The West Coast of Canada is a beautiful contrast between city and nature; the urban skyline on the Pacific Ocean, tucked in between mountains makes for a scenic haven. The city of Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Colombia is a fantastic vacationing hotspot that offers a wide variety of activities for everyone. Surrounding the city is an outdoors lover’s paradise, with hiking, skiing, white water rafting, water sports, and camping. However, the city itself has many charming and artistic areas, which has caused Vancouver to be named one of the most desirable cities in the world to live. Vancouver’s culture embodies a laid back coastal vibe due to its unique combination of sophistication and adventure. From almost any spot there is a beautiful view of the ocean and mountains that surround the bustling metropolitan. It has unique transportation options such as the SkyTrain, ferries, and aqua buses that allow people to travel throughout the city quickly. Every year more than 9 million people visit the metropolitan to explore its natural beauty, vibrant culture, energetic attractions, and outgoing nightlife. Discover the jaw dropping beauty of Canada in the diverse and coastal city of Vancouver.
There are unlimited amounts of things to do and see when visiting the city, so for first time visitors this is a list of the 8 most iconic things to do and see when in Vancouver.
The Vancouver Lookout
See first hand why Vancouver is known for its natural beauty on the Look Out that allows visitors to take in 360° views, from here it is possible to see Stanley Park, the historic Gastown neighborhood, the harbor, and stunning sights of both the ocean and the mountains. The tickets are valid all day long, which allows reentry into the attraction. This is a great money saving tip that allows visitors to revisit The Vancouver Look Out and have beautiful views during the both day and night. Visiting during sunset is highly recommended, the bright oranges and yellows illuminate the sky before it turns to night. However, the panoramic view in the dark is filled with beautiful lights from skyscrapers and city buildings.
Gastown
This charming district is the oldest part of the city and the historic architecture from the Victorian era can be spotted all around the neighborhood. During the late 1800’s there was a devastating fire that destroyed many of the buildings, however, some of them survived, which has created a very architecturally interesting area that has a combination of both historic and modern designs. Lining the streets of the heritage quarter are trendy coffee shops, independent boutiques, bars, and restaurants. Stroll down Water Street, as it is home to many of these shops and has a variety of modern places to eat, and vibrant bars and clubs to visit during the night. There are various eating options within Gastown, and different ethnic restaurants are the neighborhood’s favorites. Nuba in Gastown is a delicious Lebanese juice bar and eatery that serves both tasty and healthy meals. L’Abattoir is a chic restaurant that has an industrial design, it offers a large wine menu and mouth watering dishes. Once the sunsets, stroll around Gastown to try some of the best cocktails in Vancouver, the area is known for its mixology programs. Before you leave the neighborhood, make sure to visit the iconic steam clock that lets out steam every 15 minutes.
Stanley Park
This is probably the most famous part of Vancouver, yet the must visit thing inside of the park is the seawall trail. It offers amazing views of the water, and the boreal rainforest. The park is a relaxing part of the city that allows people to connect with nature in 400-heatares of the coastal outdoors. It pays tribute to the original residents of Vancouver, which are many First Nations groups. There are 9 large, beautifully designed totem poles inside of Stanley Park that reference the history and culture of the city. For more information on the history of British Colombia, visit the UBC Museum of Anthropology, which has an extensive section on aboriginal cultures in North America. Within the grounds of Stanley Park is the Vancouver Aquarium, which is the largest aquarium in Canada it is home to more than 70,000 water creatures. The most popular exhibits include the dolphins, otters, sea turtles, sea lions, and sea otters. It is a fun museum to explore and to learn more about underwater ecosystems and habitats. Outside of the museum, Stanley Park also has calm beaches are a great place to visit on a hot day, and the kilometers of trails make this an idea to walk or bike.
Granville Island
Previously this island was home to plants, factories, and sawmills, yet presently the culture of this little oasis has shifted from an industry hub to an area of artistic expression. This is one of the favorite areas to explore in Vancouver, many visitors take an aquabus to the busy island, the calm boat ride transports people from the busy city routine into a small town vibe. Known for its artisans, theaters, craft studios, farmers market, and Granville Brewery this part of town brings a unique character to Vancouver.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
As one of the main attractions in Vancouver, the Suspension Bridge is 70 m above the river and is extremely wobbly. Through the natural park, brave visitors can also test their courage by trying out the Cliffwalk or the Treetops Adventures. In the Cliffwalk, visitors can walk Cliffside over vegetation on a series of suspended walkways and glass platforms to see the beautiful nature. On Treetops Adventure guests ravel 100 feet on suspension bridges attached to trees to admire the West Coast rain forest.
Whale Watching
Whale Watching season runs during half of the year from March to October, seeing these mammals swim across the water is an incredible thing to do because of the various tour operators available. Taking a boat, a kayak, or a seaplane to watch these majestic, playful creatures move in the Pacific Ocean. The kayak is an especially unique experience, because it is such an up close and personal way to watch the whales. Vancouver is such a popular whale watching destination due to the variety of whales such as orcas, gray, humpback, and mink whales that travel along the coast of the metropolitan. On these nature excursions it is also common to see other animals such as bald eagles, brown pelicans, tufted puffins, and harlequin ducks. If you love the water, and animals this is something you must try if you are visiting the city.
Downtown
The core of the city is the heart beat of Vancouver, with skyscrapers shooting up into the heavens, and the streets filled with businesses, stores, bars, and unique restaurants, wandering around downtown is quite the experience. Like all big cities, it is best to explore by foot in the city center, with limited parking yet a lot of public transit, it is faster to move around by walking. The core in Vancouver is very pedestrian friendly and offers views of the water and has many gardens that bloom such as the cherry blossom trees, during the spring and summer. It is the entertainment, financial, governmental, business, and cultural hub of the city that is known for being culturally diverse and artistic. Near the downtown is Chinatown, which is an extremely popular district to explore than has authentic Chinese culture within its streets. There is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is an oasis within Vancouver; it has Chinese buildings, a flourishing garden, and many different events. Come to Chinatown with an appetite because there are so many incredible places to eat such as Sai Woo, Phnom Penh Restaurant, and Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. Explore and visit Chinese bakeries and restaurants to sample fresh seafood and dim sum. The Art Gallery is also in the center, and it is a fantastic museum to explore to discover different Canadian and international artists. It is a beautiful area to discover with its combination of modern and historic building, leave plenty of time to discover the downtown area in Vancouver.
West End
Beside Stanley Park is one of the most popular residential areas, which is a beautiful neighborhood to visit for tourist due to its trendy and relaxed vibe. Lining Robson Street are many chic fashion stores, a diversity of restaurants, and cafes. It is a naturally stunning part of Vancouver with its beaches that hug the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Here it is popular to swim, bike, walk, kayak or go stand-up paddle boarding. Its outdoorsy vibe makes it a place to visit for a calm and tranquil day at the beach.
Many cities across Canada are filled with breathtaking natural beauty and culture, as an incredibly multicultural country, each large city showcases the different ethnicities in the community. Come to Vancouver to relax by the shore, discover the vibrant nightlife, explore the amazing outdoors, or to spend time in the bustling city life in Downtown. It is an incredible balance between urban and natural, making it a must visit for any lover of metropolitans and nature.
