Last Days of Summer…
I always get slightly panicky when I realize there are only so many days left in the summer, so many adventures have been enjoyed but there are so many still to be experienced! This year is no exception, or maybe my panic is even more prevalent because we weren’t sure when or how the summer of 2020 was going to unfold during these days of Covid. One of the important messages we all heard loud and clear, was stay close to home, while a second message was support local…Vancouver’s top attractions give us the opportunity to do both!
While this blog outlines an epic 7 Day Staycation to celebrate the last week of summer with family adventures across the Lower Mainland and up the Sea to Sky corridor, keep in mind most of these attractions will be open through out the fall and tickets purchased through our website, www.vancouverattractions.com can be used until December. So there really is no need to panic, there’s lot of time to stay close to home, and shop local but if you are up for a blow out seven-day staycation try this week of adventure.
Day one of the rest of your summer! Start with a visit to Vancouver's North Shore and explore two of the world's most famous visitor attractions, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain - The Peak of Vancouver! Not just a Bridge, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park includes three experiences that suspend their guests from treetop to cliff side, plus Raptors Ridge, offering an up-close experience with BC birds of prey. While Grouse Mountain’s mountain top adventures include their Grizzly Bear Habitat, Kids Canopy Adventure and Mountain Disc Golf, there are lots of add ons too, like a Zipline Tour or Mountain Ropes Adventure.
Next, for Day 2, tackle the iconic "Jewel of Vancouver" Stanley Park. Jump aboard the Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tour and visit the Vancouver Aquarium. These attractions usually host over a million visitors each year, find out why! Lunch on the Stanley Park Pavilion patio is a nice way to round out this adventure day.
Day three will take you up the Sea to Sky highway, no need to go far to experience one of Canada’s most scenic drives. Pack up the kids and the car and make a stop at the Britannia Mine Museum, a National Historic Site, book ahead so you don’t miss the underground mine tour and their newest feature BOOM! a 4D experience in the renovated Mill Building. Then it is on to the Sea to Sky Gondola, it’s impossible to describe the views of Howe Sound and surrounding mountains! Check it out for yourselves, personal gondolas keep your family pod together!
For day 4 of the rest of your summer take it outside all day! You know, gardens aren't just for gardeners! Check out these awesome family adventures at two of Vancouver’s top gardens. VanDusen Garden has a traditional English Maze that will challenge the whole family, while the Greenheart TreeWalk at the UBC Botanical Garden offers a bird’s eye view of Canada’s oldest university botanic garden, and lots of swaying too! Remember tickets can be enjoyed all at once or break it up and go on different days, no need to rush if you want to pack a picnic or if your family of adventurers get lost amongst the pathways.
Time to head downtown for Day 5 of this epic Staycation Adventure, you can explore three amazing attractions, book all at once and save 35% on all of them! Check out Flyover Canada, this soaring adventure will remind you why we love our country and inspire you for future travel. Next, a visit to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, offers a serene experience in the heart of Chinatown, while the permanent and current visiting exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery are always worth checking out. Be sure to visit the Art Gallery’s website to see what is showing or what is upcoming, your tickets purchased through our website can be used for up to a year.
For day six return to UBC! Check out the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Vancouver's only natural history museum, allow lots of time for your little ones to explore, there are over 500 exhibits ready for interpretation and imagination! Just down the Mall, is the Museum of Anthropology, recognized around the world for its permanent indigenous collections, this Fall’s temporary exhibition, Shame and Prejudice, A Story of Resilience by Kent Monkman is on the must-see list.
And wrap it all up with a visit to the Burnaby Village Museum! This free attraction will close for the season on September 7 so don't miss your chance to stroll the streets of this living history experience!
Summer may be over soon but your opportunity to stay close to home and support local is available all year long!