To celebrate the season, explore what downtown Vancouver has to offer during the holidays. Whether you’re shopping, strolling, visiting beautifully decorated seasonal venues, or just taking a spin around an ice rink in the center of the city, there’s something for everyone.
To help kick start some Yuletide cheer, check out the festive flourishes that adorn The Auberge lobby and then get ready to explore some glitter, some magic, and some lights all aglow just out the front door!
Across the street at Canada Place , discover a winter wonderland featuring Christmas trees, a 15-foot snow globe, holiday arts and crafts for kids, as well as a children’s theatre playing classic Christmas movies.
If you’re feeling a little energetic, lace up your skates at Robson Square ‘s rink for some figure eights to show off some fancy footwork, and when you take a breather, a warm-up with a cup of hot chocolate from the nearby concession stand. Admission is free; skate rentals are four dollars.
When it gets dark, downtown Vancouver is full of dazzle from scores of twinkling light displays. Worth a visit is St. Paul Hospital’s Lights of Hope , with 10 kilometers of Christmas lights illuminating the hospital’s façade; it’s probably the most spectacular display in the downtown area.
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without at least viewing one special tree which happens to be located just a couple of short blocks from the Auberge: a stately 50 ft pine tree resplendent in a sheath of sparkling lights that shares the space in Jack Poole Plaza with the Olympic flame, (erected during Winter Olympics 2010) two photo worthy subjects to consider for snapping a selfie!
