Top 8 Things to See in Vancouver

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock. All other photos courtesy Michelle Bucher.

Vancouver has been making its rounds with travel awards the past year. Not only has Vancouver been voted the best place to live in the world, but it’s also been named the 2nd best city in the world in Telegraph Travel Awards.

Vancouver is a stunning city that’s well worth exploring. Being so close to the U.S. border, Vancouver is an easy weekend road trip destination for those on the west coast, but you may need more than a few days to explore this beautiful city.

My opinion of the city might be a little biased because I grew up here, but with so much to see and explore I figured I’d share my list of top things to see and do while in Vancouver:

The Vancouver Seawall

The seawall is a must-see attraction that really showcases the beauty of Vancouver. Situated along Stanley Park, the seawall is a great outdoor activity that allows tourists to take in wonderful views of the North Shore Mountains, city landscape and dip your feet in the Pacific Ocean. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a pod of killer whales out in the Pacific Ocean.

It’s a popular place for those who like bike riding, enjoy outdoor running, or just a picnic in the park on a nice sunny day. Round-trip, the seawall is about 10 kms (6.2 miles), and you can rent bikes for around $7/hour.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

This is a really popular tourist attraction! The appeal of the Capilano Suspension Bridge, besides the bridge, is the opportunity to experience the lush west coast rainforest in North Vancouver.

Reaching 140 meters long, and 70 meters above the river, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is quite the impressive bridge to cross. Once at the other end of the bridge, you can continue on to a series of smaller suspension bridges called the Tree Top Adventure. This allows you to walk through the beautiful rainforest and see 250 year old Douglas-Fir trees.

Iona Beach

I had a close friend of mine show me this beach last summer. It’s not so much a beach as it is a long tube that runs into the Pacific Ocean. It`s about 4 kms (2.4 miles) long, and offers stunning views of Vancouver from far into the Pacific Ocean. It`s also a popular place for people to watch planes land in Vancouver because of its close proximity to the Vancouver International Airport.

Granville Island

There’s an awesome little market place on Granville Island full of fresh produce from the ocean, and lots of homemade trinkets, even local craft beer. It’s a fun place to explore! Aside from the market, Granville Island is a popular place for many local events, making it a great place to check out while in Vancouver.

Kitsilano

Photo via VanCityBuzz.com

Also known as Kits, this is a great little neighbourhood in Vancouver that is popular for its shops along West 4th, organic food markets and local coffee shops. It’s a popular place for locals to hang out and enjoy various coffee shops, book stores, and even the beautiful Kits beach.

Richmond Night Market

Open from May – October each year, the Richmond Night Market is a cultural experience worth exploring. It’s a night market along the waters in Richmond, full of products shipped over from China at great prices. It’s also really popular for its food carts. Many people who attend the Richmond Night Market go straight to the food section of the market and go from cart to cart making their own buffet of delicious foods.

If you’re in Vancouver during the off-season, check out Vancouver’s Chinatown. Vancouver has the second largest Chinatown in all of North America. With beautiful Chinese gardens, diverse grocery stores, and delicious dim sum, it’s worth checking out.

Whistler

Photo via crystal-lodge.com

Ok this one may not be in Vancouver, but it`s worth checking out. Whistler is a good two-hour drive from Vancouver, but well worth the road trip. The Sea to Sky Highway offers stunning views the whole way up to Whistler, and there are several scenic viewpoints where you can pull over and enjoy the views.

Ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to the top of the mountain in Whistler and you`ll get an awesome panoramic view of the surrounding mountain ranges. If you have some time for a four-hour hike while at the top, follow the High Note Trail along the back side of the mountain. Across the way you’ll see the iconic Black Tusk sticking up from the mountain, and below the trail you’ll also see stunning glacier-fed lakes that glow aqua green. In the spring/summer, you’ll also see many wild flowers growing along the High Note Trail.

Not much of a hiker? Walking through Whistler Village is a great experience all in its own.

Gastown

Photo via 604now.com

This is the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Take a stroll through historic Gastown and you’ll notice the old, historic buildings along the way. Gastown is also known as the epicenter for Vancouver fashion, design, arts and food, and this shows through in the towns unique character. Spend some time walking around Gastown and appreciate the uniqueness of this neighbourhood.

Road trip tip: You may hear lots about the iconic Gastown Steam Clock. It’s been pulled off the street for repairs and won’t be back until the spring/summer of 2015.

Weather tip: Despite what people you may think about Canadian weather, Vancouver hardly gets any snow. We generally get about one week of snow in January, and that’s it. The local mountains get lots of snow, so if you plan to head up to Whistler during the winter months, check the weather forecast first. We essentially have similar weather to Seattle, so bring a rain coat.

Have you been to Vancouver before? What’s your favorite thing about the city?