Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Free outdoor activities, English Bay
Right
Inexpensive cruise, SeaBus ferry
Budget Tips
Attractions
Discounts
Save up to 40 percent on
tickets to popular Vancou-
ver attractions by buying
tickets in advance from
the Vancouver Touristinfo
Centre. In Victoria, dis-
count coupon books are
available at Tourism Victo-
ria. d
Vancouver: 200
Burrard St, 604 683 2000
•
Victoria: 31 Bastion Sq,
250 414 6999
Grouse Grind climb
(see
p88)
, Vancouver has hiking
trails for all fitness levels.
Or rent a bike, buy a kite,
or grab your binoculars
and birder's guide and
head to the beach. In
Victoria, the Inner Har-
bour walkway
(see p95)
provides free entertain-
ment and exercise.
previews; be sure to ask.
Vancouver Playhouse
(see p42)
sells discount
tickets one hour before
show time. The Victoria
Symphony offers ticket
discounts with a receipt
from certain restaurants.
d
Vancouver Touristinfo
Centre: 200 Burrard St,
604 683 2000
•
Victoria
Symphony, 250 385 6515
Low-Cost Literary
There are plenty of
affordable literary events
in Vancouver and Victoria.
Check the listings in the
Vancouver Sun
's Queue
section, the free
Georgia
Straight
weekly, and the
free
Monday Magazine
in
Victoria. Libraries, book-
shops, and cafés often
host readings and poetry
slams. For book bargains,
visit Book Warehouse in
Vancouver and Munro's
in Victoria
(see p112)
.
Cut-Rate Cruises
Rides on BC Ferries
are inexpensive mini-
cruises. Particularly lovely
is the route to the south-
ern Gulf Islands. In Van-
couver, if you have only an
hour to spare, hop on the
SeaBus or any False Creek
ferry
(see p107)
. d
BC
Ferries: 1 888 223 3779
•
www.bcferries.bc.ca
Cheap Eats
It's easy to find
good-quality but bargain
Asian food in Vancouver.
In Victoria, head to China-
town for deals. Or buy a
hot dog and pretzel from a
street-vendor. You can also
save by opting for a pic-
nic lunch in a park.
Budget Shopping
Look for inexpensive,
unusual souvenirs in China-
town and in the shops
along Commercial Drive
(see p55),
brimming with
ethnic goods. Visit Main
Street for second-hand
bargains and one-of-a-kind
designer wear on a bud-
get. In Victoria, you can
spend hours browsing
through the collectibles
at the Capital Iron (1900
Store St), then stop next
door at Value Village
(1810 Store St) for rock-
bottom prices on used
clothing and housewares.
Free or Reduced
Admission Days
Admission to the Vancou-
ver Art Gallery
(see pp18-
19)
is by donation on
Thursdays, from 5 to 9pm.
UBC Museum of Anthro-
pology
(see p34)
is free
Tuesdays after 5pm. The
BC Parliament Buildings
in Victoria
(see p95)
offer
free guided tours from
late May to September.
Savings on the Go
Save on public transit
costs in Vancouver and
Victoria by buying all-zone
day passes, or books of
ten tickets for the price of
eight
(see p107)
.
Campus Deals
Both Simon Fraser
University and the Univer-
sity of British Columbia
(see p85)
put on free or
inexpensive concerts,
lectures, and other events.
Admission is cheap to
Cinecenta's second-run
movies, at the University
of Victoria. Visit the web-
sites for listings. d
www.
sfu.ca
•
www.ubc.ca
•
www.cinecenta.com
Outdoor Activities
Vancouver and Victo-
ria's year-round mild
weather makes outdoor
activities especially
appealing. From a stroll
along Stanley Park's paths
(see pp8-9)
to the tough
Show Discounts
Tickets Tonight sells
half-price tickets at the
Touristinfo Centre for
Vancouver shows the day
of the performance. Some
theaters offer two-for-one
tickets to matinees and
In summer, the Architectural Institute of BC offers walking tours of
Victoria and Vancouver for $5; call 604 683 8588 or visit www.aibc.ca
108
