Here are some suggestions for your free time on Wed afternoon or the evenings. You can easily use transit (busses, SkyTrain, SeaBus) in Vancouver if your credit card has a chip for "tap to pay".
- July 25/26: Chinatown Festival (12-6pm)
- Academie Duello (axe throwing, archery - near conference location): For a fun evening activity, 1h for ~C$35-40 per person
- Bard on the Beach: Highly recommended long-standing Shakespeare festival at Kitsilano Beach; plays at 7:00/7:30pm Tue-Thu; 6:00pm on Fri, July 31; 2:00 and 7:30pm on Sat/Sun.
- Vancouver Pride Week (July 25-Aug 2); the famous Vancouver Pride Parade will take place on Aug 2nd
- Chinatown Storytelling Center and Chinese-Canadian Museum: learn about the history of the first Chinese immigrants and Chinese life in Canada.
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden: A part of the pond with a few koi is open to the public. The Chinese garden and building are also worth a (paid) visit to explore the geometry and history (closed on Mondays).
- Take the SeaBus to North Van (15min) and stroll around Lonsdale Quay Market and along the Shipyards, grab something to eat, and enjoy the view of downtown Vancouver; Friday evenings during the Shipyards Night Market there will be music, vendors, and food trucks.
- Visit Richmond Night Market: Biggest Asian Night Market with >100 food trucks/ vendors, accessible by SkyTrain from downtown; Fri, Sat, Sun 7-11pm; CASH ONLY! Long line-up for General Admission (CAD 7) but if you are a group, the colorful "Zoom Pass" (CAD 40) is sold by vendors on the parking lot for 5 admissions and allows to use the express entrance.
- Visit Vancouver Art Gallery (downtown)
- Visit the Museum of Anthropology at UBC: displays of world arts and cultures, specifically by the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest; important advice: don't hesitate to open the drawers in the gallery where many more exhibition parts are shown.
- Visit the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (downtown): Bill Reid (Iljuwas) is one of the most famous Haida artist. You will find many of his monumental artworks all over Vancouver, e.g. at the Vancouver Airport International Terminal before security, in the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Aquarium,...
- Visit Vancouver Aquarium (inside Stanley Park)
- Rainy Day? Go to "FlyOver Canada" and take a quick immersive 4D-flight over Canada.
- Walk/run/cycle around Stanley Park on the Seawall (9 km). Bicycles can be rented from one of the shops around Denman St and West Georgia
- Take one of the trails through Stanley Park and find the Totem Poles, Beaver Lake, the Pedestrian/Equestrian overpass, enjoy the view of the mountains from Prospect Point...
- Stroll along Granville Island and grab something to eat in the Public Market. Share (voluntarily or not) your food with the huge seagulls when you sit outside and enjoy the view of downtown Vancouver. Maybe you will also see the guy with the falcon walking around and trying to protect you.
- Take the little Aquabus or False Creek Ferry for a scenic ride along False Creek with views of the waterfront; stops at Granville Island and various stops downtown
- Sunny Day? Pack your towel and go for a swim at Sunset Beach/ English Bay Beach
- Enjoy some fun on the water: e.g with jet skis (seadoos), paddle boards, kayaks, etc. : Vancouver Water Adventure
- Take a stroll along the waterfront at False Creek and visit Science World (our big FIFA Soccer Ball)
- (Free) Visit the CPR Engine 374 locomotive in the Yaletown Roundhouse Community Center, the first train that reached Vancouver in 1887.
- (Free) Visit the new public rooftop of the Vancouver Public Library.
- (Free) You don't need to travel to NYC - Walk through Gastown and find all the Flatiron Buildings
Hikes
You can ask you favorite Vancouverite what their favorite hikes are and will get different answers. Here are some suggestions that can be reached by public transport. Note that the phone connection will get spotty in these mountainous regions, so have a downloaded map on your fully charged phone. And keep your eyes open for wildlife (Bears!!!). Please wear proper solid shoes (no flip-flops or sandals) and carry a full water bottle.
The first four trails can be reached by taking the Sea Bus (every 15min) from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay (several lunch or dinner option at the Market or surrounding restaurants) and taking the bus from there.
- Grouse Grind (Mother Nature's Stairmaster): 2.9 km (1.8 miles) trail on the face of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver with an 800 m (2,624 ft) elevation gain with exactly 2,830 wooden and rocky steps. Note: You can only walk up (record: ~24min, normal times btw 1.5-2.5h) and either need to buy a "Download Ticket" with Grouse Mountain Gondola, or go down on the BCMC trail
- BCMC Trail: 2.9 km trail up Grouse Mountain, the alternative to the Grouse Grind if you hate steps ;-)
- Quarry Rock Hike: Popular scenic 3.8 km (2.4 mi) out-and-back trail in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. It features wooden boardwalks, staircases, and stunning views of the Indian Arm and Coast Mountains. The hike takes about 1.5 to 2 hours round-trip with an elevation gain of 100 meters. While you are there, grab some tasty donuts from Honey's (even Hollywood stars go here!)
- Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge: Save the money you would pay at the neighboring Capilano Suspension Bridge and go to Lynn Canyon for a hike. Maps here.
- Lighthouse Park: These trails at the western end of West Vancouver lead to a lighthouse from where you have nice views of Vancouver. Main trail goes directly down to the lighthouse. Other trails are very "pebbly" and some are not marked very well. Walk back to parking lot is ~15min uphill. Bus 250 takes you in 45min from downtown Vancouver to the entrance of the Park.