Arrive To: ARRIVALS & CHECK-IN: Independent arrivals to the hotel in Vancouver in the afternoon. Check-in after 3:00 p.m. Group registration, welcome and orientation activities.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: 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. Enjoy a full breakfast which includes a great selection of hot and cold items such as eggs, bacon, fruit, cereals, tea, coffee, juice, muffins, croissants, etc.

Morning: Visit the Museum of Anthropology, Canada's largest teaching museum and world-renowned for its collections and research. Your local guide 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: 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 at the Boathouse overlooking English Bay.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full breakfast which includes a great selection of hot and cold items such as eggs, bacon, fruit, cereals, tea, coffee, juice, muffins, croissants, etc.

Morning: Enjoy a presentation on the settlement of Vancouver and the distinct communities and neighborhoods that define this multicultural metropolis. Field trips will take you on a historic walk of Vancouver's well-known neighborhoods. Alongside a local historian, explore two of Vancouver's most fascinating communities, Gastown and Chinatown. Gain a sense of how the city of Vancouver functions by someone who knows the city like few others, gaining fascinating (and occasionally offbeat) insights to the city's history, architecture, and people. Beginning in Gastown, the city's birthplace, walk through this historic neighborhood, with much of its early architecture and character intact, and see how it is evolving into one of the city's newest residential areas. Explore the bustling neighborhood of Chinatown, boasting rich culture and a striking collection of heritage buildings recalling the contributions of early pioneers and leaders.

Lunch: Dim sum lunch.

Afternoon: Field Trip: Join an expert from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts on a historical and culinary exploration of Granville Island and the Public Market, known for its eclectic mix of artisanal food shops and studios. Recognized as the first culinary school in Canada to embrace Ocean Wise status and Green Table Network programs, 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.

Dinner: Dinner on your own at the Pacific Culinary Institute’s Bistro 101.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full breakfast which includes a great selection of hot and cold items such as eggs, bacon, fruit, cereals, tea, coffee, juice, muffins, croissants, etc.

Morning: Field Trip to Vancouver Art Gallery. On a guided exploration of the Vancouver Art Gallery, examine the work of leaders in the field of contemporary art, Vancouver's internationally renowned artists, and peruse the most extensive collection of work by Emily Carr, a beloved Canadian painter and designer. Its permanent holdings number more than 10,000 artworks, making the Gallery among the most valuable collections in Canada.

Lunch: Lunch at the Gallery Cafe.

Afternoon: Free afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner on your own.

Lodging: Best Western Sands by the Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full breakfast which includes a great selection of hot and cold items such as eggs, bacon, fruit, cereals, tea, coffee, juice, muffins, croissants, etc.

Morning: Field Trip to Stanley Park. 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: Begin your journey to Vancouver Island with a memorable excursion 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.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant.

Lodging: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. All breakfasts are served with coffee and tea and include a selection of the following each day: Assorted juices, fresh fruit, muffins, croissants, brown and white toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, ham, hash brown potatoes, hot cereal or cold cereal are often provided.

Morning: 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. Visit a well-known local bakery and the Silk Road Tea Gallery to experience an educational tea and chocolate pairing.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Field Trip: Visit the Royal BC Museum. Explore the natural and cultural history of this region through an array of unique galleries. Each exhibit and gallery tells important stories about British Columbia and provides an engaging and thought-provoking window on the province's past, present and future. Participants will learn about the rich marine biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest found off the shores of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Georgia.

Dinner: Dinner on your own. Explore downtown and enjoy one of many wonderful dining options.

Lodging: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel. All breakfasts are served with coffee and tea and include a selection of the following each day: Assorted juices, fresh fruit, muffins, croissants, brown and white toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, ham, hash brown potatoes, hot cereal or cold cereal are often provided.

Morning: Lecture: 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. Excursion: Enjoy the opportunity to explore Victoria's most prestigious landmarks with some of the most breathtaking architecture in all of Victoria.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: 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: Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

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

Morning: Independent departures from Victoria after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast