Dreaming of the open ocean? Even if buying a boat isn’t at the top of your list, the Vancouver International Boat Show is still one of the best destinations for things to see and do. Western Canada’s largest of its kind, the Boat Show will be held Wednesday, January 18th - Sunday, January 22nd at BC Place and Granville Island. Beyond home ownership, owning a boat is at once luxurious and authentic, an adventure that takes real passion and dedication. Want a taste?

Education and Events

From new boaters to seasoned mariners, the Boat Show offers a variety of entertaining seminars from exceptional professionals. These hands-on opportunities showcase everything from risk-free virtual boating skills training to informative panels by the experts on finding the right boat for your lifestyle and budget. Get boat buying tips here. Other events include sport fishing in BC seminars and the dockside grill cooking series on how best to cook in tight spaces to Brush up before the event with A Beginner’s Guide to Boating: Welcome to the Water.

New Product Showcase and Exhibitors

Be one of the first to see what the boating industry has to offer for 2017. If it’s new to the market, guaranteed this is where it’ll make its debut. Check out all of the new boat models, water sport accessories, and more in the online catalogue before the real deal in January. For a complete list of exhibitors and what they offer, visit the official site.

Floating Show and Free Boat Rides

Free shuttle buses and water ferries will run continuously between BC Place to Granville Island, where boater’s paradise is prevalent year-round; the perfect host to the in-water boat display. The Floating Boat Show also features free 30-minute boat rides. Sign up early at the Discover Boating tent for a taste of the mariner’s lifestyle. You can also check out the hands-on skills training workshops and speak with skippers from the Bluewater Cruising Association onboard a fully equipped, offshore-ready boat about what it’s really like to live the dream: from crossing the ocean to idyllic, isolated anchorage.

Stay updated on event info on the Vancouver International Boat Show Facebook page, and get your tickets to this boater’s paradise now.

In celebration of the best guy around, we’ve rounded up our favourite boys’ day out activities to make Sunday, June 19th unforgettable this year.

Our Top Five Things To Do This Father’s Day Weekend

1. Kick off the weekend with a BC Lions football game versus the Calgary Stampeders Friday, June 17th. Get your tickets here! More of a European football fan? The Vancouver Whitecaps are playing New England Revolution Saturday, June 18th, tickets available here.
 
2. More the adventurous type? Have lunch 2,000 feet above sea level. About an hour’s drive from Vancouver, the 11km adventure hike that is the renowned Stawamus Chief overlooks the town of Squamish with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and water. Choose from old-growth forest trail or one with views of Shannon Falls. Feeling particularly daring? The front face of the Chief is popular for experienced rock climbers.
 
3. If chilling’s more the order of the day, stop by The Liberty Distillery’s Cocktail Lounge on Granville Island. Sip one of the Distillery’s artisanal premium spirits, handcrafted on site “from grain to glass” at the 110-year-old antique bar. Service starts at 11am; meaning on boys’ day, any time is a good time to try the good stuff.
 
4. Get cultural and take in a play at the annual Bard on the Beach festival. There are two preview performances of award-winning The Merry Wives of Windsor on Sunday, June 19th. This classic tale of mischief and sweet revenge is set against the beautiful back-drop of mountains and water at the Bard tents in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park. For more performances, check the official schedule here.
 
5. A short, thirty-minute drive out of the city will have you on the Redwoods Golf Course doorstep. This lush, 18 hole Ted Locke Championship course offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains beyond the tree-lined green. Redwoods also offers a Driving Range, the Grill, and flexible bookings from a one-time tee time to seasons’ passes.
 

No matter how you choose to spend your guys’ day, we wish you and all the dads out there a Happy Father’s Day!

Photo credit: Juan Gomez