Christmas Shopping Made Easy! And Local too!
Choose from experiences, local artisans or find the right thing for the hobbyist and more than curious on your gift list. Vancouver’s Top Attractions help create memories and moves shopping from the chore list to the fun list with our thoughtfully stocked gift shops.
But first! Start with adventure! VancouverAttractions.com offers over 25 attractions and experiences that you can create a personalized package of activities for anyone on your list and save as much as 35% on all. Tickets are fully transferable and valid for a year. And are just a click away!
While the gift shops at Vancouver’s top attractions hold a treasure trove of options and are a delight to explore. Most are curated based on the contents of their attractions, so it’s easy to find the perfect gift for the scientist, gardener, indigenous art enthusiast or marine mammal fan. While all the gift shops can be accessed without purchasing a ticket, do consider slowing down and enjoying the experience connected to the shop too, many offer special holiday programming!
The kids on your list, might appreciate a science themed game, activity kit or puzzle that will both entertain and educate from the Kaleidoscope Science Store at Science World, a couple of tickets to this popular attraction added in will make this one of the best gifts under the tree! While the Vancouver Aquarium not only has over 60,000 marine mammals to enjoy inside and out, but there are probably that many marine stuffies in their gift shop! As well as an exceptional collection of indigenous jewelry and local artisan vases and collectibles for the bigger marine buffs on your list.
A trip to UBC can be both a welcome break from the Christmas hustle with a slowed down visit to the recently reopened Museum of Anthropology, or a family exploration of the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Vancouver’s only Natural History Museum, a hidden gem for the nature curious, and an opportunity to knock a few gifts off the list. A stop in both gift shops is a must the Beaty offers a unique collection of natural history hand puppets, books, giftware, and playing cards while MOA’s gift shop is overflowing with indigenous art, books and simply beautiful personal and home accessories. And if there’s a gardener on your list… the UBC Botanical Garden gift shop is exceptional, with gadgets and seed packets for indigenous plants and flowers. The perfect stocking stuffer.
Vancouver’s historic Chinatown has always been a must shop district during the holiday season, build time into your day for a proper Dim Sum lunch and then explore the gift shops at Dr Sun Yat Sen Garden, where you can find a selection of Chinese tea services, and teas, books and accessories. Just up the street is the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, whose gift shop offers a wide selection of games, art, and practical unique local gifts like tote bags and tee shirts celebrating Vancouver’s history. Add one more attraction gift shop, and maybe a visit too, at the recently opened Chinese Canadian Museum which explores the story and contributions of Chinese immigrants to Canada.
And for that certain someone, that only the most unique gift will do, make a point of visiting the gift shops at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Polygon Gallery both offer amazing selections of art and design books, prints, and a curated collection of gifts that reflect the content and culture of the galleries with a special emphasis on local makers at The Polygon. When you visit The Polygon, pop up the hill and check out the gift shop at MONOVA, a fantastic selection of first nations art and stories, plus kids’ games and puzzles, learning and fun all in one. And do give some consideration to an annual pass or a single ticket visit to any of these amazing experiences who offer new exhibits year-round to tie your package together.
Make holiday shopping an adventure with a visit to any of these great experiences including a stop at their exceptional gift shops to scratch a few items off your list!