Things To Do In Vancouver

Vancouver is a fairly modest city, yet it boasts a stunning location on the Pacific Ocean. The city isn’t overloaded with attractions, but there is certainly plenty to do here, with many quality family attractions, world-class museums, educational centres and art galleries as well as fine parks and gardens. Although the summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit Vancouver, the variety of its attractions means those who choose to visit out of season will not be disappointed.

Vancouver Aquarium

This aquarium is touted as one of the world’s best and it’s easy to see why when you discover the sheer number of exotic fish here. There are more than 20,000 different species on show including dolphins, whales, all kinds of weird and wonderful fish and even some giant snakes. The Vancouver Aquarium is a great family day out and is especially aimed at children, with touch pools and popular children’s sleepovers.

Playland

This is perhaps Vancouver’s greatest family attraction. It is an amusement park with a whole host of fun rides and attractions such as rollercoasters and slides. Playland regularly updates its rides with newer replacements from season to season, although the 1958 wooden rollercoaster is here to stay and is a constant hit. The park is located in Hastings Par, just outside the city, and it usually gets full, so it’s best to get here early. It is also a seasonal attraction, only opening in the warmer months between April and September.

Telus World of Science

A fine educational and entertaining attraction in Vancouver, the Telus World of Science features an array of hands-on displays which take a look at how science plays an important part in the everyday world that we live in. Another big hit at this modern educational centre is the giant Omnimax theatre, which continually shows quality screenings throughout the day.

Storyeum

Another fun and educational attraction, the Storyeum is ideal for those who would like to learn about the history of British Columbia. Storyeum is brilliantly done, housed as it is in an underground theatre and featuring a collection of dinosaur fossils and mock dinosaurs in the Gastown exhibition. Among the dozens of fossils and many complete dinosaur skeletons is the museum’s highlight, a life-size animatronic T-rex.

Vancouver Museum

For those who take history more seriously, the Vancouver Museum is the number one natural history attraction in Vancouver, boasting a huge collection of important exhibits. To make things easier, the museum is cleverly divided up into sections including the: Vancouver Collections, First Nations Collections, Pacific Rim Collections and the World Heritage Collections.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Another brilliant cultural landmark and attraction is the instantly recognisable Vancouver Art Gallery, which features fine entries from former and present masters. The building in itself is a work of art, while inside you will find collections of modern and classical art in both temporary and permanent galleries. The permanent gallery has fine exhibits by historically famous artists and nearly 8,000 works, while lovers of all things contemporary will also not be disappointed.

Christ Church Cathedral

Although not as ornate and ancient as the great cathedrals of Europe, Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral is a magnificent edifice nonetheless. It was constructed in the late 19th century and is only one of two cathedrals in New Westminster, British Columbia. The building is stunning, both outside and inside, with many impressive themes and forms. Christ Church Cathedral is also a working church and holds regular services should you wish to join Mass here.

Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Vancouver also boasts many parks and gardens, which are best visited in the summer months, when the chance of rainfall is low. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is one of Vancouver’s favourites and is situated in Chinatown, to the east of downtown Vancouver. The garden has been crafted to resemble one from the ancient Ming Dynasty and features high walls and an array of beautiful plants, trees and fountains. The best way to get an overall perspective and some basic history of the Ming Dynasty is to take a guided tour of the gardens.

Queen Elizabeth Park

This is another well known, quiet Vancouver retreat, with its arboretum, rose garden and quarry gardens, the latter of which gives some indication of the garden’s origins – two quarries. Today the park is a far cry from its humble beginnings and is even touted as being one of the finest urban parks in the world. In addition to the beauty of nature, the Queen Elizabeth Park also comes with a golf course and tennis courts for sports enthusiasts.