Afternoon: Independent arrivals and transfers to the program hotel by 4:00 pm. Please note that rooms are not generally available until mid to late afternoon. You will meet for introductions, a review of the program and site orientation.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: PRESENTATION: An evening presentation will explore the history of Vancouver from a social, ethnic and economic perspective. Meet with local historian, author, and heritage advocate, who will discuss Vancouver's multi-faceted personality from past to present. Learn about its historical precedents and urban planning that have enabled the city to achieve its status as one of the most "livable" cities in the world.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Visit the Museum of Anthropology, Canada's largest teaching museum and world-renowned for its collections and research. A local expert will take you through the exhibitions providing insight into the cultures of indigenous peoples around the world. The Museum houses some 535,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects, many of which originate from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Meet with an art historian and explore the beautiful collection of the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. Bill Reid was the pivotal force in introducing to the world the great art traditions of the indigenous people of the Northwest Coast. He is an acclaimed Haida master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, writer, spokesman and one of Canada's greatest artists. Highlights include over 40 pieces of Bill Reid's gold and silver jewelry, Reid's bronze masterpiece Mythic Messengers and several of Reid's works that are featured on Canadian currency.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore local fare or join the Group Leader at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Please note: Public Transit will be used to transfer participants from English Bay to Gastown, so participants are able to experience Vancouver as the locals do! During the walking tour of Gastown and Chinatown, participants should expect to walk just over 1 mile and stand for short periods of time (10 minutes) for interpretation en route.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Enjoy a presentation on the settlement of Vancouver and the distinct communities and neighborhoods that define this multicultural metropolis. FIELD TRIP: Following your morning lecture, explore two of the city's most fascinating neighborhoods - Gastown and Chinatown. Join a well-known cultural historian on a walk through Gastown, one of the oldest parts of the city and much of the early architecture and character remains, giving it a different look and feel than the glass and concrete of the rest of downtown. Learn about the importance of Gastown and the birthplace of the city of Vancouver, which was created around the same time that Canada became a nation. The neighborhoods are also unique in that they have the kind of old-fashioned architecture that no longer exists downtown or in the West End. FIELD TRIP: Join an expert guide at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first of its kind outside of China and an authentic representation of an age old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Garden is characteristic of the private spaces within a Ming scholar's residence. With its asymmetrical arrangement of rocks and plants, its winding paths and corridors, and the vistas that overlook its courtyards, the Garden emulates the rhythms of nature.

Lunch: Traditional Dim Sum lunch at a local restaurant in Chinatown.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Continue with an exploration of Chinatown and its brightly colored facades, street markets, and the buzz of modern-day Cantonese commerce. Built by Chinese people to authentically reflect their culture and traditions it is still predominantly populated by Chinese people. (Unlike San Francisco's Chinatown which was built by their Chamber of Commerce to attract tourists.) Discover Chinatown's rich heritage, vibrant culture, and incredible food markets while exploring the colorful streets and alleys. Sample traditional Chinese tea or indulge in steamed rice cakes and warm apple tarts from a traditional bakery. Learn about the Millennium Gate, a four-pillar, three-story high, brightly painted arch spanning Pender Street which was erected in 2002 to mark the millennium and commemorate the Chinese community's role in Vancouver's history.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Please note: Participants will be taking a brief (5 minute) ferry ride from English Bay to Granville Island. During your time on Granville Island, participants should expect to walk just over 1 mile and stand for short periods of time (10 minutes) for interpretation en route.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Join an local expert on a historical and culinary exploration of Granville Island and the Public Market, known for its eclectic mix of artisanal food shops and studios. Discover this urban oasis filled with fine waterfront restaurants, theatres, galleries, studios and the most spectacular fresh food market you've ever seen. Savor the wares of the market's many globally influenced and locally impassioned artisans, farmers and food purveyors. Explore and taste what's been grown, fished and cooked fresh in this bustling public marketplace. Along the way, learn about what makes the island both a sensory and historic delight.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free afternoon to continue your exploration of Granville Market.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore the local fare or join the Group Leader at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Explore Stanley Park's extensive grounds by coach with a naturalist from the Stanley Park Ecology Society. Learn about rainforest and coastal ecology and discover some of the Park's most famous landmarks - Vancouver Lookout, Lion's Gate Bridge, the famous Totems and the 5.5 mile seawall that encircles the entire park. The history of Stanley Park coincides with the early days of Vancouver, opened in 1888 and named after Lord Stanley, then Governor General of Canada. This spectacular urban park is a cool, lush, evergreen oasis situated on a peninsula in the heart of the city and only steps away from your hotel. Today, Stanley Park is recognized as one of the great parks of the world, offering a backdrop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees. Ferry departs for Victoria.

Lunch: Box lunch on ferry.

Afternoon: EXCURION: Begin your journey on Vancouver Island with a memorable visit to Butchart Gardens, a National Historic Site of Canada. Learn about the story of Jennie Butchart who crafted this gem from a limestone quarry. Still owned and operated by family descendants, the expansive gardens offer 55 acres of wonderful floral display. From the exquisite Sunken Garden to the charming Rose Garden, this show garden still maintains the gracious traditions of earlier times. Later this afternoon, arrive into the pictureseqe city of Victoria and check into your hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant.

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Introduction to Victoria/Guided Walk of the Inner Harbour/Royal BC Museum

Note: Please note: During your guided walk of Old Victoria and the Inner Harbour, participants should expect to walk just over 1 mile and stand for short periods of time (10 minutes) for interpretation en route. Your excursion at the Royal BC Museum will be self-guided, so participants are able to explore the museum at their own pace. Benches are available throughout the museum.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: This morning we will become familiar with the landscape, environment, culture, and history of Victoria. Our speaker will discuss the forces that shaped Victoria, the current personality of the city, and what the future holds. Victoria has an old-British charm where the residents are warm and welcoming and delight in showing visitors the beauty of this Seaside gem. FIELD TRIP: Enjoy a historic walk of Victoria's Old Town and Inner Harbour. A walk along Wharf Street in the heart of Old Town provides a look at the many examples of Victorian architecture. Despite a fire in 1910 which ravaged the city core, many fine buildings remain and many restorations are evident. Our local historian will discuss the well-marked and hidden treasures of Victoria including the BC Legislature, Old Town, the historic Empress Hotel and the Inner Harbour.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: EXCURSION: Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum and Art Gallery. Through unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia and temporary exhibits from other countries and cultures. Authentic artifacts and specimens are displayed in highly realistic settings, giving visitors the experience of another time and place. Researchers at the Museum, throughout British Columbia, and around the world use its collections to reveal new insights into the natural world and human cultures of British Columbia. This museum visit will be self-guided, so participants are able to enjoy the galleries of their individual tastes.

Dinner: Dinner on your own. Explore downtown and enjoy one of many wonderful dining options or join the Group Leader.

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Please note: The walk from the hotel to the Fairmont Empress will be approximately 1 mile. During your time at the Empress, there will be opportunities to stop and rest during your guided visit.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Royal Visits and the Empress. Meet a local historian and hear about the Royal visits and one of the oldest and most famous hotels in Victoria, the Fairmont Empress Hotel. The hotel has hosted notable guests including Queen Elizabeth II, Rudyard Kipling, Shirley Temple, Spencer Tracy, Princess Margaret, Rita Hayworth, the King and Queen of Siam, and the Emperor and Empress of Japan. FIELD TRIP: Enjoy the opportunity to explore Victoria's most prestigious landmark with some of the most breathtaking architecture in all of Victoria, the Fairmont Empress.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to explore one of the many dining options Victoria has to offer.

Afternoon: FREE TIME: Enjoy the afternoon to explore along historic Government Street and side streets; stop and enjoy tea at one of the many tea houses, indulge in traditional High Tea at the Empress, or grab a pint at the charming pubs found throughout the Inner Harbour.

Dinner: Farewell dinner in Victoria.

Lodging: Royal Scot Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel is scheduled for 8:00 am.

Morning: Independent departures from Victoria after breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 a.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast