Time: 12:00pm-5:00pm

Price: Varies 

Description: After the morning workshops, you will have the opportunity to explore the city on your own or take advantage of a variety of self-guided and/or guided tours available. 

How to Book: A Conference Activity Information Desk will be available upon your arrival to assist you with making plans for your free afternoon and/or to provide recommendations. Any tours available for purchase can be booked upon arrival at the Tour Desk (NO sign-up available via this registration site or in advance). 

Stanley Park - Voted #1 place in Vancouver by TripAdvisor, Stanley park is a national historic site of Canada. Here you can explore the 400-hectare rainforest and enjoy scenic views of the water and mountains as well as explore trails, beaches and cultural and historical landmarks. Enjoy a variety of activities here including carriage tours ($35 CAD); trolley tours  ($10 CAD); or explore the popular Vancouver Aquarium (Tickets: $20-29 CAD)

Club escorted offering: Join us for a bike trip along seawall through Stanley Park – approx. 12km. (4 hr bike rental fee $25.00+ CAD)

Granville Island - Known as Vancouver’s “Town Square,” Granville Island is filled with waterfront restaurants, galleries, shops, cafes and an amazing fresh food market. Kayak rentals, ferry rides and many other activities available.

Club escorted offering: We’ll head to Granville Island by bus (20 minutes). Upon arrival, take time to stroll, have lunch or spend time with new friends (+ Bus Fare)

Gastown - Founded by a gold prospector, saloonkeeper and riverboat captain named "Gassy Jack," Gastown is the heart of Vancouver. Designated a National Historic Site in 2009, Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighborhood and where it all began. Most of the major events that occurred in Vancouver, happened in or within blocks of Gastown. Walkable from the conference hotel, the area is packed with quaint cobblestone streets full of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. While there, visit the town's famous landmark, a steam-powered clock on the corner of Cambie and Water Street.

Walking Food Tour Offering:  Join other delegates on an escorted tasting tour through Vancouver's Gastown district. FFI has partnered with Taste Vancouver Food tours for this special outing, featuring 10 stops and including a variety of food and beverage samples. Tours will depart between 1:30 and 2pm from the conference hotel lobby. For more information about this tour CLICK HERE.  Price Per Person: $50 CAD 

Chinatown - Vancouver’s Chinese immigrants arrived between 1890 and 1920 and settled in what was then known as Shanghai Valley and Canton Alley. Vancouver Chinatown tops the list as one of North America's cleanest modern day Chinatowns. Stroll around, sample delicacies, do some shopping or view the famous Chinatown Abacus, the Millennium Gate, the classical gardens, or its Jimi Hendrix Shrine.

Club escorted offering: Join the group for a visit to Dr. Sun Yet Sen Classical Chinese Gardens and home- the first Ming Dynasty Scholars Garden built outside of China.  Group will either walk via Gastown (1 ½ km.+) or head there via the Skytrain ($12.00 CAD ticket to enter the home)  

VanDusen Botanical Gardens - A gorgeous way to spend an afternoon. Stroll through this 55-acre garden in the heart of Vancouver ($10 CAD Admission). This spectacular 22-hectare (55-acre) garden in the heart of Vancouver. VanDusen's collection includes 11,500 accessions representing over 7,000 plant families and over 250,0000 individual plants from around the world.

Lonsdale Quay – Take the SeaBus (15 minute ride; $10 CAD bus ticket) across Burrard Inlet to the Quay, which has an artisans market, fresh ethnic foods, and plenty of beautiful photo ops and viewing areas. Located on the waterfront in North Vancouver, Lonsdale Quay offers a spectaular view of Vancouver's skyline. The Quay is also a great place to watch the cruise ships in the harbour during the summer.

Capilano Suspension Bridge - For the adventurous, follow in the footsteps of millions have crossed this 450 foot bridge since 1889. It towers 230 feet above the Capilano River and is surrounded by a 27 acre park that offers numerous activities including rainforest walks, a treetop adventure, or the park’s newest attraction, the Cliffwalk, a walkway perched on a cliff above Capilano Canyon. Not for the faint-hearted! Free shuttle buses to the park are available from downtown Vancouver ($33 CAD Admission) **best done as full day trip but is a pleasant short visit as well.

Grouse Mountain - Travel to the "peak of Vancouver" via the Grouse Mountain Skyride, an aerial tram that takes visitors up the mountain throughout the year. There are no better views of Vancouver's North Shore or the city than the one you'll experience here. A great place to have lunch and if you're adventurous, try a zipline tour, or view the Grizzly Bears' habitat or Lumberjacks' antics. Grouse Mountain offers a free shuttle from downtown Vancouver with the purchase of a General Admission ticket throughout the summer. *Note this visit is best done on a full day trip.