Gifts for Tourist in Their Hometown: Vancouver Gift Guide
byNearly 9 million people visit the Greater Vancouver region each year1, about 60 per cent of them from Canada, and yet there are so many locals that have new been up Grouse Mountain, never driven the Sea to Sky, or never experienced an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I have a series of Vancouver Gift Guides I’ll be sharing this week that will help you find the perfect local gifts that come wrapped up with quality time with family and friends, and experiences you’ll never forget.
Gifts for Tourist in Their Hometown
See Vancouver from a new perspective, as a long time local or with the fresh eyes of a visitor. Here are just a few local attractions and tours that your gift recipient will be able to appreciate and enjoy throughout the year:
Attraction Passes and Memberships
The gift of membership is something your recipient can enjoy all throughout the year!
Science World: Purchase gift cards online for items in the Kaleidoscope gift shop, for OMNIMAX films, Science World Memberships, and general entry to Science World at TELUS World of Science.
Vancouver Aquarium: Give the gift of membership or pre-load a gift card that can be used for entry and gift shop purchases.
The Vancouver Art Gallery: Give the gift of annual membership as members also receive special deals throughout the year. You can also pick up a gift card for the gallery story, which is filled with gifts for the art lover in your life.
The Museum of Anthropology at UBC: I absolutely love the MOA and you will too. Aside from its permanent galleries, it hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. Gift the gift of membership or pick up beautifully crafted Aboriginal art and jewelry in the museum shop.
Museum of Vancouver: Give the gift of membership or pick out some truly Vancouver-inspired items from the gift shop that you won’t find anywhere else, but will scream “I Love Vancouver!”
Grouse Mountain: Your gift card purchase can be used throughout the year for lift passes, at the rental shop, Outfitters store, The Spirit Gallery Gift Shop, Lupins Café, The Rusty Rail BBQ, Grouse Grind Coffee Bar™, Starbucks Coffee (Grouse Mountain location only), Altitudes Bistro, The Observatory and more.
Under half an hour up the Sea to Sky highway, check out the Britannia Mine Museum as well. This National Historic Site is fun for kids and offers some great local history.
Walking Tours
Whether you want to learn about our history or see the city from a fresh perspective, or you just love discovering new places to eat or grab a pint of craft beer:
Forbidden Vancouver Tours: Gift certificates are available for the signature tours, Prohibition City or the Lost Souls of Gastown.
Vancouver Heritage Foundation: Purchase a special 3 tour gift pack this Christmas and your guest will enjoy (and have a guaranteed spot on) the extremely popular 2015 Vancouver Special House Tour, 2015 Heritage House Tour and 2015 Laneway House Tour.
Vancouver Foodie Tours: Purchase gift certificates for the Granville Island Market Tour, World’s Best Food Truck Tour, and the Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour.
Taste Vancouver Food Tours: Purchase gift certificates for their Taste of Gastown or Taste of Little Italy (on Commercial Drive) tours.
Vancouver Brewery Tours: Visit 3 breweries in 3 hours, transportation included, go behind the scenes, learn about the process and enjoy plenty of samples.
Vancouver Photowalks: For the shutterbug in your life. They’ll get to combine a local walking tour with a custom two-hour photography course. Gift certificates are available for 3 tour options.
Bonus Gifts
A very practical gift for someone living Downtown could be a pass for Aquabus or False Creek Ferries. While giving the gift of transportation doesn’t seem very glamorous, some of our very best and most romantic date nights start with a water taxi ride from Downtown to Granville Island so it’s worth considering.
Finally, while Stanley Park is absolutely free for everyone to enjoy, consider given a gift that will ensure its nature and wildlife continue to thrill. Give the gift of Stanley Park Ecology Society membership or Adopt an Acre of Stanley Park, Adopt a Heron Nest, or Adopt and Eagle Nest.
Watch for a series of posts featuring themed gift ideas in the Vancouver Gift Guide this week.
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These are great ideas! thank you!