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This short hike will take you no more than 2 hours roundtrip, and offers up stunning PNW views. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy up top and soak in the views alongside alllll the locals, who can’t resist the view themselves. As the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver, Gastown is a romantic little slice of the city where you’ll find pretty cobblestoned streets lined with a throng of independent shops, boutiques and restaurants for days. A staple in the diet of the Indigenous peoples, salmon is something you should enjoy while in Vancouver. And with the portability of smoked salmon, it makes an excellent gift from Vancouver to bring home to your friends.
Have the best Asian food ever
When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a welcoming aroma of exotic spices and smells. The dining area allows you to sit at a table and chairs, within curtained booths, or on floor level cushions surrounding low tables. The interior design is draped in a variety of fabrics, everything is warmly lit by chandeliers, and Afghan artwork can be seen on every wall.
View the Mountains from a Secret Climbing Tree
The perfectly maintained concrete path accommodates all skill levels, though you should be comfortable stopping and maneuvering around pedestrians and cyclists who share the route. Photographers love the dramatic scenery, particularly during golden hour when warm light illuminates the lighthouse. The park’s preservation as an old-growth forest makes it increasingly rare and valuable as development pressures increase throughout the region. Multiple trails offer varying difficulty levels and lengths, from short 20-minute walks to 90-minute loop hikes. Free admission and parking (though spaces fill quickly on nice weekends) make this accessible. The creek’s water level varies seasonally, with spring runoff creating dramatic flows while summer reveals rocky shorelines perfect for picnicking.
Get your shopping shoes on and check out one of the most anticipated clothing sales around town. The event has already drawn massive crowds, with lineups often stretching up to 1km around the convention centre. However, many feel that the sales are definitely worth it, and that the line actually goes b very quick. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Taiwan as TAIWANFest makes its triumphant return to Downtown Vancouver this month. Prepare for a cultural extravaganza that includes live music performances, tantalizing cuisine, captivating art displays, and much more.
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Book your space now and be part of Calgary’s most exciting women-focused event. BC Place takes stadium security seriously, and during FIFA World Cup 2026™, you’ll need to follow their strict clear bag policy. Only small, transparent bags are allowed — e.g. a clear tote, a clear backpack, or a small clutch. Oversized backpacks, opaque bags, or any “mystery” totes are not permitted, so keep it small, clear, and simple to breeze through security. Buses reach most areas of Vancouver, and you can pay with a Compass Card, mobile payment, or contactless credit card (cash is not accepted). During the FIFA World Cup 2026™, expect road closures near BC Place, so it’s a good idea to check the TransLink app for updated routes and service alerts before heading out.
Try Canada’s favourite drunk food: poutine
I’ve personally reviewed 500+ hotels, retreats, and flight experiences — and I never recommend a place I wouldn’t return to myself. Sprezzatura feels like someone airlifted a slice of Rome into the heart of Mount Pleasant. The dining room is industrial-chic with a massive mural and windows that spill light onto their communal tables. I could write an essay on their Roman-style pizza – the spicy soppressata is ridiculously addictive. You might encounter exquisite preparations of local spot prawns, inventive vegetable dishes featuring foraged ingredients, or perfectly cooked Fraser Valley duck.
- It has become the staple brand for Vancouverites, international tourists, and fashion-forward consumers.
- I’ve driven the Sea to Sky Highway in every season, caught the first ferry to Bowen Island more times than I can count, and learned which trails empty out after 3 PM even on summer Saturdays.
- Between boutiques you’ll find bookstores with carefully curated selections, shops selling crystals and wellness products, outdoor gear retailers catering to Vancouver’s active lifestyle, and restaurants serving everything from fresh sushi to artisan pizza.
What Are the Most Popular Things to Do in Vancouver?
If you love Vancouver’s music scene and want to check out a few concerts that have a more ‘underground’ feel, we’ve got an exciting 80-day-long music festival to share with you. There area number of waterparks in and around Metro Vancouver, and they’re the perfect way to cool off during the Summer. You can make it a fun day in the sun by packing a lunch and lots of water and spend the day going down massive slides and splashing around in the water. Summer Cinema will will be returning one last time at Burnaby’s Civic Square.
Some forest trails and beaches require longer walks or bicycle rentals, but the main village area works well without a vehicle. British Columbia’s landscape changes quickly once you leave downtown Vancouver. Lakes, forests, and viewpoints sit just beyond city limits, offering everything from easy walks to full day excursions.
Today, it offers a range of beautiful and unique exhibitions to peruse – a perfect way to escape from the rain and absorb a bit of culture as well. Rent one in Stanley Park, just steps away from Downtown, for a ride along the Seawall bike and pedestrian path that hugs the city’s edge. After returning your wheels, explore the park’s forest trails and towering totem poles, looking for blue herons and other wildlife before visiting the Vancouver Aquarium nested in the heart of the park taking a dip in Second Beach Pool. A minimum of 4-5 days allows you to experience essential things to do in Vancouver including Stanley Park, Granville Island, downtown Vancouver attractions, and one mountain excursion. For a more comprehensive experience with day trips to Whistler or Victoria and thorough neighborhood exploration, plan 7-10 days. The mostly flat route includes some gentle grades but nothing challenging for average skaters.
What makes this museum essential is both the quality of the collection (over 535,000 archaeological and ethnographic objects from around the world) and the thoughtful presentation that centers Indigenous voices and perspectives. You’ll see works by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid including his masterpiece "The Raven and The First Men," a massive yellow cedar carving depicting Haida creation mythology. The cathedral is renowned for its music program, particularly the choirs that perform regularly, and if you time your visit with an evensong service, you’ll experience the building as it was intended, with voices rising into the vaulted space. Constructed between 1889 and 1895, this stone church with its distinctive green copper roof survived early threats of demolition to become a cherished heritage landmark surrounded by modern high-rises. The waterfront setting adds charm, with colorful houseboats bobbing nearby and mountain views framing the scene.
Inside the RBC Place building on West Georgia Street, opposite the Vancouver Art Gallery, is a small but interesting gallery. It’s uniquelyvancouvershow.com part of the RBC bank building, and there are often different displays of local art. But there’s a unique little hotel with a much more serene view – of English Bay and the beaches.