Things to Do in Vancouver
If you are visiting Vancouver for the wedding, we hope you enjoy the city and the surrounding natural beauty! We thought we'd put together a list of suggestions and ideas. One thing's for sure...you won't run out of things to do! If you have any questions, let us know. We'll be more than happy to help you with your plans! Links to photos will bring you to the See Vancouver site.
For more ideas and information
see:
City
of Vancouver Visitor's Page
Tourism
Vancouver
Find
Family Fun Vancouver (not just for families!)
In the city
Stanley
Park photos
(1000 acre park close to downtown with endless things to do: walking, rollerblading,
par 3 golf, beaches, rose garden...)
Vancouver
Aquarium (at Stanley Park)
Vancouver
Public Library (an architectural marvel)
Robson
Street (Vancouver's prime shopping area)
Vancouver
Art Gallery
Gastown
photos
(Vancouver's historical core, complete with steam clock and cobbled streets)
Chinatown
(the largest in Canada)
Kits Pool (incredible 137m oceanside swimming
pool)
Granville
Island (bustling market and funky shops)
La
Casa Gelato (incredible shop with over 200 different flavours of
Italian ice cream and sorbetto to sample)
Van
Dusen Botanical Gardens
Science
World and the Omnimax theatre
H.R.Macmillan
Space Centre and Vanier Park
Wreck
Beach (the famous "clothing optional" beach)
other
beaches (our favourites are Third Beach, Jericho Beach, and Spanish
Banks)
University of
British Columbia (aka UBC)
Pacific
Spirit Park (forested park separating UBC from the city, criss-crossed
with trails for walking/running/cycling)
Museum of
Anthropology
Just outside the city
(half-day or day trips)
Steveston
photos
(One of Jess and Greg's favourites--charming fishing village with pubs, shops,
historic sites, and Whale
Watching tours)
Lynn
Canyon Park photos
(Free suspension bridge over a raging river, gorgeous forest trails, educational
ecology
centre!)
Deep
Cove photos
(Beautiful and tranquil--a cute village and and probably the best spot around
for kayaking
or canoeing)
Grouse
Mountain (A little pricey to take the tram up; you might prefer to
hike up the infamous Grouse
Grind)
Cypress
Mountain photos
(Another one of our "local mountains"– this one you can drive
up. Great hikes, but a favourite spot of bears!)
Seymour
Mountain photos
(The third local mountain
– how about some blueberry picking?)
Lighthouse
Park photos
(Rugged coastal park with old growth forest--ie. BIG trees!)
Other local hikes - just ask us for ideas!
Longer excursions (full-day or multi-day trips)
Bowen Island - A 20min ferry ride away...shops, walks, hikes, beaches, and another great place to kayak.
Whistler - Best-known as a world-class ski resort, but there's plenty to do in the summer as well. A mountain wonderland just 2 hours by car from Vancouver, also accessible by bus.
The Okanagan - BC's prime fruit-growing and vineyard region. Hot temperatures, sparkling lakes with sandy beaches, and endless activities. A 5 hour drive from Vancouver.
Sunshine Coast - A quiet string of coastal communities only a 40min ferry ride away and lots to do!
Vancouver Island - Don't let the name mislead you, this "Island" is huge. It is home to BC's provincial capital and Greg's favourite city, Victoria. Other attractions include wild Tofino, the Sooke area, and world-famous Butchart Gardens. Getting to the island involves a 2 hour ferry ride; the route is serviced by BC Ferries.
Elfin Lakes excursion or other longer hikes - just ask us for ideas!