Alexa & Lucas
things to do
Granville Island
Granville Island is a peninsula (so, not an island, in fact) known for its artsy vibes, public market, unique shops, and lively buskers — it's centrally located and one of Alexa and Lucas's top recommendations in the city. Discover Danish confections at Granville Island Licorice Parlour, bring home something for your pup or kitty from the adorable boxcar Granville Island Pet Treatery, see how brooms are made (for real) at Granville Island Broom Co., and if you're a stationary lover like Alexa, you can't miss Paper-Ya. Wandering around here for a couple of hours is a must-do during a trip to Vancouver. (Our Friday evening Cocktails & Canapés event is on Granville Island, so exploring the area beforehand is a great option as you plan your day!)
Local Dining
Our first must-visit restaurant during every trip to Vancouver is The Sandbar on Granville Island thanks to its beautiful views of False Creek and excellent local seafood. Definitely sit on the glass-encased rooftop patio for a great lunch — it's worth waiting for. A couple of our other favorite restaurants in the city include Nightingale (located in the Waterfront neighborhood and known for elevated Canadian cuisine) and East is East (a gem on East Vancouver's bustling Main Street that's worth going a bit out of the way for because of its live music and delicious Indian/Middle Eastern food).
Stanley Park Loop Bike Ride
Pick up a bike at Spokes Bicycle Rental (or from your hotel if they offer them) and cruise around the famous Stanley Park loop, which offers gorgeous Burrard Inlet and English Bay views and loops under the Lions Gate Bridge. (It's totally flat, but Luc is still all for an e-bike!)
Vancouver Aquarium
One of Lucas's favorite things to do in Vancouver. The rescue-focused Vancouver Aquarium is located in Stanley Park (so it can be easily combined with our biking recommendation). Don't miss the otters!
Breweries
Vancouver has tons of great breweries, but our top rec is Stanley Park Brewing. Located at the Beach Avenue entrance of Stanley Park, this brewpub has several summer-ready patios and is nestled amongst the pitch & putt, lawn bowling and tennis courts. It's a great destination point if you're looking to experience the best of Stanley Park, and it also serves as the perfect stop along a bike ride around the park.
Seaplane Tour
One of Canada’s most authentic west coast experiences! Harbour Air tours show off the best of British Columbia and beyond. Traveling by seaplane is an incredible way to see where the city, the water and the mountains meet. From 10-minute flights to daytrip adventure packages, Harbour Air offers a range of award-winning must-do experiences.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 metres long and 70 metres above the river. (Editor's note: In other words, not for Lucas and other people with a fear of heights — but still a beautiful, classic, outdoorsy thing to do!)
Hiking, Kayaking, and Water Biking
If you're looking to get active outside, the Grouse Grind hike is a classic challenge — it's 2.5-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, commonly referred to as “Mother Nature's Stairmaster". BC has lots of great hiking opportunities to explore nature, but if you'd rather be on the water, kayaking is also a common pastime (and seabiking in False Creek is a novel thing to do if you want to mix it up).
Other Things to Do and See in Vancouver
A few of our other recommendations include walking along the seawall (which basically lines all of the main Vancouver area), see the Olympic Cauldron from the 2010 Games (you can't miss it if you're staying in the waterfront), get your beach fix at Kitsilano Beach, shop along Robson Street... the list goes on!
Explore B.C.
This province is truly spectacular, especially in the summer, so we hope you'll extend your trip to discover why they call it "Beautiful British Columbia"! Road trip to go wine tasting in the Okanogan Valley, hop on the ferry over to Vancouver Island for fishing, take a seaplane to see the vast beauty of Tofino or see Victoria (also both on Vancouver Island), and so much more.