Photo by Daniel Ramirez

When summer comes, Vancouverites spend as much time as possible outside before the rain settles back in in the Fall. Aside from all the fantastic hiking and biking you can do around Vancouver, there’s also the fireworks and, of course, outdoor theatre.

Here’s what’s on the Vancouver outdoor stages this summer. 

Theatre Under The Stars

Every year, TUTS stages two fun musicals for the whole family. This year, they chose Shrek the Musical and Legally Blonde the Musical. It’s a departure from their usual lineup, as both are contemporary and based on movies. Website.

Shrek the Musical reintroduces the lovely green ogre and Princess Fiona, along with Donkey and Puss n’ Boots. Re-experience the pleasure of the movie, or introduce your children to this Dreamworks blockbuster.

Legally Blonde the Musical brings back Elle Woods and her beloved Chihuahua at Harvard Law School, now with songs and music! Come relive the funny movie in musical form and leave happy and smiling.

Bard on the Beach 

The classic Vancouver Shakespeare festival is back for its 25^th year with 3 Shakespeare plays and a modern one. Enjoy Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Cymbeline and Equivocation, a play about Shakespeare himself being commissioned to write a play about the Gunpowder Plot. The play is a fascinating take on politics, art and negotiating it all. Website.

The post Summer Outdoors Theatre in Vancouver appeared first on Vancouver Bed and Breakfast - House on Dunbar B&B.

Capilano Suspension Bridge’s annual holiday tradition Canyon Lights always adds sparkle to the holiday season. Canyon Lights is a must-see holiday event for all ages. You will be dazzled by thousands of magical lights twinkling across the Suspension Bridge, on the Cliffwalk and throughout the park.

Canyon Lights activities include: a scavenger hunt for children, gingerbread cookie decorating, sing-a-long carols with the Christmas band, and glass blowing demonstrations with Malcolm Macfadyen.

The post Canyon Lights Capilano Suspension Bridge appeared first on Vancouver Bed and Breakfast - House on Dunbar B&B.

The Polar Bear Swim is an icy, scream-inducing tradition that happens every New Year’s Day on the frigid beaches of English Bay.

Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year’s Day. The swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the new record of 2,550 official entries set in 2014.

Please also bring a donation for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank to help make a difference with this event.

More information: http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/polar-bear-swim.aspx

The post Polar Bear Swim appeared first on Vancouver Bed and Breakfast - House on Dunbar B&B.

Photo by James Wheeler

Although the city of Vancouver has plenty to keep anyone busy, the Greater Vancouver region boasts of a variety of activities that take you a bit further afield, and all easily accessible by car from our Vancouver accommodations. Whether it’s berry picking in Richmond or facing the Grouse Grind, Greater Vancouver is worth discovering.

The Grouse Grind is one of the most popular weekend activities for local Vancouverites. Situated just north of the city, the Grouse Grind is a 2.9 km trail with a 853-meter elevation gain. The climb takes an average of an hour and a half, but can take up to two hours. Grouse Mountain offers plenty of other activities if you don’t feel up to the hike. 

Just south of Vancouver, you’ll find the municipality of Richmond. Although it’s quite urban on its northern section, the south of Richmond is more agricultural. In the summer, it’s also Vancouver’s favourite berry picking field. You can go pick blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, in season, directly from the fields, or you can simply go around the rural roads and buy them already picked from the farmer.

After you’ve picked your berries, you can take them to historical Steveston, a lovely part of Richmond that’s right on the water (and serves as the set of popular TV show Once Upon A Time). Sit down on a waterfront bench and enjoy your fresh berries while watching local sailors take their boats in and out of the harbour. Steveston also boasts excellent restaurants and shopping.

If the history of the Greater Vancouver region interests you, you’ll want to stop by the Burnaby Historical Village Museum. Burnaby is situated just east of Vancouver, barely a few minutes by car or about half an hour from downtown by SkyTrain. The Historical Village, situated in the heart of Burnaby’s civic grounds, will take you straight back to the 1920s. You can visit the 10-acre open-air museum at your own pace and chat with animators in period dress. There’s also a newly renovated tram and a carousel!

For those who favour a good bottle of red, you won’t want to miss local wineries. River’s Bend Winery, situated in Surrey, features 14 delicious local wines. If you haven’t yet had a taste of BC wines, this is the right place to get introduced. 

Part of a recent renovation project, the River Market in New Westminster features a pub, a specialty tea shop, a circus school, an artisan market and many other unique and intriguing stores. Situated on the bank of the beautiful Fraser River, it’s definitely worth stopping by. The Fraser River Discovery Centre is also right there if you want to learn more about the river’s role in the development of the Lower Mainland.

The post Further Afield: Great Activities Around Vancouver appeared first on Vancouver Bed and Breakfast - House on Dunbar B&B.