Nearly 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.
12010 Vancouver Economic Summit
Enjoy your holiday retail experience along one of Vancouver’s best shopping streets! West 4th Ave merchants are not only offering up great deals and unique gift ideas but they are also hosting free festivities this season to boost community spirits and keep you full of Christmas cheer.
Shop West 4th for the Holidays
Shop West 4th this season to find men’s, women’s and family fashions to outdoor supplies, lifestyle and music, home decor, specialty shops, and award-winning restaurants.
On Saturday, December 6th at West 4th and Yew, Santa Claus will be available for selfies and photo booth pics, local school choirs will be carolling, and kids can make a variety of crafts between 11:00am and 3:00pm. Santa visit donations will go to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. These festivities will take place rain or shine.
On Sunday, December 14th at West 4th and Vine you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city as you enjoy a horse and carriage ride. Donations for the festive rides will support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
Shop in your community, support local businesses, contribute to great local causes, and have a great time while you make your way down your Christmas list!
There are over 250 businesses along West 4th between Fir and Balsam. The area has plenty of street and lot parking, and it is served by several buses like the #4, #84, and #99 B-Line. Follow Shop West 4th (the West 4th BIA) on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
One of the most unique photo opportunities in Vancouver this season does not involve light displays or a jolly old elf in a red and white suit. The Kettle Society, Harbour Centre, and the Vancouver Lookout are inviting locals and visitors the chance to get Snow Globed for a cause.
Visitors to Harbour Centre’s lobby can have a photo taken inside a giant snow globe with their own camera or phone for a minimum donation of $5. Full proceeds go to The Kettle Society, a local non-profit that assists people living with mental illness.
The Kettle Society supports people living with mental illness to lead healthier lives by: Providing Housing, employment, advocacy and support services; Raising awareness of mental health issues and breaking down barriers; Promoting the inclusion of people living with mental illness in all aspects of society.
The Kettle Society provides over 3,600 individuals with 26 services, a mental health drop-in, a transition house for women and over 200 units of supported housing. It is committed to practical and non-judgemental harm reduction strategies in all its work, as it has been for over 35 years.
The Harbour Centre lobby is located at 555 West Hastings, Vancouver. Stop by between 10:00am and 2:00pm, Monday to Friday through December 20th to get Snow Globed. This will also be open for photos on Saturday, December 6th.
While you’re at Harbour Centre, take the elevator up to the Vancouver Lookout for some awesome 360 degree views of the city and the snow-sparkled North Shore mountains.
Tag your snow globe photos online with #SnowGlobedatHC and follow @harbour_centre and @VanLookout for more information.
Vancouver’s harbinger of all seasons, VanDusen Botanical Garden, is a delight to visit for the new blossoms in the spring, full foliage in summer, and the bright bursts of colour in the fall. When winter approaches, the garden is adorned with over one million sparkling bulbs during the Festival of Lights.
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden
This family-friendly festival features both indoor and outdoor activities and attractions, plenty of photo opportunities, holiday treats, and much more.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden at 5251 Oak St (37th and Oak) in Vancouver.
When: Wednesday, December 10, 2014, to Sunday, January 4, 2015. Closed Christmas Day.
Admission: Buy in person or online in advance.
Activities range from photos with Santa, the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake with modern and classic sets, Scandinavian gnome performances, to a Lego scene in the Make-a-Wish Room (including Hoth for the Holidays, for Star Wars fans), Gingerbread Wood, Lantern Alley, Mistletoe Mischief, and the Candy Cane Express model train.
Since there’s so much to see and do, you’ll probably need some holiday treats and warm beverages. Dining and snack options include Truffles Café, Truffles Pop-up Café, Shaughnessy Restaurant, Santa’s Kitchen, Ms. Klaus’s Kettle Corn Kiosk, Rudolph on the Roof, Cin City Donuts, and Whistler Wood Fired Pizza.
Follow VanDusen Botanical Garden on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Over the last few years, Squamish has become our favourite weekend getaway destination. As the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, it offers panoramic mountain and ocean views, pulse-racing climbs and paddles, soul-soothing walks by the river as eagles soar above, fun community events and festivals, as well as great food and local beer.
This month, Sunwolf Lodge and the Sea to Sky Gondola want to make sure that you get the opportunity to explore the very best of this Sea to Sky destination by offering up an incredible prize pack for one lucky Miss604 reader.
Win a Squamish Winter Adventure Prize Pack
The Squamish Winter Adventure Prize Pack I have to give away (valued at $550) includes:
- Two Adult Winter Passes at the Sea to Sky Gondola ($200)
- Two Candlelight Dinners at the Summit Lodge at the Sea to Sky Gondola ($75)
- Sunwolf Sleep with the Eagles Package for one night that includes their Eagle Viewing Float Trip for two and a stay in a cozy riverside cabin. Valid for two people ($285)
Sunwolf is conveniently located just 45mins from Vancouver, and 30mins from Whistler, on the banks of the Cheakamus & Cheekye rivers. The Sea to Sky Gondola takes you 885 metres above Howe Sound with beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding mountains, a 100 metre suspension bridge, a full-service restaurant, two cafes, one bar. Two, easy interpretive trails and numerous challenging backcountry hikes for nature and outdoor enthusiasts.
You can use the winter passes for the Sea to Sky Gondola anytime, the Candlelight Dinner is available on Fridays and Saturdays in December, and the Sunwolf Lodge stay is also for a Friday or Saturday overnight. Valid dates to use this package are December 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, and 27th.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming who you would take on this adventure with you (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Learn more about the Sea to Sky Gondola on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Learn more about Sunwolf Lodge on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Since this prize is only valid in the month of December, I’ll keep this contest run short and sweet, drawing a winner at 5:00pm on Thursday, December 4, 2014.
Update The winner is Kim Rees!
