Free quests in Vancouver

An hour at English Bay Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk English Bay Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Hadden Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Hadden Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Kitsilano Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Kitsilano Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Second Beach

Second Beach is Vancouver's public water north-west of centre, Vancouver. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Sunset Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Sunset Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Third Beach

Spend an hour on the public sand or stones at Third Beach (north-west of centre, Vancouver). Leave with five shoreline things you could find again tomorrow.

An hour at Trout Lake Beach

Trout Lake Beach is Vancouver's public water south-east of centre, Vancouver. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Wreck Beach

Wreck Beach is Vancouver's public water south-west of centre, Vancouver. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

Read the noticeboard at Carnegie

Cities still tape paper to walls. Carnegie Community Centre is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at Game Center

Cities still tape paper to walls. Game Center is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at Gathering Place

Cities still tape paper to walls. Gathering Place is a working room: one notice, then out.

Read the noticeboard at John Braithwaite Community Centre

At John Braithwaite Community Centre (north-east of centre, Vancouver), copy one public notice that is not an ad. That is the whole quest.

Read the noticeboard at Piranha

Cities still tape paper to walls. Piranha is a working room: one notice, then out.

Watch False Creek go gold from the Cambie Bridge walkway

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Cambie Street Bridge — west sidewalk, above False Creek for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Watch the sun drop from Ferguson Point

Ferguson Point faces the last light north-west of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Read the plaque at 2010 Olympic Cauldron

2010 Olympic Cauldron (near the centre, Vancouver): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Read the plaque at Andy Slobodian Memorial

Andy Slobodian Memorial (south of centre, Vancouver): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Read the plaque at CK Choi Memorial Bell

A two-minute stop at CK Choi Memorial Bell. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Empress of Japan Figurehead

A two-minute stop at Empress of Japan Figurehead. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Memorial Park Obelisk

A two-minute stop at Memorial Park Obelisk. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at The Pacific Bell and Bell Tower

A two-minute stop at The Pacific Bell and Bell Tower. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at UBC Echo Chamber

A two-minute stop at UBC Echo Chamber. One date off the metal. Then back to the sidewalk.

Read the plaque at Victory Square Cenotaph

Victory Square Cenotaph (east of centre, Vancouver): read the plaque, copy one date and one name, leave. Not a war-tourism selfie.

Inventory the water from Jericho Pier

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Jericho Pier until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

Rain plan: Kitsilano library, one unfamiliar aisle

VPL Kitsilano Branch (on Macdonald Street, south-west of centre, Vancouver) is a named public place in Vancouver. Do the steps. Leave with something you can point at.

Watch the sun drop from Little Mountain

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Little Mountain for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Rain plan: Mount Pleasant library, one unfamiliar aisle

VPL Mount Pleasant Branch (on Kingsway, south-east of centre, Vancouver) is a named public place in Vancouver. Do the steps. Leave with something you can point at.

One loop of Balaclava Park

Walk a single loop of Balaclava Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Carnarvon Park

Walk a single loop of Carnarvon Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Central Park

Central Park (south-east of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Connaught Park

50 minutes in Connaught Park (south-west of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Fraserview Park

Fraserview Park (south-east of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Grandview Park

Walk a single loop of Grandview Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Harbourview Park

Harbourview Park (north-east of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of High Place Park

High Place Park (north-east of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Lynnmouth Park

50 minutes in Lynnmouth Park (north-east of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Malkin Park

Malkin Park (on Balaclava Street, south-west of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Memorial South Park

Walk a single loop of Memorial South Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Memorial West Park

Walk a single loop of Memorial West Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Michael Park

50 minutes in Michael Park (north-east of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Oppenheimer Park

Oppenheimer Park (on Powell Street, east of centre, Vancouver) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Queen Elizabeth Park

50 minutes in Queen Elizabeth Park (south of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Stephen Toope Gardens

Walk a single loop of Stephen Toope Gardens. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Victoria Park

50 minutes in Victoria Park (north-east of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

Inventory the water from Jericho Station

Jericho Station is a public deck over water. Five things on the water or the far shore, then turn around.

Playground hour at Ceperley Playground

Ceperley Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Champlain Heights Annex Playground

Champlain Heights Annex Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Champlain Heights Community Centre Playground

Give Champlain Heights Community Centre Playground (south-east of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Children's Playground

Give Children's Playground (east of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Driftwood Playground

Give Driftwood Playground (south-east of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Eagles Park Playground

Give Eagles Park Playground (south-west of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Ecole Bilingue Big Playground

Give Ecole Bilingue Big Playground (south-west of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Ecole Bilingue Small Playground

Give Ecole Bilingue Small Playground (south of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Grey Gum Trail Playground

Grey Gum Trail Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at May Aacomachie Playground

May Aacomachie Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at New Champlain Heights Playground

New Champlain Heights Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Promontory Park Playground

Promontory Park Playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at The Adventure Zone

The Adventure Zone is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Rain plan: VPL: Britannia Branch

Rain plan at VPL: Britannia Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: VPL: Champlain Heights Branch

Rain plan at VPL: Champlain Heights Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: VPL: Firehall Branch

VPL: Firehall Branch (on West 10th Avenue, south-west of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: Fraserview Branch

VPL: Fraserview Branch (on Argyle Drive, south-east of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: Joe Fortes Branch

Rain plan at VPL: Joe Fortes Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: VPL: Kensington Branch

VPL: Kensington Branch (on Cedar Cottage Mews, south-east of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: Marpole Branch

VPL: Marpole Branch (on Granville Street, south-west of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch

VPL: nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch (on East Hastings Street, east of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: South Hill Branch

VPL: South Hill Branch (on Fraser Street, south-east of centre, Vancouver) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: VPL: Terry Salman Branch

Rain plan at VPL: Terry Salman Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

One loop of Riley Park

45 minutes in Riley Park (south-east of centre, Vancouver): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

Give Slocan Park a full playground hour

Give Slocan Park Playground (south-east of centre, Vancouver) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Watch the sun drop from 26R Spotting Location

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at 26R Spotting Location for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Watch the sun drop from Brockton Point

Brockton Point faces the last light north of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Lowden’s Lookout

Lowden’s Lookout faces the last light north-west of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Mount Everett

Mount Everett faces the last light south-east of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Old Marine Drive Viewpoint

Old Marine Drive Viewpoint faces the last light south-west of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.

Watch the sun drop from Simon Fraser Viewpoint

Skip the patio. Stand on public ground at Simon Fraser Viewpoint for the end of the day, then walk out the way you came.

Watch the sun drop from Siwash Rock Viewpoint

Be at Siwash Rock Viewpoint (north-west of centre, Vancouver) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from Ting Lookout

Be at Ting Lookout (south-west of centre, Vancouver) twenty minutes before the disk drops. Stay until it is gone. Leave with one colour that is not orange.

Watch the sun drop from Viewpoint Vancouver

Viewpoint Vancouver faces the last light north of centre, Vancouver. The quest is standing still until three lights stay on after the sun.