Don't be bogged down by cold, snowy, or rainy weather. Take advantage of these winter-time activities -- they are things you can only do during winter:
- Ski or snowboard on a Vancouver ski hill: There are three ski hills within a 30-minute drive of downtown Vancouver, and Whistler is only two hours away via the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
- Snowshoe on a woodland trail: Snowshoeing has to be one of the easiest winter sports to learn. If you can walk, you can probably snowshoe. Guided tours, often offered by ski hills, are a great way to start.
- Skate outdoors: Ice-skating is my favorite winter activity. There is a great downtown Vancouver rink at Robson Square, and another free rink in Whistler at the Olympic Plaza.
- Enjoy après ski (skiing not required): Basically, après ski equates to a winter-time happy hour. Whistler has a great atmosphere after the runs close for the day.
I'm blogging this post using the free wireless Internet at Vancouver International Airport. In the Domestic Terminal, the signal is strong, consistent, and (best of all) free. The terminal also has banks of electrical outlets -- something I've not noticed before at YVR. No more hunting along baseboards or sitting on the floor just to charge a cell phone or laptop.
More About Vancouver International Airport
As about half the population of Richmond claims Chinese descent, it's one of the best and busiest places to experience Lunar New Year celebrations. I headed out to Richmond on New Year's Eve to see some of the preparations for welcoming the Year of the Dragon. 
Aberdeen Centre, a 100-plus store shopping mall located at 4151 Hazelbridge Way, was likely the most crowded place to be this weekend. The crowds come to the mall to shop, see the decorations, and watch live entertainment on the main stage. Aberdeen Centre runs its Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair through to Jan. 23, and there will be music and dance performances next weekend, Sat. Jan. 28 and Sun. Jan. 29.
At nearby Yaohan Centre, 3700 No. 3 Rd., I didn't catch any performances, but there were many decorations and a busy atmosphere. It was neat to watch the workers at the flower stands creating lavish bouquets. The food court at the mall is a reliable spot to grab a quick dinner or bubble tea.
If you go: Be patient if you're driving. There will be lots of traffic and little parking. Better than driving, take the Canada Line to Richmond. Get off at Aberdeen Station (near the intersection of No. 3 Road and Cambie Road) and you'll be close to the largest malls. Besides, the 20-minute ride from downtown is likely faster than driving.
More Chinese Culture in Vancouver
Find out about other Chinese New Year events in Vancouver, or discover some of the city's best Chinese restaurants.
During the darkest, rainiest days of winter on the west coast, head out to one of the restaurants participating in Dine Out Vancouver. During the dining festival, 225 restaurants throughout Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and the North Shore offer fixed-price menus. The set menus general include three courses, and fall within a tiered pricing scheme: $18, $28, or $38.
This year, Dine Out Vancouver runs from Jan. 20 through to Feb. 5, 2012.
Find out more about the 17-day restaurant festival, including special hotel deals, or head straight to the Tourism Vancouver site that lists the restaurant menus. You can make reservations for many establishments online, although some -- like Hawksworth Restaurant at the ornate and newly renovated Hotel Georgia -- are almost entirely booked up.
.jpg)
