This region of Vancouver offers a vibrant academic environment alongside modern amenities and easy access to beaches and nature trails. The eastern half of the itinerary features bustling, upscale neighborhoods known for art galleries, high-end boutiques, and diverse dining options, stretching along Granville Street. The area combines historic charm with urban sophistication, offering a lively community and proximity to Granville Island. The Kitsilano region was Vancouver’s hippy hangout in the 1960s, drawing comparisons to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. This itinerary covers a large area. You’ll want to break it up and take your time over several days (4 at least) to explore this diverse region. Use the toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the map for a ‘fullscreen view’, or tap here to open the map in a new window: Vancouver: UBC, 4th, 16th, 33rd Avenues, South Granville, Granville Island.

College West, Dundas West, Bloor West, and Roncesvalles are home to a rich variety of galleries, cultural festivals and events that showcase the diversity and creativity of Toronto’s artists. You might want to start each day at a café in Toronto’s Little Italy, an historic community where Italian flavors and culture, intermingle with multi-cultural neighbours—engaging with one another and enriching this vibrant neighbourhood. This route could be explored in a 4-day rush but make more time to explore these exceptional art venues. Use the toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the map for a ‘fullscreen view’, or tap here to open the map in a new window: College West, Dundas West, Bloor West, and Roncesvalles.

Kensington Market, Spadina Avenue, and 401 Richmond Street are historic, culturally rich, lively areas of Toronto. The area is home to numerous artist-run centres and contemporary art galleries. This is a 4 or 5-day self-guided tour depending on your pace. Be sure to check venue hours and programming in advance — venues are sometimes closed to install exhibitions or may have screening times for media-based exhibitions. Use the toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the map for a ‘fullscreen view’, or tap here to open the map in a new window: Kensington Market, Spadina Avenue, and 401 Richmond Street.

Vancouver’s Central and Downtown Neighbourhoods are vibrant hubs for the arts, offering a rich tapestry of galleries, public art, performance spaces, and cultural festivals. This is a 2 or 3-day self-directed tour that includes the Vancouver Art Gallery, Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society, and the Contemporary Art Gallery. You can follow the route, start where you like or wander as time allows. Check venue hours and programming in advance. Venues are sometimes closed for exhibition installations or have specific screening times for media-based presentations. Use the toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the map for a ‘fullscreen view’, or tap here to open the map in a new window: Vancouver: Central and Downtown Neighbourhoods.

The Dundas West, Dupont, Dufferin, and St. Clair area is known for its diversity, accessibility, and burgeoning art scene. Surrounded by lush green spaces, a blend of residential streets, and bustling commercial strips, this neighborhood offers a range of cultural happenings, and community festivities. In recent years, the area has emerged as a hub for media-based artist-run centres and non-profit galleries. This is a 3 or 4-day self-guided tour. Follow the route, start where you like or wander as time allows. Check venue hours and programming in advance. Venues are sometimes closed for exhibition installations or have specific screening times for media-based presentations. Use the toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the map for a ‘fullscreen view’, or tap here to open the map in a new window: Dundas West, Dupont, Dufferin, St.Clair Neighbourhoods.

If you’re living in or visiting Toronto or the surrounding region, take a day and visit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg. Nestled on 100 acres of forested land alongside the Humber River, this renowned institution is dedicated exclusively to showcasing Canadian art. It houses a vast permanent collection exceeding 6,400 artworks, featuring pieces by prominent Canadian artists such as Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, as well as works by First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and modern Canadian artists who have significantly shaped the country’s artistic landscape. In addition to the museum’s 7,900-square-metre (85,000 sq ft) main building, the property  includes a sculpture garden, walking trails, and a cemetery for six members of the Group of Seven.