Summer in Vancouver Bucketlist 2016

I remember being super excited for the end of August as a kid, because it meant that it was finally warm enough to swim in the ocean down by Jericho beach! This year I did it in May, which is kind of scary if you ask me…

Well, on the bright side it means that we have several extra months of time in which to do all the fun things that make summer the best season to be in BC! Whether you are a city person or an outdoor adventurist, a visitor or a local, I hope you will find some of these suggestions to your liking, and that you will go out and have the best Vancouver summer ever!

OUTDOORS:

• Go Snowshoeing in your T-shirt: try Hollyburn peak at Cypress Mountain, or do some hiking at Mount Seymour; slide down the hill on a garbage bag or small sled!!!
• Do some Birdwatching: best places are Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Iona Sewage ponds, Reifel migratory bird sanctuary, Robert’s Bank, Brunswick Pt, Pacific Spirit Park, or any of the mountains; did you know there are over 370 bird species recorded in the Vancouver region?!?!
• Bike, Walk, Rollerblade, Scooter, or Run the Stanley Park Seawall: it’s a Vancouver tradition, so you kind of have to.
• Take an Outdoor Yoga Class: another very typical Vancouver thing to do.
• Go Scavenging for Natural Foods: Vancouver’s forests have a lot to offer, including Salmonberries, Blackberries, Huckleberries, Thimbleberries, wild Strawberries, wild Blueberries, and all sorts of herbs; make sure you know what you are eating first!
• Volunteer at the UBC Farm: get your hands dirty in the soil and be rewarded with a very generous supply of organic seasonal fruits and vegetables, not to mention meeting awesome people! Check out http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/
• Walk from UBC to Downtown: it’s a long trek, but honestly there is no better way to see Vancouver and experience the culture of Broadway, 4th avenue, and the city center.
• Go Kayaking: or canoeing, or sailing, or paddleboarding… as long as it’s on water.

  

• Try Skimboarding at Low-Tide: best places are Spanish Banks beach and possibly Jericho; check out the tide chart at http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/eng/station?sid=7735
• Hike, hike, hike!: many adventures await only a short distance from home, like the Grouse Grind, the BCMC trail, Baden-Powell, Quarry Rock, the Chief, Lynn Canyon, Golden Ears, and of course, Whistler/Blackcomb; check out https://www.vancouvertrails.com/
• Mountain bike!: if you want something not too difficult,

  

  try Pacific Spirit Park near UBC or Burnaby Mountain near SFU; otherwise, head up to Whistler/Blackcomb for your hardcore biking fix.

• Go Camping: the nearest civilized campground is arguably Golden Ears where you will find lots of nice trails and great swimming (if you like cold water); farther out you will find Garibaldi and BlackTusk; check out Vancouver Island’s awesome camping scene as well!

EXPLORE VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE GULF ISLANDS:

• Visit Victoria: you might be surprised that this quaint little historical town is actually BC’s capital city, considering that hardly anybody lives there anymore; nevertheless, it is a prime tourist location with lots of stuff to see including BC’s parliament buildings, great museums, haunted castles, parks, Canada’s oldest Chinatown, and a big dome full of butterflies; check out http://www.tourismvictoria.com/ for more fun stuff to do!
• Go Surfing in Tofino: I’ve never done this myself, but Tofino is absolutely the cutest little sea-town on the Island and those waves definitely look surf-able; many shops offer lessons for beginners, so if you don’t mind the cold…
• Hike the West Coast Trail: the six days I spent on the WCT this May were probably the most challenging, beautiful, and rewarding six days of my entire life; this world-famous 75km trail stretches along the South-West coast of Vancouver Island from Bamfield to Port Renfrew, beside the Pacific Ocean and through winding forest trails; recommended for experienced backpackers only, or people who aren’t afraid of pain, exhaustion, unpredictable weather, smelling really bad, and pooping in the forest.
• Go Island-Hopping: the Gulf Islands are home to some of BC’s best art, music, culture, local food, and outdoor adventure; I’ve personally been to Salt Spring Island, Hornby Island, and Denman Island, and I have to say I’ve never felt so totally at peace; it’s like living in hippie land, you’ll love it!

EVENTS:

• Point Grey Fiesta (June 18 @ Trimble Park): an awesome carnival for families with kids and for sharing the culture and history of Point Grey; parade, performances, amusement park rides, and food; http://www.pointgreyfiesta.org/
• Khatsalano Street Party (July 9th @ West 4th ave, Burrard to MacDonald): a celebration of Vancouver’s best and most culturally vibrant avenue; features food trucks, vendors, artists, community groups, and an awesome line-up of local musicians; http://khatsahlano.com/
• Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 15 – 17 @ Jericho Beach): my favorite event of the summer; local and world-known musicians, arts and crafts vendors, food, and beer; very hippie/vintage/hipster/retro/mystical vibes; http://thefestival.bc.ca/
• Blessed Coast, Music Arts & Yoga Festival (July 22 – 25 @ Squamish Valley): super uplifting, sustainability-focused, rejuvenating long weekend camping out in Squamish; http://www.blessedcoast.ca/
• Wanderlust Whistler (July 28 – August 1 @ Whistler Village): if you like yoga, music, food and adventure, come out to Whistler for an epic merge of all four in this awesome summer festival; http://wanderlust.com/festivals/whistler/
• Canadian National BBQ Championships (July 29 – 31 @ Whistler Village): literally a barbecuing contest between local legends and international chefs alike; free samples and free music, what could BBQ better?; http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bbq
• Check out this website for more cool events: http://www.hellobc.com/vancouver-coast-mountains/things-to-do/festivals-events/all-events.aspx
• Farmer’s Markets: http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/

That’s it for now! I’ll keep this updated as I do more awesome stuff here in my beautiful home city! HAGS everybody!!!!