Vancouver/Richmond – Day 12 of a 12-Day BC Road Trip
Day 12 was sort of an impromptu day. It was also raining. We had originally planned to visit Science World, but tickets were all sold out when I checked in the morning. Instead, we made a last minute decision to wander Richmond since he had to be at the airport in the evening.
Day 12
Vancouver/Richmond
To start our day, we headed to the University of British Columbia for a walk. Walking the university grounds really brought back memories from my student days. Despite only graduating a few years ago, the university grounds have really changed. We started by the Bean Around the World near Totem Park on one end of Main Mall (the main pedestrian road at the centre of the university) and walked to the Rose Garden (on the other end of Main Mall). The UBC Rose Garden is well manicured. It is especially nice during the spring when the roses have bloomed.
After our stroll, we visited the AMS (Alma Mater Society) Student Nest. AMS is the UBC student society. The Nest was opened in 2015, while I was still a UBC student, and offers student rooms, restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, and even a rock climbing wall. Before the Nest was the SUB (short for Student Union Building). The SUB, built in 1968, still sits beside the Nest, but the AMS has moved to the Nest. We stopped by Blue Chip Cafe for a snack – the smarties cookie is and will always be my favourite.
Side Note: If you want to explore UBC more, UBC has a variety of attractions – UBC Botanical Garden (which includes the Greenheart Treewalk), Nitobe Memorial Garden, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, and much more! UBC is also near Wreck Beach, a nude beach, which require descending 490 stair steps. Wreck Beach is a nice place to watch the sunset. Here are some pictures of other attractions to visit at UBC:
After our visit to UBC, we headed to lunch at Sushi California on Broadway Street. Sushi California is my favourite sushi restaurant in Vancouver, due to its high quality food for reasonable prices. We ordered the spicy salmon sashimi, dynamite roll, salmon mountain roll, and caterpillar roll.
For dessert, we stopped by Beta 5, an award-winning chocolatier. I always go for their cream puffs. Beta 5 has a variety of creative chocolates and cream puffs to choose from. We picked the vietnamese coffee cream puff.
Side Note: Another option for dessert is Mochido. Mochido is located just before Oak Street Bridge between Vancouver and Richmond. Their specialty is mochi donuts. The mochi donuts are delicious – soft and gooey like mochi, but with a donut’s texture! Their flavours change every week.
We then headed to the Richmond Olympic Oval. The Richmond Olympic Oval was originally built for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and mainly used for the speed skating events. It is now a multi-sports arena. We wanted to visit the Richmond Olympic Experience, but it was unfortunately closed for exhibit changeovers and enhancements. Instead, we walked along the water by the Olympic Oval. There is not much of a view in the area and the river is pretty muddy.
We headed to Minoru Park next. We tried to visit the International Buddhist Society, but the Buddhist Temple was closed to the public. We were not having very good luck with our activities today. Minoru Park is a large park with a community centre, indoor pool, and sport fields. We walked through the Minoru Lakes and Pierrefonds Gardens Walking Trail. There were tons of bunnies wandering the walking trail. We also stopped to take photos of the Minoru Chapel, a small wooden chapel built in 1891.
After our short walk, we headed to an early dinner. I was still full from lunch, but really wanted Taiwanese beef noodle soup. We decided on Uno Beef Noodle. I ordered the beef noodle soup (with beef shank, tendon, and flank), and he ordered the minced pork on noodle. Both were delicious.
Side Note: Another option for dinner in Richmond is the popular BBQ spot, HK BBQ Master, located in a parkade on No.3 Road. This restaurant is popular among locals and celebrities! I highly recommend it! You can come and order to go or sit in the restaurant for your meal! Here’s a photo of the roasted pork (the rice and veggies are homemade):
We headed to the airport after dinner. Side Note: If you are looking for something to do in the late afternoon, stop by the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet to go shopping! Another option is to take a walk along Iona Beach Regional Park. The main attraction at Iona Beach Regional Park is the long narrow path out into the water. The walk will take about 1.5 hour round trip.
Complete Day 12 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
9:00am: Go for a stroll at the University of British Columbia. Visit the many attractions at the University (Suggestions: Rose Garden & Main Mall, Nitobe Memorial Garden, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Museum of Anthropology, and much more!). Stop at Blue Chip Cafe in the AMS Student Nest for a cookie!
12:00pm: Have lunch at Sushi California on Broadway Street (20 minute drive from the University of British Columbia). There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from at the university.
1:00pm: Pick up dessert at Beta 5 Chocolates (6 minute drive from Sushi California). Alternative dessert option: Mochido (13 minute drive from Sushi California).
2:00pm: Visit the Olympic Experience at the Richmond Olympic Oval (27 minute drive from Beta 5 Chocolates or 7 minute drive from Mochido).
3:00pm: Visit Minoru Park (5 minute drive from Richmond Olympic Oval). Walk through the Minoru Lakes and Pierrefonds Gardens. Stop at Minoru Chapel.
4:00pm: Visit Iona Beach Regional Park (16 minute drive from Minoru Park).
6:00pm: Go shopping at McArthurGlen Designer Outlets (9 minute drive from Iona Beach Regional Park).
7:00pm: Have dinner at Uno Beef Noodle (13 minute drive from McArthurGlen Designer Outlets). Alternative dinner option: HK BBQ Master (9 minute drive from McArthurGlen Designer Outlets).
12-Day BC Road Trip Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 12-Day BC Road Trip Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip in BC!
Travels with Carolyne 
Stunning photos and thank you for sharing your trip. Thank you for sharing, the food looks beautiful and I can’t wait to visit Canada read more of your stories.
If you’re interested in African travel at all, check out my site where I’ll be sharing adventures and photos from across Africa.
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Thank you! Canada is amazing. Africa looks lovely and is definitely on my list of places to visit.
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Definitely, there is so much to see and do there, it is a continent of dreams.
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Wow those desserts from Beta 5 look delicious!
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They are delicious!
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