Rainy Day Activities on Vancouver’s North Shore
As winter unofficially sets in on Vancouver’s North Shore, when the white stuff is falling on the mountains (we love it!), it often means a little rain is coming down near the water (not so much.) But fear not the raindrops! No matter what’s happening outside, there are plenty of ways to spend a fun-filled day inside on the North Shore.
Image Courtesy of @lauryn.coyle
Our local galleries and museums are always full of fascinating exhibitions and shows that at once tell the story of our land and the people that live here while introducing us to important artists from all over the world. The Polygon Gallery is BC’s home for photography and other cutting-edge visual arts, while North Van Arts is a great place to check out the latest from both emerging and established artists. The Inuit Gallery of Vancouver offers a museum-quality collection of masterwork Inuit, Northwest Coast First Nations and other Canadian art. If history is more your thing, MONOVA is home to artifacts and digital content exploring the many years that have led to this moment.
Rainy days are made for shopping, and you’ll find everything you’re looking for, plus all the things you didn’t know you were. at Park Royal, Canada’s oldest enclosed shopping centre – though it’s changed a bit since then. Now you can even drive away in a new car at the Tesla showroom or take in a film in the first-class Cineplex VIP Cinemas. For an even more eclectic experience, take a stroll through The Quay Market and Food Hall, where you’ll find a treasure trove of local artisans and craftspeople, from toy makers to fashion setters to treats, treats, treats.
Image Courtesy of @avhiebon
And if the rain brings a little chill to the air, meet up for quality time with a friend or just a good book at one of Vancouver’s North Shore’s many cozy coffee shops. Nemesis Coffee hear The Polygon Gallery features its own Dope Bakehouse for crumbly accompaniments to your cappuccino. Just around the corner is Shipyards Coffee, where the croissants around those perfect sandwiches are baked in-house. Nomad Coffee is Vancouver’s North Shore’s first “No Single Use Cup, Zero-Guilt Coffee Shop” and is a tasty way to support the city’s 100-Year Sustainability Vision. Andrew’s on 8th is housed in a heritage building built exactly 100 years ago and has all the quaint charm that comes with such a legacy.
You could go for a beer on a rainy day (plenty of North Shore breweries to do that), or you could go for something a little different. Delicious handcrafted gin cocktails are served up all week at Copperpenny Distilling Co., or you can tip a tipple at Sons of Vancouver Distillery, where small-batch spirits are crafted from local ingredients. Same too at Windfall Cider Co., where BC apples go through experiments in old-world cider-making to make something completely new and unique to Vancouver’s North Shore. If you haven’t yet tried Braggot, where have you been for the last, oh, 2000 years or so? This primeval beverage is made by fermenting honey and grains, like mead meets beer, and is served up in the old, old, old-school ways at Braggot Brewing.
Image Courtesy of @copperpennydistillingnv
It’s well known that the North Shore is a glorious buzz of fun on a sunny summer day, but the good times here don’t stop rolling in even when the clouds do. For more information on activities on Vancouver’s North Shore, visit vancouversnorthshore.com.