If Vancouver winters are known for one thing, it must be the rain. Sure, we’ve got mountains that offer great skiing and winter hiking trails amid lush greenery, but for most, the winters in Vancouver can seem wet, foggy and interminable. While it’s easy to stay in on those rainy days, Vancouver offers many great indoor attractions that will keep you warm, dry and entertained. Here is a list of the top museums and attractions to visit this March in Vancouver while you patiently wait for spring to come out in full bloom.
TELUS World of Science
Science World, a legacy of Expo ’86, is a well-known family favourite located in Vancouver’s False Creek area. Science World offers interactive displays and exhibits to educate and inspire visitors. During your visit, you can learn about sustainable energy consumption and even have your mind tricked by optical illusions. Watch the new OMNIMAX film, America Wild: National Parks Adventure, displayed in the geodesic dome. As well, don’t forget to visit the feature exhibition, Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out. This exhibition features Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ plastination technique on over 100 specimens, allowing you to see the anatomy and physiology of animals in a way you never thought possible. Come see why people around the world flock to Body Worlds’ exhibits. But be quick – Animal Inside Out ends its Vancouver run on March 28th.
Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery is Western Canada’s largest art institution and is one of Vancouver’s best known museums. To shake things up in 2016, they are putting on their biggest exhibition yet: a new, groundbreaking modern art exhibit three years in the making that will take over all four floors of the gallery. Until June 12th, MashUp: The Birth of Modern Culture, explores the evolution of visual culture through various media during the last one hundred years. From Pablo Picasso and the birth of modern art to digital art and production of the twenty-first century, this highly talked-about exhibit is sure to have something to please – or intrigue – everyone.
Vancouver Aquarium
Nestled within beautiful Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium is one of Vancouver’s top attractions. With plenty of indoor galleries and covered outdoor viewing, the Aquarium is guaranteed to give you a fun, informative and dry day – but make sure to watch out for the splash zone near the belugas! A visit provides a great chance to discover the aquatic ecosystems of British Columbia, learn about the biology and care of their marine mammals, and even touch a few marine creatures. Meet Chester, the false killer whale that was rescued as a baby and learn about the ongoing research in Canada’s Arctic region. In addition, opening March 10th is the new and exciting feature exhibition, Discover Rays. This will highlight two types of rays in a brand-new touch pool. You will learn all about their biology, threats they are facing, and how they are cared for by Aquarium staff.
Richmond Olympic Experience
The Richmond Olympic Experience, or ROX, is a new attraction in the Greater Vancouver area located at the Richmond Oval. Built for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the ROX opened last November and is also the first of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Museums to open in North America. This state-of-the-art facility will immerse you in a complete Olympic experience. The sport simulators will give you the impression of racing down a bobsleigh track or ski jumping at over 100km/h! Interactive challenges will also give you a chance to test your athletic skills and compare yourself to real Olympic athletes. The ROX also showcases moments and memorabilia of past Olympics and Canadian Olympians. For adults and children alike, this may be your best chance at bringing out your inner Olympian!
Royal BC Museum
The Royal BC Museum is located in Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city. Situated by the Inner Harbour between the equally impressive Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel, the Royal BC Museum is one of Canada’s best cultural museums, collections and archives. The Royal BC Museum boasts impressive natural history and anthropology exhibits such as: the First People’s Gallery and The Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcase, which runs until April 4th. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year, produced by the Natural History Museum in London, is a showcase and competition of the best nature photographs from around the world. This past year’s overall competition was won by Canadian photographer, Don Gutoski! Moreover, on display until April 28th in the lobby of the museum is the Rolls Royce that John Lennon owned and famously visited Buckingham Palace in before having it painted yellow in a gypsy style. Although it’s a rare occasion to see it on display, the car was donated to the province and has been in the museum collections for over twenty years!