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".
- 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
- Take the SeaBus to North Van (15min) and stroll along the Shipyards, grab something to eat, and enjoy the view of downtown Vancouver; Friday evenings during the Shipyards Night Market there will be 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 (C$7) but if you are a group, the colorful "Zoom Pass" (C$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)
- Walk/run/cycle around Stanley Park on the Seawall (9 km)
- 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
- 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