http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10277
Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve - try the Rice Lake loop after a snowfall - paradise. Catch the 228 from Lonsdale Quay.

Seymour Provincial Park - there are snowshoe and X-country trails for free public use. Public bus service to Deep Cove.

Cypress Mountain - as well as the X-country trails you pay to use ($17 for the day, $13 for floodlit night skiing) there is a snowshoe and X-country trail that takes you up the side of the mountain. Take the Cypress Snobus.

Grouse Mountain - costs you to get up in the gondola to all the activities that are up there (movies, sleigh rides, zoo etc, all included in the price), but once you're there, the X-country skiing and snowshoe trails are free. To save money you could carry your skis up the 'Grouse Grind' and get extra exercise! Public bus service to the gondola.

Squamish - many trails running along the dyke where the eagles roost, and into the backcountry. Take a compass or GPS!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10277 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6558 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6558 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6504 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6504 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6499 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6499 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6443
Just go there and see for yourself why it's so great!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6443 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6425
Many coffee shops along The Drive have slam / beat poetry sessions if you look for them. Also, one place of particular interest is Magpie Magazine Gallery, wherein one can find magazines of all stripes. Feel free to browse forever -- it's easy to get lost in them. Slightly north along the Drive is Britannia Community Center, where there is an ice rink and a swimming pool as well as a large park.

Another place of interest is the Vancouver East Cultural Center where various dance groups and theatrical performances can be seen.

The Drive is uniquely Vancouver and it reflects a slightly anti-corporate sentiment here - as I said before, it belongs to small businesses and restaurants that are not chains. It is ideal to spend an afternoon (sunny, of course) walking along, starting at Broadway and slowly making your way north along the street, stopping for coffee or ice cream or sushi or Thai or...

Enjoy.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5742 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5742 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1164 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1164 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/729 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/729 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/715 www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/rec/beaches.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/715 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6567 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6567 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6559 www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca)

Talks and lectures at the Simon Fraser University downtown campus (www.harbour.sfu.ca), and at The Carnegie Centre (www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/CARNEGIECENTRE).

Word on the Street at the end of September is day of free music, poetry and book reading by the authors and a giant booksale in one block of closed streets around The Central Library and the CBC (www.thewordonthestreet.ca/vancouver.php).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6559 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6447
Trout lake is beautiful in all seasons. You can walk the perimeter of the lake taking in the breathtaking views of the rocky mountains with the echoes of children giggling whilst paddling in the water.

You will find Vancouverites riding bikes, reading books, sunbathing, swimming and occasionally even a samba band practicing!

In the summer it houses one of the best farmers markets in British Columbia.

Good place to visit if you need to warm your heart and soul.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6447 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6420 Check out www.chancentre.com.

Local bands play free at the TD Plaza, Fridays at 6.00 in the summer. Also, on Canada Day (July 1st) there is music at the TD Plaza, and at Canada Place in two indoor stages and one outdoor. Also at this event there are activities for kids and dancing all day.
For more information check The Fox (radio) website: www.cfox.com.

Free open air jazz music over two weekends at the Jazz Festival in June (www.coastaljazz.ca).

Kitsilano Showboat - open air venue on Kits Beach every week in the summer.
www.mykitsilano.com

St. Patrick's Day - free music all day at three outdoor stages and two indoor venues on Granville Street. The parade is on the Saturday closest to St. Patrick's Day. (www.celticfestvancouver.com/parade.html)

Vaisakhi - free music, dancing and food all day. More information can be found at www.channelm.ca/ce_index703.html.

Music and fireworks at The Festival of Light - from a barge in English Bay, with music simulcast on Rock 101 (www.rock101.com).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6420 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6417
The bog has cranberries and blueberries growing freely and the Richmond area is a major supplier of cranberries to the world market.

There are frequent free talks by experts.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6417