Gateway to the Rockies – Vancouver on a Rainy Day
Vancouver, British Columbia
By John McKiernan
Staff Writer
As much as we would like to pretend that Vancouver is some sort of steadily sunny world, it’s unfortunately just not that true. Just like Banff and Jasper up in the Canadian Rockies, the weather can best be described as changeable. It is after all a coastal temperate rain forest. Regardless of what time of year you are visiting, it is liable to rain but don’t you worry, there is no shortage of things to do in Vancouver regardless if the sun has got his hat on or not.
Museums
If the rain is falling, it may be a good chance for you to educate your brain a bit. Explore your cultural side at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, the Vancouver Museum, the H.R. McMillan Space Centre or the Maritime Museum. The Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park is also a great way to empathize with the fishies on a wet day.
Day Trip
The thing about Vancouver’s weather is that it can be very localized. If you take a day trip only a few hours away, you may find a totally different sky. Tsawwassen Bay is a lot more fun to visit than it is to spell. Boundary Bay, Crescent Beach and White Rock are all great day destinations as well.
Woods and Parks
It is too easy to admit defeat to the rain and stay indoors. The fact of the matter is that with a bit of brass and effort, you can take advantage of the weather. The wooded areas and parks are lovely in the rain, bursting with colors. The parks are quieter and if you dress correctly, a great day out can be had. Just make sure you have some spare, warm clothes ready in your car or hotel. Some of the highlights while singing in the Vancouver rain are North Shore Parks like Capilano Canyon, Lynn Canyon, Lynn Headwaters and the terrifyingly named Mount Seymour. The paths and trees here provide great cover from the pounding rain.