Conference Excursion: Choose Your Adventure
We have designed two distinct paths for our afternoon excursion, allowing you to tailor the experience to your interests. Whether you’re looking to soak up as much local culture as possible or prefer a scenic, potentially active afternoon by the coast, there is an option for you.
Both groups will begin their journey at TRIUMF and conclude the evening with dinner at Sage.
Please selection the excursion option using this link: XeSAT Conference Excursion: Choose Your Adventure – Fill out form
Option 1: The Culture & Gardens Track
This track is perfect for those who want a "best of both worlds" experience. Participants will start with a one-hour guided tour of the UBC Botanical Gardens to enjoy the local flora. From there, the group will head to the Museum of Anthropology (MoA) for a specialized one-hour guided tour of its world-class collections and architecture. This option is primarily bus-supported, making it a great choice if you’d prefer to save your steps for the museum galleries. This option has a maximum of 20 participants due to museum tour size restrictions.
Option 2: The Nature & Scenic Walk Track
If you’d rather skip the museum in favour of more time outdoors, this is the track for you. You’ll enjoy a more in-depth, two-hour guided tour of the UBC Botanical Gardens. Following the tour, you can choose to join a scenic walk along the famous Wreck Beach path, offering stunning coastal views and fresh sea air. Alternatively, you can take our conference bus back to TRIUMF House after the garden tour for a short break before dinner.
For both options, the bus returns to TRIUMF House with time for a short break before dinner. The bus also takes you to the dinner venue.
The Grand Finale: Dinner at Sage
Regardless of which afternoon path you choose, the entire conference will reconvene in the evening for dinner at Sage, UBC. The dinner will take place in Main Floor West of Sage at the University Centre. Please note that there is no shuttle bus after dinner. Public transport is available from Sage to TRIUMF House (~20 min.), or you can take a nice walk through UBC campus (~30 min.). Ride share options like Uber are also available.
UBC Botanical Garden
Canada’s oldest university botanical garden features a diverse collection of temperate plants from around the world.
Distance from TRIUMF: 2.1 km (approx. 30-minute walk)
Key Highlights:
- Garden Walking Tour
- Greenheart Tree Walk: A 310-meter-long canopy walkway suspended 20 meters above the forest floor.
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA)
World-renowned for its Northwest Coast First Nations art and its stunning architecture by Arthur Erickson.
Distance from TRIUMF: 3.6 km (approx. 50-minute walk)
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm, with hours extended until 9pm on Thursdays. If you do not join the guided tour as part of the excursion, you will still have time to visit the museum on Thursday evening, Friday afternoon, or the weekend.
Wreck Beach
A legendary, secluded beach known for its natural beauty and "clothing-optional" status.
Distance from TRIUMF: 3.6 km (approx. 1h30 walk)
Highlights: Offers stunning views of the Strait of Georgia and a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere.
