Vancouver is our absolute favorite city in Canada, and after you’ve read this article you’ll see why. It’s a perfect place to live in harmony with nature by visiting the many parks and green areas.
Practicalities
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Recommended length of stay: anywhere from a weekend to a week!
Month of Visit: September
Download the ArriveCan app ahead of time and fill it out before you get to immigration to expedite the entry process.
CDC’s Recommended Vaccinations: click here!
Packing List
This really depends on the month that you visit. Canada can be quite cool during the winter, so sweaters and jackets are a must. We visited mid-September and found it pretty chilly!
How to Get There
You can either choose to fly directly into Vancouver, which has direct flights to and from many international airports. The other more scenic route is to fly to Seattle and rent a car and drive the three hours across the border. That’s what we did since we can’t resist a solid road trip! Plus then you can explore Seattle as well. Double check with the car rental company especially if you’re doing a one-way drop off to make sure the vehicle you rent is allowable to cross the border. And don’t forget your IDP!
Where to Stay
There are sooo many options when it comes to amazing places to stay in Vancouver. Here they are, stratified by budget:
Luxury: the Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver Waterfront. Every Fairmont oozes classic luxury and elegance, and this one is located in a prime section of the Vancouver waterfront.
Midrange: Lonsdale Quay Hotel. This boutique hotel is set on the docks of North Vancouver and offers stunning waterfront views. It’s also an easy walk to lots of shops and restaurants, and the unique floor plans allow for your perfect room selection.
Budget: Douglas Guest House. This unique inn style lodging house is located a ten minute drive from the waterfront. The rooms look cozy and inviting, and it seems like a pleasant place to turn in after a long day of exploring.
What to Do
Start your day at Tim Horton’s for a delicious coffee and donut in the morning to give you energy for exploring. Then make your way to Stanley Park. This vast green area is located just north of downtown Vancouver. There is a rock garden, a rose garden, Beaver Lake, a lagoon, and a few beaches. You could literally spend several days exploring this park alone. For a quick bite, stop by the Tea House in Stanley Park. Check out this awesome seafood platter – we hear their cocktails are delicious too! This is located on the West end of Stanley Park.
One of the best things we did on this trip was walking by the Stanley Park sea wall, on the East end. We saw tons of amazing different types of birds. The highlight was this adorable little seal that kept swimming along side us! We hadn’t seen a seal before in nature and were really excited about this.
You’ll also find Brockton Point Lighthouse and the famed Totem Poles on the East End, along with the Aquarium.
We also enjoyed exploring the sandy and rocky beaches around the park and gazing off into the vast Pacific Ocean. Stanley Park is truly stunning and you really have to see it for yourself to fully appreciate it.
Queen Elizabeth Park is another one of Vancouver’s beautiful hidden gems. Its carefully manicured floral garden is a vision. This park is located south of downtown and definitely worth paying a visit to, though it can get a little busy as it is much smaller than Stanley Park!
Granville Island and the Public Market are both southwest of downtown Vancouver and offer amazing views across the water of the city. We loved strolling around the art galleries on Granville Island. Afterwards, we stopped by the Public Market for some delicious fresh seafood.
For stunning views over downtown Vancouver, check out the Vancouver Lookout. You can buy your tickets online ahead of time and ascend the 553 feet in a glass elevator. At the top you’ll find stunning 360 degrees views of downtown, the waterfront, Stanley Park, and the mountains in the distance. This is a must-do on any first timer’s trip to Vancouver.
Try some of Canada’s signature dish – poutine! You’ll find this at a lot of different restaurants, we tried it at an Indian Restaurant with curry on top and it was amazing!
Check out more of Canada here! Or if you’re looking to get inspired, visit our Itineraries page here!