Eating out
Finding child-friendly restaurants and cafés in Riga can sometimes be a bit of a chore, but a few have realised that providing a play area for children can actually add to their bottom line. Vairāk Saules (Dzirnavu 60, tel. (+371) 67 28 28 78) offers a kids’ menu and all the legos a child could ever want and T.G.I.Friday’s (Kaļķu 6, tel. (+371) 67 22 90 70) offers colouring books, a kids’ menu and sometimes even balloons. K|I|D (Pulkveža Brieža 2, www. restaurantkid.lv) even offers a children’s room that’s supervised by a nanny of sorts.
Educational trips
The Open-Air Ethnographic Museum (Brīvības gatve 440, tel. (+371) 67 99 45 15) is a great place for kids. Not only can children learn about Latvian customs and rural living, but they can also see people in period costume performing various tasks like shaping iron at the blacksmith’s. The Riga National Zoo (see What to see) is always a good option kids can paint their own plaster suns at the Sun Museum (Vaļņu 30, www.saulesmuzejs.lv) and learn about the history of toys at the Doll Art Museum (Teātra 3, www.dollart.lv).
Just for fun
The Riga Circus (Merķeļa 4, www.cirks.lv) is the only permanent circus in the Baltics and it offers a show that includes clowns, jugglers, magicians, illusionists, acrobats and animal acts. See website for a complete schedule. The little ones might appreciate a show at the Latvian Puppet Theatre (Barona 16/18, www.puppet.lv), too. Līvu Akvaparks (Jūrmala, Lielupe, Vienības gatve 36, www.akvaparks.lv) offers a wave pool, a children’s pool, six water slides and a tubing river guaranteed to keep the kids happy all day long. The giant Lido Recreation Centre (Krasta 76, www.lido.lv) also has plenty to offer including a huge inline skating rink and lots of children’s attractions. If you’re kids are into skateboarding, inline skating or BMX there’s a big skatepark in Grīziņkalns at the corner of Pērnavas and Ata streets that’s open to the public.
Stroller and children’s equipment rental
You don’t have to drag that bulky car seat or pram with you when you come to Riga. Okid Rent for Kids ((+371) 26 54 49 03, www.okid.lv) rents a variety of children’s equipment including strollers, travel cots, car seats, play items and many other kids’ accessories that are perfect for families travelling in Latvia. They also offer door-to-door delivery and pick-up service.