FrontPage
Vancouver is a very exciting city to live in; you get the hustle and bustle of a large metropolitan centre along with all the gorgeous coastline and scenic mountains of the great outdoors. Now while Vancouver may not be an inexpensive city, you can still enjoy the local sights and sounds without spending a fortune. Here are just a few suggestions about what you can do for fun and recreation:
Sightseeing
SFU isn't the only place your UPass can take you; it's good for taking transit all over the city, even if it's on water! Try taking the Sea Bus ferry from WaterFront Station and ride it across the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver; the trip takes only 12 minutes and it won't make you seasick. Once you get to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, you can take a stroll through the Public Market and enjoy a cool ice cream or just pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can also take the SkyTrain if you're heading to downtown Vancouver; there's plenty to see, do, and shop at Burrard and Granville, and you can get to both BC Place and GM Place if you get off at Stadium-Chinatown. If you're up for a challenge, walk, rollerblade, or bike down the 8.8 km Seawall in Stanley Park to get your heart pumping with a good whiff of that ocean breeze.
If you're looking for a more creative experience, try visiting Granville Island, where you can see some street performers hone their craft, take in a show at local arts and theatre companies, or just wander around the Public Market. For a bit of light history, check out Gastown, a historic district with a colourful past. Born in 1867 and named after saloon keeper, “Gassy Jack” Deighton, today it's a hub of activity that boasts a great variety of specialty boutiques, shops, and restaurants.
Sports
BC Place is home to 5-time Grey Cup winners, the BC Lions, BC's football team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The regular season starts in June and continues through mid-November; tickets for events start at $30.
If you're a hockey fan, youi might be interested in checking out the Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver's hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season starts in October and play-offs start in April, so now's a good time to get your big foam finger ready!
Arts & Culture
The Vancouver Art Gallery, located in downtown Vancouver, always has something interesting to see. Past exhibitions have included paintings by the Group of Seven, work by Emily Carr, and pieces by great artists such as Vermeer and Rembrandt. The gallery is open daily; bring your Student ID card to quality for a discounted admission rate ($13). You can also visit on Tuesday evenings between 5 and 9 pm to enter by donation.
Feeling a bit classical? Attend a performance of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre. Full-time students can apply online for a VSO Access Pass, which gains you access to live concents for only $10. You can also visit the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Hamilton at Dunsmuir for performances by the Vancouver Opera or Ballet BC.
Museums
With its hands-on exhibits, Science World is the perfect place for kids to learn about all the wonders of the world! There's lots of fun stuff for adults too; general admission for adults costs $18.75, but bring your Student ID card to qualify for a reduced fee ($15.25).
Check out the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to learn about the history of First Nations peoples in the BC area. Bring your Student ID card to get a discounted admission rate ($12), or visit on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 9 pm for a special flat rate of $7.
If it's the city of Vancouver itself you're interested in learning about, check out the Museum of Vancouver. Past exhibitions include a wide range of topics from the history and evolution of bicycling in Vancouver to exhibits showcasing Vancouver's best and brightest designers in architecture, fashion, interactive, and more.
The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden is a gorgeous place to stroll through and tree-gaze, or just relax with a hot cup of tea. Regular adult admission costs $12, but bring your Student ID card for a discounted rate of $9. If you're more the biologist-type than the botanist, you might be interested in the Vancouver Aquarium, located in Stanley Park. With over 70,000 aquatic animals (whales, sea turtles, and otters just to name a few) and an IMAX "4D Experience" theatre, there's plenty to keep both kids and adults interested. Get a discounted student rate of $17 by showing your Student ID card.
100% Free and Fun
Visit a public library in the lower mainland for free access to items like books, novels, encyclopedias, magazines, comics, CDs, DVDs, and videos. All you need is a library card (which costs nothing to get) and you can start borrowing materials. Many libraries also offer computer work stations with Internet access, quiet reading areas, play areas for kids, and programs like public readings for kids, ESL services, and more. Check out any of the following libraries for more details: Burnaby Public Library; Richmond Public Library; and Vancouver Public Library.
On sunny days, try visiting one the many parks and beaches in the Lower Mainland. Kitsilano Beach is very popular; it offers a heated outdoor pool, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, and much more. If you're in the mood for a quieter commune with nature, try Spanish Bank or Sunset Beach; you can also check out Wreck Beach, but only if you're comfortable going au naturel! You can also try Burnaby Lake, or Pacific Spirit Regional Park, both of which are easily accessible by transit and offer some peace and quiet. For those in the North Vancouver area, there's the Capilano River Regional Park, and if you're looking for thrills, try a walk across the 137 metre-long, 70 metre-high Capilano Suspension Bridge. It's free to walk through the Park, though the Bridge trek is a little pricey ($20.75 for students), but it's worth a look.
For some relaxing (not to mention tasty) sights on a weekend morning, take a stroll through one of the many Farmers Markets in BC. It's the perfect opportunity to pick up some fresh, organic produce, snap up a free sample or two, or just kick back and enjoy some busking (street performances) and people-watching.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.