Are you looking to explore Vancouver or for cool places to go with your new roommates? Maybe getting stressed and need to take a break from studying? Here are 5 five awesome places to go in Vancouver, whether you’re new to the city or a seasoned Vancouverite.

 1. Vancouver Art Gallery

               The Art Gallery has some stunning pieces. Right now, the Art Gallery has an exhibition that investigates the history of collecting at the Vancouver Art Gallery, looking at the nuances, practicalities and idiosyncrasies of museum collecting. On Tuesdays after 5pm, it’s admission by donation.

2. Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory 

                Head over to the HR Macmilan Space Centre and gaze at the stars above Vancouver. Open every Saturday from 8pm. Admission by donation

3. Visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park

                Adjacent to the Gardens, which charge, this park has many elements of a traditional Chinese garden, and best of all, it’s free!

4. Stanley Park

                If you haven’t walked the sea wall, if you love nature, if you want to go seal watching, venture over to Stanley Park with a few friends, bring a picnic basket and enjoy all that Stanley Park has to offer.

5. Granville Island

                My personal favourite place in all of Vancouver, this little island has many things to offer. Some of the cities best improv is found here, but for a cost. Some fun free things are visiting the Public Market, trying on hats in The Hat Shop, or experience some world music.

Using your U-Pass and taking public transit can reach all of these places. Grab a friend, or spend a day adventuring with your camera or a favourite book and fall in love, or back in love, with Vancouver.

It’s the beginning of October. You’ve had time to settle in, make friends, party, maybe even studied a little bit. Now that you’ve figured out the basics like laundry, the kitchen, and the magical land of the Village, it’s time to settle into the groove of school and social life. Suddenly, a thought occurs to you: the most exercise you’ve had all semester is lugging your boxes from the car to your room on move in day! Your friends have all joined teams or are taking classes, but you’re broke and can’t fork out that much cash. Don’t fret! There are plenty of free or inexpensive ways to stay active around campus.

1. SRC Re)(ercise

Cost: FREE!

What: Do you get bored if you do the same old thing every single week? Well, the Health Promotion staff at UBC REC certainly do. They’ve incorporated variety into this weekly sweat session by picking a new route, location, and/or activity every week! Drop by for anything from dodgeball or fun runs to the Wreck Beach stairs or noon swims.

When: Every Thursday at 12:30pm. Check the HP Re)(ercise facebook event for details.

2. UBC Aquatic Center

Cost: FREE!

What: Want to get in some exercise, but have no idea what to do? Head over to the UBC Aquatic Center! You can choose to go for a swim, hit the gym, do some yoga, or simply soak in the hot tub or sweat in the sauna. Make use of this incredibly underused facility! The gym is particularly notorious for it’s quiet, “aged” atmosphere, so if you’re too intimidated to go to the Birdcoop check out this gem.

When: Check www.aquatics.ubc.ca for schedules

3. Nitobe Garden and UBC Botanical Gardens

Cost: FREE!

What: Gather a couple of friends and go for a walk in one of these two beautiful parks. Nitobe Memorial Garden is located just north of Vanier near the Asian Center, and the UBC Botanical Garden is on Marine Drive near 16^th Avenue, just down the road from Save On. If you’re feeling particularly friendly, chat with the staff at either garden, they have tons of knowledge that they’d love to share! If the “formal” gardens seem too far away, you could always settle for Pacific Spirit Park (the trees that are all around us!)

When: Check out www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/hours-and-directions for hours and directions.

4. The Birdcoop (Gym)

Cost: $25/semester

What: Newer, cleaner, busier, and full of good looking guys and gals, the Birdcoop is the next step up from the free gym in the basement of the Aquatic Center. Whether you’re into working out more seriously or watching other people work out seriously, this is an excellent place to hang out.

When: For schedules, head to www.birdcoop.ubc.ca

5. Moksha Yoga

Cost: Minimum $5 donation (Most classes cost $20, but they have an excellent Karma class on Friday nights for poor students)

What: Want to sweat in an incredibly hot room while contorting your body into impossible positions? Then Moksha Yoga in Jericho Village on 4^th Ave is for you!

When: Friday nights from 8-9:15pm. Make sure to arrive early, the class often fills up.

6. UBC Yoga Club

Cost: $10 membership, plus $2/class

What: Did you try hot yoga at Moksha? Want to start practicing yoga more often in a much cooler environment (literally)? Try some classes with the UBC Yoga Club. It’s a great way to stretch, strengthen and destress.

When: Check out www.ubcyogaclub.com/schedule.html for class schedules.

Peter Harrington, Fraser Hall

It’s that time of year when the leaves start turning, and that means autumn is right around the corner. Summer may be gone, but there’s no looking back. After all, Vancouver has enough fall activities to keep you busy between your schoolwork with fun-filled days of action-packed events, apple cider, Halloween frights — even chocolate festivals. Check out these must-see fall activities in Vancouver this year and renew your love for autumn.                

1. Take a Hike


The colours are changing and the best way to see them and really appreciate them is to get outside and immerse yourself in nature. Whether you’re huffing and puffing up Grouse Grind or leisurely strolling through Stanley Park, the crisp air and sweeping views will keep your body active and provide only-in-autumn photo ops. Check out www.outdoorvancouver.ca for hiking trails this fall.

 2. Soak up colour at VanDusen Botanical Garden or the UBC Rose Garden

Heathers, Autumn crocus, hydrangeas and more bloom during the fall at VanDusen Botanical Garden, giving visitors the simple pleasure of soaking up picture-perfect fall landscapes. Make sure to visit the Alma VanDusen Meadow Garden and stand before the fiery red Japanese Maples.

3. Get Cultured at the Vancouver Art Gallery

It will get colder in the fall, but that’s exactly what art museums are made for. VAG’s 10,000-piece permanent holdings include works from historical and contemporary Vancouver artists and other contemporary art leaders, making a trip here a welcome cultural change. Plus, the museum boasts one of the city’s top cafes, and chatting with friends over a cappuccino is one fall activity you just have to partake in. 

 4. Visit your favourite animals

The best time of the year to visit Maplewood Farm is definitely the fall. The leaves are turning, the cider is hot and pumpkins are sprouting like crazy. It’s the perfect season to visit Rosie and Roberto, the farm’s Sicilian miniature donkeys, and Fluffy, one of the farm’s giant New Zealand white rabbits.

5. Go international
Travel to more than 80 countries via the silver screen at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Screenings begin October 1 at various venues, which in the past have included Vancity Theatre, Pacific Cinematheque and Empire Granville 7 Cinemas. It’s one of the biggest film festivals in North America and one you don’t want to miss.

6. Become a Thunderbird fan


Did you know there are 27 Varsity teams at UBC! You can attend any and all home games of the season with a Blue Crew pass (for only $15). Go watch a football or rugby game with some friends while it’s still nice out!

8. Catch the start of theatre season

Many of Vancouver’s theatres start their seasons in the fall, making it a great time to catch a show. Arts Club Theatre Company, Firehall Arts Centre, and Touchstone Theatre are all great picks, or stay right here at home and attend a show put on by UBC Theatre.

(Source: Vancouver Tourism)