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Beyond shopping, Robson offers excellent people-watching opportunities; sit at a sidewalk café with a latte and watch Vancouver’s multicultural character parade past. The street has been Vancouver’s retail heart for decades, surviving changing retail trends by adapting its mix of tenants. Visit during weekday evenings or weekend afternoons to experience it at its liveliest, and don’t miss exploring the side streets where you’ll discover additional boutiques and restaurants.
- While this won’t be a full day activity by any means as it’s quite small, it’s still a fun stop to enjoy, especially when bundled with some of the nice cafes and bakeries in the area.
- Rental shops on-site provide all necessary equipment including paddleboards, paddles, and life jackets, plus basic instruction for first-timers.
- Nikkei Matsuri is a cultural celebration of an authentic Japanese festival.
- Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours wandering, sampling, and soaking in the atmosphere.
- The Gift Expo offers something for every buyer from top selling items, Unique to BC, Canadian and Handmade gifts, jewellery, apparel, home décor, souvenir, gourmet, accessories, novelty and much more each and every show.
- There is high-end retail, there are locally made products and there are iconic Canadian items.
Enjoy a one-hour experience that takes place in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood. In light of RHOV, Real Hipsters of Vancouver and Ultra Rich Asian Girls of Vancouver, this city has truly become a magnet for reality TV production. Check out these crazy and uniquely Vancouver reality shows and tune in—you might be pleasantly surprised. Evolve VR boasts top-of-the-line hardware and attentive staff to ensure your experience is nothing short of stellar. With over 50 games, escape rooms, and experiences Evolve VR is like the Disneyland of digital realms. The building transformed, and today, the Woodward’s Building complex is a hub for mixed-use facilities, including residential units, a university campus, and of course, the iconic spiral staircase.
A walk in the park can be such an inspiration, especially to bird nerds. Bird watching at Bloedel Conservatory is a unique thing to do in Vancouver that helps you engage with the lively nature as much as possible. Call it anything you want – an outdoor BBQ party, a voyage, a sightseeing cruise. No matter what it is, all that’s boiled down at the end of the day is a lifetime. The best thing we love about this tour is the zest of adventurism in it. The mind-blowing history and soul-stirring stories about Vancouver’s Art Deco buildings are peeled off while you’re sampling the silky, sweet, and bitter niceness of Vancouver’s best chocolates.
Enjoy the serenity at Queen Elizabeth Park
You’ll leave with recipes, tips, and inspiration to bring nutritious—and mouthwatering—meals to your own kitchen. See why The Wellness Show brings together Vancouver’s wellness community for a weekend focused on healthier living, fitness, nutrition, beauty, and mental wellness. Some common misconceptions among visitors to Vancouver (which we cover in our Vancouver Travel Tips post) are that Vancouver Island is A) really close to Vancouver and B) not that big. And since it’s only forty-five minutes away it’s worth considering staying there to save money. But if you insist on staying in Whistler, at least save some money by checking out our post on how to find cheap(-er) accommodation and our guide to Whistler’s hostels. If you’re more into mountains than beaches, head up the Sea-to-Sky corridor to Whistler.
MiniComi Art Market
To receive the same level of joy, you don’t need great skills nor any commitment to an 18-hole full course! West Coast Mini Putt will elevate your golfing experience, help you take on a new hobby, and even better, spice up your day with a character. But as you’re already here, we can’t help but reveal this unique viewpoint! The tree is nestled amongst hundreds of other old-century trees near the convergence of Cambie and King Edward streets. Even though the gun has become a household name, it still remains one of the most unique things to experience in Vancouver for out of towners.
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Capilano Suspension Bridge offers multiple viewpoints with minimal walking once you’re through admission. Lynn Canyon combines suspension bridge views with easy forest trails and summer swimming holes. The Sea to Sky Gondola delivers dramatic uniquelyvancouvershow.com mountain views with zero hiking required once you ride up. Cultus Lake offers warm water swimming, beach access, and recreational facilities perfect for families with kids. Chilliwack Lake provides mountain scenery with cooler water and more wilderness character. Both lakes offer picnicking, paddling, and scenic drives through Fraser Valley agricultural landscapes, roughly 90 to 120 minutes from downtown.
The best thing about visiting Vancouver is that you never run out of things to do, even if you stay here for weeks. This beloved installation was donated to the city by Chip and Shannon Wilson to ensure these jubilant figures would continue spreading cheer in Morton Park. Created by the renowned artist Yue Minjun and installed in 2009, this ensemble of 14 bronze giants captures Minjun’s face frozen in a state of ecstatic laughter, and it’s infectious. And let’s not forget the auditory delight – instead of bells, the steam powers whistles that produce Westminster “chim” and signal the time. Powered by steam from the city’s heating network, the clock features a miniature steam engine that drives a series of actions that culminate in the chain lift movement of steel balls.
Westgate Resort Sites
City Unscripted connects travelers with locals who shape days that actually fit your interests, not someone else’s checklist. Yes, whale watching tours depart from Vancouver’s waterfront and Steveston, heading toward the Southern Gulf Islands where resident orcas and seasonal whale populations create reliable viewing opportunities. Tours typically run from April through October, with peak whale watching during summer months when salmon runs attract marine mammals to the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands passages. Wine tasting in the Fraser Valley works best with designated drivers or organized tour transportation that handles logistics. Public transit reaches some areas like Langley, but vineyard locations require vehicle access for efficient touring of multiple estates. Consider combining wine tasting with farm stands and local food for complete agricultural experiences that showcase the Fraser Valley’s rural character.
Vancouver Souvenirs: 10 Perfect Canadian Souvenirs and Gifts to Buy in the City
The appetizers and desserts are always a surprise, and for your main course you can choose between a variety of dishes such as steak, fish, and lamb. You can also fully embrace the unknown and opt for the surprise main course. The idea behind Dark Table is that without the use of your sight your other senses, such as taste and smell, will be intensified, allowing you to enjoy your meal from a completely new perspective. Laurence and Chico Cafe is the culinary creation of Laurence Li and Chico Wang, fashion designers and creators of the Laurence & Chico womenswear and accessories brand.
Tour around Stanley Park on Horses
From energizing wellness workshops to insightful talks on women’s health, there’s something to spark curiosity and empower every visitor. Do hike up in the summer, but instead of the often unpleasantly-busy Grind consider taking the locals’ route that we share in our guide to our favorite non-touristy things to do in Vancouver. Nestled in the foothills of southern Alberta’s idyllic Rocky Mountains, the Bar U Ranch offers a bridge over Pekisko Creek, a cotton tree-shaded clearing, heritage buildings and a Percheron horse-drawn wagon ride, all to make your day truly memorable. Parks Canada manages the finest systems of protected heritage areas in the world. Happy couples will find that the country’s national historic sites offer something that many other venues do not – a sense of history.
Here you can ask for a “tasting menu” of craft beer, delivered to your counter top on a specially designed wooden rack. First Nations can be a confusing term and as a non-native Canadian, I am terrified of causing offence by accident. It refers to the peoples and tribes that roamed Canada before the arrival of, well, predominantly Europeans; the nearest equivalence in the US would be the term Native Americans.
Seriously, this activity is peak Vancouver, and lovely even on a treacherous stormy day (as my boyfriend learned, when he visited for the first time and I wouldn’t take “no babe, there’s literal thunder striking down trees” for an answer). BUT, if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of things to see and do in Vancouver, Canada, this might be the exact lengthy bucket list you’re looking for, written with love by an overzealous local who is intense about you having a good time. Comfy sweats are also back in style and sweatpants and hoodies are all over retail store windows. I live in their sweatpants when I am at home and there is nothing comfier in my wardrobe. If you are shopping for the best souvenirs in Vancouver that you can wear for years to come, grab yourself a pair of Roots sweatpants or a sweatshirt, or bring one home for someone who loves comfort.