If you are looking for ideas for your vacation in Vancouver, this city offers a wide variety of enjoyable outdoor activities. Whether you’re into hiking or biking, boating or just enjoying the spectacular views of mountains and sea, Vancouver has it all.
To inspire you, we’ve compiled this list of the 7 best things to do in Vancouver.
Visit Granville Islan
Vancouver was originally called Granville. When it was renamed in 1886, the name Granville was given to a street spanning the small inlet known as False Creek. This area became known as Granville Island and was of great industrial importance in the early 20th century.
In 1975, the old industrial buildings were overhauled and repurposed as studios, shops, markets, and restaurants. The Public Market was one of the first buildings to reopen in 1978. This urban waterfront location is now the artistic and cultural hub of Vancouver.
Discover fine foods, organic produce and handcrafted products. Or be entertained at one of the performing arts theatres, including Vancouver’s only professional improvisational theatre company.
Sit and sip a drink while you watch the yachts come into the marina. If you are looking to rent a yacht in Vancouver, this is one of the best places you can show it off. Granville Island is the meeting place for Vancouverites and tourists alike and attracts millions of visitors each year.
Explore Lynn Canyon Park
Lynn Canyon Park, located in the beautiful Lynn Valley, will delight you with its breathtaking scenery, challenging hiking trails, and stunning waterfalls. When the park opened in 1912 it consisted of 12 acres (4.9 ha). But as its popularity has grown, so has its size. It now covers 617 acres (250 ha).
Best of all, it contains one of Vancouver’s two suspension bridges, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. The bridge is 50 meters (160 ft) high and connects the hiking trails on the two sides of the canyon.
This area was used for filming scenes for TV series like Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, because of its natural beauty.
Enjoy A Picnic In Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
Vancouver’s Van Dusen Botanical Gardens features exotic plants and a collection of sculptures and fountains. It attracts garden enthusiasts from around the world.
The garden’s visitor centre features a gift shop, a botanical library, a restaurant, and a coffee shop. The centre is designed and built to a LEED Platinum standard.
The highlight in this lush green landscape, however, is the Elizabethan hedge maze. For a bird’s eye view of this enchanting labyrinth of 3000 cedars, head on over to the observation deck.
And once you’ve worked up an appetite strolling through this piece of paradise in the city, find a shady spot to enjoy a picnic.
Take a Hike Up Grouse Grind
Climb “Mother Nature’s Staircase” at the foot of Grouse Mountain.
Situated on Vancouver’s North Shore, Grouse Grind takes hikers some 850m up through the alpine ski area. And when you reach the top, you’ll enjoy awesome views of the city from a panoramic chalet.
But if you can’t face the prospect of the hike down, don’t worry. Take a scenic ride down the mountain on the Grouse Gondola.
Cycle Around Stanley Park
Biking in Vancouver is a popular activity, especially around Stanley Park. And it is one of the best ways to explore this park that attracts close to eight million visitors a year.
Stanley Park is a 1001 acre (405-ha) public park that makes up the northwestern half of Vancouver’s Downtown Peninsula. Named the World’s Best Park by Trip Advisor, it is Vancouver’s most loved urban park and a true Canadian treasure.
Archaeological evidence suggests human occupation of the territory dating back more than 3,000 years. The area boasts a vast old-growth forest and some of the best walking trails in Vancouver.
Go Kayaking In Deep Cove
Located at the foot of Mount Seymour, this bay is affectionately called “The Cove” by residents.
Originally known as Deep Water, it is the traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations. It fronts onto the Indian Arm, a glacial fjord formed during the last Ice Age.
Kayaking is a very popular activity in Vancouver and there’s no better place to do it than Deep Cove. With kayak rentals and lessons, a rowing club, and a marina, there’s plenty to do if you love being on the water.
And the bay’s sheltering shape and the shallow bottom are also ideal for the overnight anchorage of pleasure boats.
Take In The Sights From Sea To Sky
There’s nothing like a scenic drive. But take some time out to stop and explore the beauty around you.
The Sea to Sky Highway runs from West Vancouver to Whistler, passing Squamish about halfway between the two. To get to the Sea to Sky Highway, take the Lions Gate Bridge from Vancouver.
One of Vancouver’s newest attractions, the Sea-to-Sky Gondola is a must-see along the Sea To Sky Corridor. Offering hiking trails, interpretive loop walking trails, viewing platforms, and ski touring, it promises year-round adventure for everyone.
And the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge provides amazing 360-degree views of the Squamish region.
Before getting back to your Vancouver road trip, enjoy some refreshments at the Summit Lodge. It includes a fully licensed bar, a restaurant offering both fine and casual dining, and a teahouse.
