The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Here begins my list of twelve things to do in Vancouver to get in the holiday spirit – with your true love, or with anyone really.

The First Day of Christmas

Go ice skating in Robson Square.  The newly restored outdoor rink reopened last week $1.6 million and five years after it closed due to maintenance problems.  Skating outdoors is synonymous with Christmas cheer, so what better place to do it than amid the hustle and bustle of Robson Street shoppers.  The rink is underground, with a big glass dome, and lights shine over the ice generating shapes of snowflakes and stars.  The rink is open for free public skates from noon to 9pm daily, and skate rentals are available for $3 if you don’t have your own (children rent for free).

The Second Day of Christmas

The best way to kick off the holiday season, in my opinion, is to get together with those friends you’re always too busy to see, and DB Bistro Moderne on  West Broadway is the ideal venue for such a gathering.  Sister restaurant to the Manhattan eatery of the same name, this beautiful room lives up to the reputation its neighbor Lumiere (also run by Chef Daniel Boulud) upholds.  Go there for a weekend brunch and stay all day catching up.  The abundant list of Bloody Marys (with names like “Worst Case Scenario”) and Mimosas are offered at $22 all you can drink – perfect for those brunches that last all afternoon.  Don’t worry – the Smoked Salmon Club Sandwich or Lobster Eggs Florentine will ensure you’ll be able to tolerate all that alcohol!

The Third Day of Christmas

Bright Nights in Stanley Park.  Affectionately known as the Christmas Train, this event continues on a nightly basis from 3pm until 10pm for the entire month of December.  Enjoyable for children and adults alike, the train takes you through the forest illuminated with Christmas lights, while listening to holiday music, drinking hot chocolate, and munching on fresh popcorn and chestnuts.  What could be more festive than that?  The experience costs a mere $8 for adults and $5 for children, granting access to the children’s farmyard as well.  Dress warmly because the train is open, but there is nothing better than being snuggled up with someone you love under the stars.