Discover the vibrant surrounding of Vancouver.

Located on the west side of Canada, Vancouver is a stunning city with so much to do inside and outside. In this article, I will tell you about some famous spots but also more local beautiful places worth seeing. Discover the vibrant surrounding of Vancouver.

Last year, while leaving in Seattle, I had the opportunity to visit Vancouver. It’s only a 2h40 drive from the Emerald City. The longest is actually to cross the border. Depends on your timing, you can easily spend a few hours queuing. If you decide to go on a Friday, either take your afternoon off and leave around midday. Or wait and leave around 7 pm. From Seattle, you can also take the train, the bus, or the plane. The train can be a great option, it’s fast and the tickets are not too expensive. The train station is located in the city center.

When we went there with my husband, we stayed at friends near Commercial drive. It’s a long street full of restaurants, café, shops, bars… We tried some restaurants there. For a big greasy breakfast, https://www.cannibalcafe.ca/#welcome. Enjoy a nice cocktail at https://www.havanavancouver.com/. Find a good diner http://www.whiskykitchen.ca/.

The city center of Vancouver is easy t access to transportation. There are also a lot of buses and there is a tube. The city itself is not massive so if you like walking, it’s not a problem. There are a few places in and out of Vancouver that I loved and highly recommend.

First, one of my favorite experiences is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Located 15 minutes north Vancouver, it’s a huge suspended bridge in the middle of a forest https://www.capbridge.com/. The entry costs around $33 (US) for an adult, $20 (US) for a kid ages 13 to 16, and $11.5 (US) and Parking $4 per vehicle. In my opinion, the highlight of the park is the Bridge itself. Because the view of the river and the sensation when you cross it is unreal. I loved the experience. You feel like a bear is going to get a salmon in the river below you at any time.

In addition to the bridge, there are activities in the park. You can explore the rain forest. Walk along the cliff walk and the treetops. And there is also a lot of information about the story of the place and plenty of activities for the kids. At Christmas time, they do stunning illumination in the forest, it’s magical. If you want to spend a great afternoon with or without kids, it’s a good place to go to.

Another memorable experience is the Grouse Grind hike. https://www.grousemountain.com/. Located about 25 minutes’ drive from Vancouver. It’s a 2.9 kilometers hike (1.8 miles) accessible from May to October before the snow season. We did it with a large group for an event but you can go there at any time. The way is well indicated, you can’t get lost. You don’t need to be a super athlete to do it but it’s a tough one. The total number of stairs is 2,830, it takes on average 90 minutes. Once you get to the top there is a lodge with restaurants, a bathroom, a giftshop…

If you want to have a wonderful view of Vancouver and a chill way down, take the Skyride. You won’t regret it but it only runs at a certain time and cost about $22 per person. At the top, there are some activities and things to see such as bears, bees, birds, zip lines, disc golf…

These two activities can be done on a weekend if you have a car and want to make the most of the outdoor. And in Vancouver, definitely spend time in Granville Island, an artistic hub. You can reach it by bus, aqua bus, car, or bike. There are so many restaurants, shops of all sorts, café, bars. It’s a very lively and good vibe. For more green, Stanley Park is the place to go to. You can run, walk, cycle there for a while, or just for a little bit. It’s a big park almost like an island surrounding the city. It’s peaceful and very beautiful, you can stop for a picnic there or eat in a restaurant by the beach. You would also find the Aquarium, Brockton point lighthouse, the Naval museum…

Then obviously as in any big enough city, you can explore the downtown area for some shopping. Find all sorts of restaurants and lively bars, and visit museums.

For more weekend away along the Pacific coast, you can read my articles: https://elvinechloe.com/oregon-pacific-coast-for-a-short-weekend/ and https://elvinechloe.com/the-best-of-the-california-coast-road-trip/