Vancouver/UBC
UBC is short for University of British Columbia and recently it has unofficaly been refered to as "Unending Building Construction". Located on the western edge of Vancouver near the coast, it and the surrounding University Endowment Lands include not only the University, but a residential area, a commercial area and is surrounded by Pacific Spirit Park, a large Nature reserve.
Travel to UBC, visa requirements
UBC is well served by buses. Generally the best bus to take is the 99B Line which is an express bus that goes along Broadway and 10th Avenue from the Broadway/Commercial Skytrain station to UBC. It only stops at a few major bus stops along the way. For details on the other busses, pick up a TransLink route map, or use the interactive travel planner on the TransLink web site.
UBC attractions and sightseeing
- UBC Museum of Anthropology Devoted to world cultures, but with an emphasis on the First Nations of the British Columbia coast. http://www.moa.ubc.ca/
- Pacific Spirit Park, ☎ +1-604-224-5739, [1]. 8-22h (-dusk in winter). A relatively undeveloped and heavily forested park. It includes a strip of forest running north-south between Blanca Street and Alison Street, immediately to the west of UBC campus. There are over 100 kilometres of trails and beaches for running, biking, and horseback riding. It also includes the clothing-optional Wreck Beach, wrapping around the west end of the Point Grey peninsula. It's the closest thing to wilderness in the city. By bus: all busses to the main UBC bus loop pass through the park; take any stop after Blanca Street. By car: there are several, small, parking areas scattered through the park. Free.
- Chan Centre for the Performing Arts a concert hall and events centre; often the location of convocation ceremonies.
- UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive, ☎ +1-604-822-9666 (botg@interchange.ubc.ca, fax: +1-604-822-2016), [2]. 10-18h (17h in winter). Canada's oldest remaining university garden, it contains over 8000 different kinds of plants in both designed landscapes and coastal forest settings. Must-sees are the Asian garden, the alpine garden and the food garden. An enchanting oasis. Compared to the more-visited VanDusen Botanical Garden, the remoteness of the garden means fewer people and a quieter, more private setting — at least until the high-rise next door is completed. By bus: from the UBC campus bus loop, go for a 20 minute hike across campus, or take bus C20 to the gardens. Free parking. Audioguide $3. Guided tours free with advance notice. $7.00, discounts available; free for UBC students, and faculty, staff, or neighbors holding a Garden Pass.
- Nitobe Memorial Garden. A traditional Japanese garden. Official website. Location on Google Maps
- Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, 1825 Main Mall (Just up from the Rose Garden), ☎ +1-604.822.2759 (fax: +1-604.822.6689), [3]. Tues-Fri 10-17h, Sat-Sun 12-17h (closed Mondays and statutory holidays). A small gallery with regular exhibitions. What looks like a woodpile outside is actually a sculpture, made of concrete. Free.
City tours
- Wreck Beach. Probably North America's most famous and busiest clothing optional beach. The trail to Wreck beach is near the West Parkade, or more precisely at the extreme west end of University Boulevard just past the Place Vanier residences. You can either park on Marine Drive or you can take transit to UBC and continue down the same road the bus brought you on foot. The steep stairs are not recommended for the faint of heart. There is always a festive atmosphere at this beach and many types of goods are for sale from jewelry, to food, to beer. Watch out the police do occasionally crack down on drug use and open consumption of alcohol.
Shopping, UBC souvenirs
University Village has a number of stores including a Staples office supply store, photocopying services, several restaurants (including a subterranean foodcourt), a grocery, coffee shops, a liquor store, a newsstand, etc.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
There is a full service Starbucks Coffee located in the University Village as well as a Blenz, Omio Japanese Restaurant, Pita Pit, a number of smaller cafes etc. The Village also has a McDonald's. And just next to it there is an underground food court with a selection of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Persian cusine in a $5-$6 range. The main bus route onto campus passes this large shopping and commercial area.
The AMS (Alma Mater Student Society) operates a number of campus restaurants including the Pendulum restaurant and Pacific Spirit Cafe. UBC Food services also manages a number of locations, including two outlets of the Tim Hortons chain.
UBC nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
- The Pit, a student pub run by the Alma Mater Society (the student association).
- Koerners, a pub in the Graduate Student Building (run by the Grad Student Society) primarily catering to grad students and professors.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
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