Summer has arrived, so it is time to go outside and do some fun activities. Good news is that you don’t have to spend (too much) money to join the fun. Here are some ideas for your free time.
I am sure you have already heard about the famous outdoor cinema, which takes place every Tuesday at Second Beach in Stanley Park. We just went there yesterday and watched The Lion King, it was a lot of fun! Next week, Mean Girls is on the program. Just take a blanket and some snacks with you and enjoy the movie.
Do you always have plans on Tuesday nights? No problem, you can also watch an outdoor movie on Thursdays at the Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place. Movies are shown until the end of August. Tomorrow, from 9.10pm on, the movie COCO will be on the screen. You can find the entire movie line-up here. Make sure you arrive early to reserve yourself a good spot.
Another great activity for hot summer days is of course swimming or at least splashing. You can cool down in one of the five outdoor swimming pools that are spread over the city:
- Kitsilano Pool
- Maple Groove Pool (South Vancouver)
- Hillcrest Aquatic Centre (close to Queen Elisabeth Park)
- New Brighton Pool
- Second Beach Pool (Stanley Park)
You can check out all location details and opening hours here. Admission fee for one visit is $6.10, except for Maple Grove Pool – only $3 for this one. If you are planning to go more often, you can also purchase a 10-visit pass for $48.80. You get 25% off the regular price, when you show up with a group of 10+ people. So, time to gather your friends and save some money!
Why spend the evening in the gym when you can also work out in the fresh air? Just dance the night away during free Zumba classes. Canada Place is again the place-to-be for this activity. The one-hour classes take place every Monday until August 27 and start at 5.30pm. And no worries – you don’t have to be a dance pro. Everyone is welcome to join the fun workout with a view.
Next to Zumba, you can also enjoy free Yoga classes. Mat Collective Yoga offers outdoor classes at diverse great locations in Vancouver. You can either join a class downtown in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, in East Van, at Kits Beach or even on Granville Island. Different kinds of classes are offered every day until the end of August. So you could even go daily without even spending a loonie. Check out the live schedule here. Keep in mind that you need to sign a waiver before you join a class. However, you don’t need to sign up, just get in your sport clothes and take part in the class at unique locations!
I hope I could help you save some money! See you tonight at The Relish – where you get a beer for $3, by the way ;-).
– Kerstin
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Are all those sweet drinks not really for you? I do have an alternative. It also includes a drink (Bubble Tea or Thai Ice Tea) and a healthy Poké bowl. 
Do you enjoy being on the water? Summer is the perfect season to go kayaking in False Creek! Groupon currently offers a 40% 
Not into water activities? No need to worry! If you enjoy movies and being surrounded by nature, I have the perfect activity for you: watch an outdoor movie at Stanley Park! Every Tuesday, between July 3rd and August 21st, you can wrap yourself in a warm blanket, eat popcorn and watch your favourite throwback movies, all while breathing in fresh air. The best part: it’s completely free! You can find the line-up 
First of all, you can save some money if you order a regular coffee instead of a fancy latte. Just pimp the simple coffee yourself with as much milk, sugar, cinnamon or cacao as you want. All these extras are usually available for free here, so just be your own barista!
In North Vancouver, there are many hiking trails. The Baden Powell Trail is one of the most famous ones. The trail is going through the entire North Shore mountain range. It is therefore linking several parks together along its way. The Baden Powell trail can be entered through different points. Depending on which entry is taken, a hike can take up to 5 hours. When entering the trail at Lynn Canyon Park, you can cross a suspension bridge (for free) and enjoy several wonderful views along the river.
If you would like to get out of Vancouver, how about doing a hike on Bowen Island? For around $18 and 20 minutes on the ferry, you get on the island. There, you can do the Mount Gardener hike. Mount Gardener is the tallest mountain on Bowen Island with 719m elevation. The trail is a 10km round trip that offers a panoramic view of Port Mellon, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. There are several routes one can take to get to the top. The hike is not an easy one: it can take 5 to 6 hours until you’re at the top of the mountain.
But what if the sun is shining and you do not want to spend your time inside? Luckily, Vancouver offers many opportunities to explore art in the street. Just keep your eyes open and take a look into small side streets, surprises are waiting for you around every corner. Here are my top street art places that I have discovered so far. I would suggest you to take a walk around the building of the company “Hootsuite” in the Mount Pleasant area. Next to the colourful house itself, you can find some beautiful paintings there. You can spot another popular photo location at Burrard and West 4thin Kitsilano. In July 2017, the artists Steve and Sandy Pell were asked to create an interactive public art piece that inspires values like connectedness, positivity and freedom. It worked out! Many people have already posed in front of the huge gold and black wings. #KitsWings has already been used 1,500 times on Instagram. It is really impressive, you should definitely check it out.