Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 750

strapping yourself in for a simulator ride to Mars, and there are movie presentations on
all manner of spacey themes.
Drop by on Saturday evening for a date with a difference: a planetarium presentation,
a mini-lecture on a hot space topic and a visit to the observatory to peek at the stars - all
for $11.
Vancouver Maritime Museum MUSEUM
( www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com ; 1905 Ogden Ave; adult/child $11/8.50; 10am-5pm Tue-
Sat, noon-5pm Sun; 22) The maritime museum combines dozens of intricate model
ships, detailed re-created boat sections and some historic vessels, including the St Roch, a
1928 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Arctic patrol sailing ship that was the first vessel
to navigate the legendary Northwest Passage in both directions.
University of British Columbia
West of Kits on a 400-hectare forested peninsula, UBC ( www.ubc.ca ) is the province's
largest university and has a surprising number of visitor attractions.
Museum of Anthropology MUSEUM
( www.moa.ubc.ca ; 6393 NW Marine Dr; adult/child $16.75/14.50; 10am-5pm Wed-Sun, to 9pm
Tue; 99B-Line) Vancouver's best museum is studded with spectacular First Nations to-
tem poles and breathtaking carvings - but it's also teeming with artifacts from cultures
around the world, from European ceramics to Cantonese opera costumes. Take one of the
free daily tours for some context, but give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore
on your own.
Beaty Biodiversity Museum MUSEUM
( www.beatymuseum.ubc.ca ; 2212 Main Mall; adult/child $12/8; 10am-5pm; 99B-Line)
UBC's newest museum is also its most family- friendly. Start with the giant blue-whale
skeleton in the entrance lobby, then descend to the main exhibition hall, which show-
cases more than two million natural-history exhibits. Check ahead for kid-friendly
storytelling, puppet shows and hands-on events, and hit the on-site cafe if you need a rest
from all that knowledge.
UBC Botanical Garden GARDENS
( www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org ; 6804 SW Marine Dr; adult/child $8/4; 9:30am-5pm; 99 B-
Line, then C20) You'll find a giant collection of rhododendrons, a fascinating apothecary