Organized recreation

The conference schedule allows time for recreation each day.

The last day of the conference is also set aside as a recreation day. Participants are encouraged to coordinate with one another to make plans.

diy recreation

Nature

Vancouver has fantastic beaches. Some of the best are:

• Spanish Banks (includes a dog beach at the West end)

• Wreck Beach (on campus, clothing optional; lots of stairs to access)

• Sunset Beach (downtown; great sunset view)

If you fancy a hike, good local trails include:

• The Stanley Park Seawall (stay in the pedestrian lane; cyclists and skaters go by at high speed!)

• Pacific Spirit Forest Park (on campus, easy and beautiful walks; many trails are also open to bikes)

• The Grouse Grind (a very steep, challenging walk up, but you can ride a gondola back down)

• Lynn Creek (waterfalls, beautiful natural pools, and a suspension bridge)

A quick ferry or (highly recommended!) sea plane can take you to beautiful islands such as:

• Bowen Island (small and charming)

• Vancouver Island (big; home to the city of Victoria and the surf resort of Tofino)

Or you can:

• Sail

• Whale-watch

• Take a cruise or boat tour

Culture

For shopping, interesting options include:

• Granville Island (arts and crafts; huge covered market; local brewery)

• Main Street (hip stores; the best stretch is from around 8th to around 30th)

• Robson Street (high end)

Or catch a show at:

• The Queen Elizabeth Theatre

• The Cultch (contemporary theatre)

• The Orpheum (concert hall)

• The Vancouver Playhouse (dance, chamber music, etc.)

If you like gardens, try:

• Nitobe Memorial Garden (on campus; Japanese-style garden)

• UBC Botanical Garden (on campus; includes a tree-top walk, fun for kids)

• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

• Queen Elizabeth Park (includes the Bloedel Conservatory: a huge tropical dome, and Seasons In The Park: a high-end restaurant with some of Vancouver's best views)

• Van Dusen Botanical Gardens

Other attractions include:

• Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery

• Beaty Biodiversity Museum (on campus)

• Davie Village (Vancouver's historic gay neighbourhood)

• Gastown (one of the oldest parts of Vancouver)

• The Museum of Anthropology (on campus; justly famous)

• Richmond Night Market (Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights; loads of food trucks, all kinds of merchandise)

• Science World (hands-on stuff; good for kids)

• Vancouver Aquarium

• Vancouver Art Gallery (yes it is affectionately known as the VAG; free)