How to Spend a Rainy Day in Vancouver
How to spend a rainy day in Vancouver
If you’re planning a visit to Vancouver, it’s a safe bet that you’ll need to plan your itinerary around the rain. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to do! We’ve rounded up the best rainy day activities to be found in Raincouver.
Eat your weight in food
Perfect if you’re already staying at Fairmont Waterfront, ARC Dining offers a Bottomless Plates Brunch where you can eat your way through a menu of 13 small plates! From ARC’s famous ooey gooey apple-caramel croissant skillet to a classic beef short rib poutine, you’ll be rolling out the door when you’re done here.
We should of course note that drinks are not included in this brunch, but ARC’s tasting flight of three uniquely flavoured mimosas will take your brunch to the next level, along with a curated selection of brunch cocktails!
$65pp, available weekends 10:30am – 1:30pm. Reservations recommended.
Get out in nature while staying indoors
If you’re craving some time in nature but don’t want to be out in the wet and cold, Bloedel Conservatory is exactly what you need. You’ll find this domed lush paradise at the highest point of Vancouver in Queen Elizabeth Park, where it houses more than 100 exotic birds and 500 exotic plants and flowers that thrive within its temperature-controlled environment.
The Bloedel Conservatory first opened its doors in 1969, so you can expect to see some magnificent plants that have been growing in this environment for more than 50 years!
$7.40pp, open daily 10am – late afternoon (hours change seasonally, see here)
Check out a board game café
Board games and rainy days: name a more iconic duo. Vancouver has plenty of places where you can go for a light snack or a full meal while you game away the hours arguing over whether a +4 can be played on top of another +4 in Uno, or casually destroy a life-long friendship in a single afternoon over a game of Monopoly.
Our friends at Daily Hive have a great round up of Vancouver’s board game cafes, which you can find here.
Get cultured at the Bill Reid Gallery
If you’re the kind of person who likes to soak up the local art and culture when you visit a place, then the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is not one to be missed. The Bill Reid Gallery is the only public Gallery in Canada dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast Art and was established by the Bill Reid Foundation in 2008, to celebrate the Haida master artist Bill Reid (1920 – 1998), and the diverse living cultures of the Northwest Coast.
The Gallery honours Bill Reid by exhibiting the Bill Reid SFU Art Collection, and presenting special exhibitions and programs that build bridges between all peoples, including Indigenous and settler populations.
$13pp, open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Sample beer at one of Vancouver’s many craft breweries
British Columbia is the birthplace of Canada’s craft beer industry, and Vancouver is a fantastic place to explore the scene, with more than 100 breweries to for beer lovers to taste through. Many of these craft brewers take advantage of the quality ingredients produced by the province’s mild climate, including hops, barley, honey, raspberries, cherries and other seasonal fruit. You’ll be sure to find a brew that tickles your fancy at one of Vancouver’s many craft breweries!
Explore nearby breweries here
Catch a hockey game
Even if you don’t know much about the sport, the high energy at a hockey game means there’s always a fun time to be had! There are plenty of games happening at Rogers Arena, which is home to the Vancouver Canucks – so book a ticket, grab a beer, and get ready to cheer from the stands!
Hockey season runs October to June, head to Rogers Arena for pricing and availability
Float in a heated rooftop pool
The idea of floating in a heated rooftop pool while it rains on you is simply so whimsical, it’s something that everyone should try once in their life. At Fairmont Waterfront, you can do this easily and comfortably! Our pool is heated to a toasty 30°C, so no matter how cold it is outside, it’s always perfectly warm in the water. You’ll even see steam coming off the pool!
If you’re worried you might be a bit chilly after your dip, not to worry: you can hop in our jacuzzi when you’re done in the pool, and heat all the way back up before you head back up to your room to continue your day at a leisurely pace.
Fairmont Waterfront’s pool is accessible to hotel guests only: view our current rates and make a reservation online here.
Hunt for market treasures on Granville Island
Home to a public market as well as a variety of shops, galleries, and theatres, Granville Island is a unique and artistic peninsula, and one of the city’s most important cultural. Little ones will be wide-eyed with wonder as they discover the many treasures of the Kids Market, home to the Adventure Zone indoor play area, Circuit Circus Arcade, VR Funtastic World virtual reality activities, and Let Go bumper cars.
You can make your journey to Granville Island as fun as the destination by riding the Aquabus Ferry across False Creek to reach Granville Island!
Public Market and retail stores open daily, hours may vary
Ready to book a staycation in Vancouver? Residents of BC, AB, and WA state enjoy 15% off plus a late check-out of 2pm and complimentary parking at Fairmont Waterfront! Find out more here.
