One of the nice things about UBC's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, besides the extraordinary collection of artifacts and artwork, is their policy on photography.  The museum allows visitors to take all of the personal photography desired.

I think this policy makes the museum lots more effective in achieving its goals:

Got an itch to pet goats?  How about pigs, horses, donkeys, sheep or llama? 

The Stanley Park Children's Farmyard is the place to go in Vancouver to pet all sorts of animals.

Satisfy your itch - or the itch of your favorite farmyard friend - by visiting the Stanley Park Children's Farmyard, a petting zoo in Stanley Park.

And you don't have to be a child to enjoy this place.  If you find goats, donkeys and pigs entertaining, this is a fun stop for adults and even makes a good activity for couples. It is certainly a unique experience.

Where else can you pet a potbellied pig for fun?

Looking for an easy and fun Vancouver sidetrip?  Try Grouse Mountain.

Grouse Mountain is a fun Vancouver sidetrip only about 15 minutes from Vancouver.

The fun starts at the bottom of the mountain where you hop onto a gondola.  The Grouse Mountain gondola (the "Grouse Mountain SkyRide") takes riders up to the Peak Chalet (elevation 1128m, 3700ft), not far from the peak of Grouse Mountain.

The vast stretches of coastline are one of the more charming features of Vancouver, BC. Amateur and professional photographers alike have made the Vancouver coastline the subject of many incredible panoramic photos.

In this article, enjoy 10 incredible samples of panoramic photos of the Vancouver coastline.

 Morning, afternoon, dusk, night - the Vancouver coastline is always a beautiful scene.

When the Vancouver winter weather is dreary and rough, the tough don't stay home. The tough go bowling.

Some people go bowling every week, that's how much they like it! Me, I find it a nice diversion every now and then. I also put it on my list of "fun things to do when traveling if the weather is bad." For travelers looking for something to do in Vancouver in winter, bowling can be fun for a couple or the whole family.

The downside of bowling are the bowling leagues that sometimes take over the Vancouver bowling alleys in the evenings and on weekends. Luckily, there are lots of bowling alleys in Vancouver.

Here are some Vancouver bowling alleys to consider.  The phone numbers are also listed as it is usually good to call ahead for lane availability and to make reservations if needed:

The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park and Garden is a beautiful Vancouver park designed to give Westerners a way to experience China.  Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park is one of the top 10 attractions in Vancouver's Chinatown district. A visit to the park will be quick, but it is so close to the rest of Chinatown that it is a worthy excursion.  And a visit will help work off a meal of Vancouver's famous Chinese dim sum at one of the many authentic local Chinese restaurants.

Getting to Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park is easy by car, bus or taxi.

Looking for a fun winter activity in Vancouver?  Think indoor ice skating.

Richmond Olympic Oval is the place to do it. The Richmond Olympic Oval will be one of the venues for the 2010 winter Olympics. But the public can experience the ice now, making a visit a treat.

The Richmond Olympic Oval is brand new. The grand opening was December 12, 2008.

Visit the Richmond Olympic Oval to skate on the ice during public skating hours and experience the spectacular facility before the rest of the world.  It is a great way to get some exercise without having to brave the cold outdoors.

Winter can be an enjoyable and cost-effective time to visit Vancouver. Vancouver also has more mild temperatures compared to the rest of Canada and spending the day outside is doable with the proper attire.

One thing to do in Vancouver during the winter is to go for a walk on the beach. There are many beaches to chose. I'd probably look at a short walk along Stanley Park on the west side of the park. There's a nice beachfront adjacent to a large swimming pool area (popular during the summer).

With a more moderate winter climate than most of the rest of Canada, Vancouver sometimes seems to see more rain than snow during winter.  The average temperatures during November, December and January (the coldest months) hover just above freezing.

Visitors and locals alike still find ways to have fun.  When snow covers the ground, some people make a snowman. 

"As a traveler staying at a hotel, where can I make a snow man?," you ask. "I don't have anywhere to make one and I lack snowman decorations."

Head to the beach to make a snowman.

The beach has all that's needed for decorating a snow man.  For eyes, nose, mouth and hair, the beach has everything needed.

Sea shells can be used for eyes and mouth.  Drift wood or sticks can be used for the nose.  Seaweed can be used for hair.  The resulting snowman can look something like this:

For one of the most unique shopping experiences in Canada or the US, visit Vancouver's Chinatown district. 

Shopping in Vancouver's Chinatown makes you feel like you're in China.  In fact, a lot of the Chinatown shopping is geared towards the local population, one of North America's largest Chinese populations. 

You can see in this picture that the labels on the foods are in Chinese only.  This makes figuring out what you are buying a little bit challenging, to say the least.  Confusing the foods can really mess up a recipe!