 is Family Day, the day you're supposed to forget all about that eternal soulmate and focus on the kids.

They need love too, ya know.

One option is to virtually visit the Vancouver Maritime Museum for its 90-minute Arctic Adventure. The free online event kicks off with a presentation by VMM programs supervisor Dennis Chen about the Arctic ecosystem, and includes craft time and a discussion about how climate change is impacting the Arctic. There's also a story-time program for kids four and over in which intern Nikki Hashemian will read about the Arctic adventures of polar bears, walruses, narwhals, and belugas.

If the kids are old enough to appreciate art and culture, Family Day at MOV means putting on the mask and heading down to the Museum of Vancouver to check out the ongoing exhibitions like Haida Now, which features an unparalleled collection of more than 450 works of Haida art, and Neon Vancouver Ugly Vancouver, a collection of neon signs from the 1950s through to the 1970s.

On February 15, the Vancouver Art Gallery is offering Family Op-Art Workshops on Zoom at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Taking inspiration from artist Takao Tanabe’s series Cut Corners, now on view in the exhibition Op Art in Vancouver, families can explore the elements of Op Art and create their own eye-popping compositions. The workshop is free and you can register here.

Lantern City: Coastal Lunar Lanterns runs from February 11 to 28 at Jack Poole Plaza, featuring artwork of celebrated B.C. artist Susan Point and her family of artists: Thomas Cannell, Kelly Cannell, and Summer Cannell. 

The Kids Art Walk at the Roundhouse Community Centre on February 13 is a self-led event exploring public art at and around the Roundhouse. Families can arrive anytime between 10 am and 3 pm to pick up their activity guides, then find all eight artworks and return to collect a free, at-home, mail art activity package. Families that want to be part of a community portrait on the windows of the Roundhouse main entrance can have artist-in-residence Sarah Ronald trace their silhouette through the glass and then later fill in the outlines with brightly coloured window paint as part of a temporary art installation.

Over at New Westminster's Fraser River Discovery Centre from February 13 to 15 there's Family Fun on the Fraser, featuring family-friendly crafts, games, and activities all related to the mighty Fraser. Kids can explore the tracks and replica skulls of B.C. wildlife, learn about the Fraser’s Pacific Salmon while creating their own using simple origami techniques, and explore an underwater world using DIY waterscopes. Admission to the FRDC is free, but pre-registration is required and donations are appreciated. Families can book their timeslots here.

Family Day at Nikkei Centre on February 13 features a free workshop with Seiji Nakayama where families can create a mini desktop/tabletop bonsai featuring Japanese Maple trees and moss. The workshops take place at 11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm, and registration is required.

If your family members are outdoorsy types, last time we looked the local mountains were still there, so visits to Grouse, Seymour, and Cypress are always an option for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowtubing, and tobogganing. Not to mention having hot chocolate afterwards.

While Family Day is definitely a time to appreciate those closest to you, it's a bonus if you can reach out and support other families as well, especially during these COVID times. Some family-focused charities to support this Family Day include Canuck Place Children's Hospice, Mamas for Mamas, Boys & Girls Club, and Backpack Buddies.