Vancouver Things to Do & Vancouver Attractions

Vancouver Places of Interest

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Nestled behind white walls in the center of Vancouver's bustling Chinatown district, the serene Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden recreates the Ming Dynasty's 15th century China in the form of a classical Chinese garden - the first of its kind outside of China. Known as the Garden of Ease, the grounds are based on the harmony of the four main elements of a classical Chinese garden: rock, water, plants and architecture. The garden features Tai Hu rocks that are thought to evoke supernatural powers, tranquil jade green ponds and bamboo and winter-flowering plum plants that represent triumphant rebirth. Many of the plants in the garden are natively Chinese, but local plants have been incorporated to reinforce the bridging of cultures in Vancouver. The Yun Wei Ting (Colorful and Cloudy Pavilion) imitates tree boughs with its spires, while the Han Bi Xie (Jade Water Pavilion) appears to float on the pond; the beautiful Hua Feng Tang (China Maple Hall) and Bai Chuan Tang (Hall of One Hundred Rivers) are available for private functions

The garden is open daily, May 1 to June 14, from 10 AM to 6 PM; daily, June 15 to August 31, from 9:30 AM to 7 PM; daily, September 1 to September 30, from 10 AM to 6 PM; and daily, October 1 to April 30, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Guided tours leave hourly. Admission is C$10 for adults and C$8 for students. Admission for children under 5 is free. Admission for families (two adults and up to two children under the age of 18) is C$24. Parking is available adjacent to the garden. For more information: 604-662-3207

University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology

University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology
The University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology is Canada's largest teaching museum, housing 535,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects, many of which originate from the northwest coast of British Columbia. Its world-renowned collection includes 10 full-scale totem poles, hundreds of pieces of 15th to 19th century pottery and various indigenous plants and grasses. The museum's Visible Storage section includes more than 13,000 objects from around the world. The museum recently announced a 50 percent, $52 million expansion project to be completed by spring 2009 that will add 48,800 square feet to the space. The museum, which sits on the cliffs of Point Grey, not only functions as a university and public institution, but is also available as a private meeting and event space.

The UBC Museum of Anthropology is open Tuesday, mid-October to mid-May, from 11 AM to 9 PM and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. It is open daily, May to mid-October, from 10 AM to 5 PM and Tuesday from 10 AM to 9 PM. Admission is C$7 for adults and C$5 for students. Admission for children under 5 is free. Guided tours are available by reservation. Parking is available across the street from the museum. For more information: 604-822-5087

Vancouver Art Gallery

Vancouver Art Gallery
Located in a historic, turn-of-the-century building that originally functioned as a courthouse, the downtown Vancouver Art Gallery features both traditional and cutting-edge contemporary exhibits. Established in 1931, the gallery houses nearly 9,000 permanent works, including the largest collection of works by modernist landscape painter Emily Carr. The permanent collection also features a century's worth of British Columbia art, ranging from 19th century landscapes to modern photographs. The gallery's bookstore is known for its Canadian giftware and jewelry, and no visit is complete without stopping by the gallery's sleek café with a lush outdoor patio area for some delicious dessert. With its four-story dome, grand foyer and twin marble staircases, the Vancouver Art Gallery is a stunning venue for private functions - and has been a popular choice for movies filmed in Vancouver.

The gallery is open daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday until 9 PM. Admission is C$6.50 for children ages 5-12 and C$15.75 to C$19.50 for adults, depending on the season. Parking is not available on the grounds, but plenty of public parking is available near the gallery. It is also accessible by public transportation. For more information: 604-662-4719

Vancouver Lookout

Vancouver Lookout
It's no secret that there are many sights to see in Vancouver. The best place to start is the Vancouver Lookout tower, which offers 360-degree views of the city, the North Shore Mountains and the Pacific. At 581 feet tall, Vancouver Lookout is Vancouver and British Columbia's tallest building and has been in operation since 1977, when Neil Armstrong cut the ribbon to one of the city's most popular destinations today. Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the building's exterior glass-walled elevator takes guests up 50 stories in less than 50 seconds to the newly-renovated observation deck. Guests are welcome to amble around the deck or join a guided talk, which is included in the admission price. Full deck and meeting space rentals are available.

Vancouver Lookout operates daily, mid-October to late April, from 9 AM to 9 PM, and daily, May to early October, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Admission is C$6 for children ages 6-12, C$9 for youth ages 13-18 and C$13 for adults. Admission for children under 6 is free. Group rates are also available. For more information: 604-689-0421

Vancouver Maritime Museum

Vancouver Maritime Museum
As Canada's principal maritime museum, the Vancouver Maritime Museum tells the story of Canada's connection with the sea and Pacific port. An expert in hands-on educational activities, the museum's cornerstone exhibit is its restored Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner St. Roch, which was built in 1928 as a supply ship for Arctic police detachments and was the first ship to travel the Northwest Passage in both directions. Other treasures include Captain George Vancouver's journals, which tell the story of his trip along the coast of British Columbia from 1791 and 1795, as well as original ship models and various artifacts. The museum's extensive library features thousands of monographs, records and publications detailing the maritime exploration and history of the Pacific Northwest, early Arctic and Antarctic exploration, Canadian naval history, naval architecture and navigation science. The museum's gallery spaces, outside terrace and meeting room are available for private functions.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is C$7.50 for youths ages 6-19 and C$10 for adults. Admission for children under 6 is free and C$25 per family. Plenty of parking is available on museum grounds. For more information: 604-737-2621

Vancouver Museum
Located in Vanier Park, opposite English Bay and downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Museum is Canada's largest civic center and home to unique exhibits detailing Vancouver's cultural and natural history. The museum's thousands of artifacts are featured in four collections: the Vancouver Collection, which tells the history of the Lower Mainland; the First Nations Collection, which focuses on the Aboriginal peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast; the Pacific Rim Collection, which explores China, Japan and Oceania; and the World Heritage Collection, which highlights treasures from around the globe. The museum's bright space and unparalleled view of English Bay make it the perfect place for private functions.

The Vancouver Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Thursday from 10 AM to 9 PM during the fall, winter and spring seasons. It is open Monday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Thursday from 10 AM to 9 PM during the summer season, which runs July 1 to Labor Day. Admission is C$7 for youths ages 5-17, C$11 for adults and C$9 for students. Admission for children under 5 is free. For more information: 604-736-4431

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