Things to do in Vancouver

Vancouver has very vibrant and amazing places to visit. Every year millions of people come to visit this place as there are interesting things to do in Vancouver. The city has beautiful gardens, namely Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and VanDusen Botanical Garden. Tourism contributes over $4.8 billion to Vancouver's economy and employs 70,000 people. Now you must be excited about planning a holiday here. So, to make it more interesting, we will now put down things to do in Vancouver:

The Lynn Canyon Park is nothing but 617 acres of forest. It is the best place to enjoy hiking trail, and if that is not enough, you can go swimming at some world-famous swimming spots.

The park holds a suspension bridge, which is 50 meters above the ground. The park offers walking and hiking routes that connect to other parks in the region like Lynn Headwaters, Rice Lake, and Inter River Park.

The most famous Baden Powell Trail lies in this park. It is around 1.5 hours of hike and crosses the entire North shore region. Take a dip in the famous 30-foot pool, which lies on the north side of the suspension bridge. Towards the east of the suspension bridge, you have Twin Falls bridge, which gives you exhilarating view of a waterfall and a large pool.

The Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre showcases some historical information about this park. There are some souvenirs to see here, and the famous puppet show in the theatre.

If you are a mountaineering fanatic, this park visit will be the most exciting thing to do in Vancouver list. The park holds a historical story walk. Max and Molly are two people who will entertain you here with stories of rescue and adventure in early days of North Shore mountaineering.

You can go to their website to check for park hours. Park opens daily.

Ecology Centre Open Hours are:

June to September: 10 am to 5 pm
October to May: 10-5 pm on weekdays and 12-4 pm on weekends. It remains closed on Christmas, New Year, and Boxing day.

The wreck is considered to be best in the world's nude beaches. It lies below a cliff, and you have steep stairs to get down on the beach. It lies next to the University of British Columbia campus.

The beach extends along 7.8 kilometers and is known for its natural beauty. The beach has a large number of vendors along the eastern edge of the beach near Trail 6, selling everything you can think of from food to pretty handmade jewelry. You can even get a haircut here!

Swimming is a popular activity at Wreck beach, but since the water generally remains cold, it is not advised to swim too far from the shore. As the beach is part of the Foreshore Trail, you can see hikers too!

The clothing-free areas are marked with signs, and you should be respectful of the people whether they are in clothes or not. The very famous Bare Buns Run happens on this beach by the Wreck Beach Preservation Society. Each year the runners and walkers bare and run for 5k run along the beach, which is dedicated to keeping the beach natural and clean.

It is a suspension bridge over the Capilano River in North Vancouver. The 460 feet long and 230 feet high bridge has been a thrilling place to visit in Vancouver.

If you are looking for some thrilling things to do in Vancouver, Cliffwalk here is just meant for you. This was added in June 2011. It is a cliff-side journey showing the rainforest vegetation. And someplace the walk is just made of toughened glass. The highest point of this walk is 300 feet, which is higher than the bridge too, and the walkway is 700 feet long. The walkway is supported by 16 anchors drilled in the rock face of the canyon, and the anchors are joined in the walkway by steel beams.

Another amazing thing to see here is Treetop Adventures. It consists of 7 suspension bridges connected to 8 Douglas fir trees, which are 250 years old. A recent addition to the park is the Cliff House Restaurant and serves west coast inspired menu. It opens during the park timings only and has regional craft beers, Ocean Wise seafood products and British Columbia wines on tap.

The park has a trading post to where you can shop for jewelry, toys, leather goods, clothing, First Nations designs, and food specialties like Roger's chocolate, smoked salmon, fudge, and maple syrups. You have unique Canadian souvenirs available too.

The full-year park schedule is as follows:

Time of the year

Timings

January 27 - March 13

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

March 14 – April 10

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

April 11 – May 15

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

May 16 – September 7

8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

September 8 - September 20

9:00am - 7:00pm

September 21 – October 12

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 12 – November 21

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

November 22 - January 26

11:00am - 9:00pm

Note: The park remains closed on Christmas Day that is 25th of December every year!

This is the first Chinese garden built outside of China but is located inside a place called Chinatown in Vancouver. The garden is named in honor of Dr Sun Yat-Sen, who is considered as the father of modern China. The aim of making this garden was to enhance and maintain the bridge between western and Chinese culture. Fifty-three craftsmen from China built it, and 14th-century construction methods were used for building.

The garden consists of a freely accessible public park and has a garden which requires an admission fee to get in. The garden has beautiful walkways and covered pavilions. The Garden has guided tours, and you can get traditional Chinese tea here. This place should be in your things to do in Vancouver list if you want to get away from that city hustle-bustle life. Spend an afternoon here, and you will feel at peace!

The garden timings throughout the year are:

Season

Months

Timings

Winter

OCT 1 - APR 30

10:00AM - 4:30PM

Spring

MAY 1 - JUN 14

10:00AM - 6:00PM

Summer

JUN 15- AUG 31

9:30AM - 7:00PM

Fall

SEP 1 - SEP 30

10:00AM - 6:00PM

Note: The park remains closed on Mondays between November 1 to April 30. Holiday Closure is on December 25th and 1st January.

This park lies to the west of Vancouver, and it should be at the top in the things to do in Vancouver list for walkers/hikers. The park offers 55 km of hiking/walking, 34.4 km of horse riding, and 37.1 km of cycling. Most of the trails are wheelchair accessible too accept the following three trails:

Heron Trail: It is 1.2km long and 1.5m wide and has gravel packing, so wheelchairs can't be used.

Imperial Trail: It is 1.8km long and 3.0m wide, and the path is semi-firm, so wheelchairs not allowed.

Cleveland Trail: 1.2km long and 1.0m wide also has a semi-firm surface.

Dog lovers can bring their dogs along. However, the trails are marked with signs as in which areas the dogs need to be leashed and in which areas, they can be kept open.

The park offers forest, cliffs, beaches (there is an opening for Wreck beach from here), and bog. It is a habitat to a wide variety of animals and plants. So, you might spot wildlife like bald eagles, salamanders, snakes, and squirrels. The park also organizes various events like campfires to learn about the park and the rainforest. The park surrounds University of British Columbia, and you will generally find the university students chilling inside the park.

This beautiful 130-acre park will mesmerize you with beauty and serenity. It lies 152 meters above sea level, which being the highest spot in Vancouver gives you a stunning view of the city, the mountains, and the park.

There are several attractions inside the park, namely Arboretum, Celebration Pavilion, Bloedel Floral Conservatory, Fountains/Plaza, Quarry Gardens, Painters' Corner, and Sculpture. This Bloedel Floral Conservatory should be in your things to do in Vancouver list if you want to see some non-native plants and birds. It is an indoor tropical garden and holds 500 exotic plants and flowers and more than hundred tropical birds. Next the Celebration Pavilion is a famous wedding venue. The stage set for the bride and the groom has a glass wall at the back, which gives a splendid view of the park as a backdrop. You can enjoy a meal with a view at the Seasons restaurant here in the park.

The various activities inside the park include the Pitch and Putt golf course, disc golf course, tennis courts, lawn bowling club, tai chi, and bowling.

Park Timings:

Months

Timings

May to August

10 am to 8 pm

September to April

10 am to 5 pm

December 15 to January 7
Holiday Heights Special Event

10 am to 8 pm

Note: December 25th Holiday

This park has an area of 405 hectares and happens to be the first area explored in the city. Waters mostly surround it from Burrard Inlet and English Bay. Unlike other public parks which are designed by some landscape artist, this park has evolved from a forest. Hence majorly the park is still covered with dense forest.

Following is the list of attractions inside the park:

1. A stone wall called the Vancouver Seawall was constructed around the perimeter of Stanley Park. It is famous for walking, running, skating, running, and fishing (only if you have a license).

2. The 20-inch miniature rideable railway system, especially for families with young children. The railway system follows different seasonal themes to attract children.

3. Beaver lake is the prettiest thing to see in this park. It is completely covered with water lilies and is home to water birds, fishes, and beavers. This lake is a really peaceful place lying between trees.

4. The Lost Lagoon is a freshwater lake home to bird species like Canada Geese and ducks.

5. Next is the Vancouver Aquarium, which is the largest one in Canada and is home to various species of marine life, including dolphins, belugas, sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters. It also has a 4D theatre.

The park also features playgrounds, beaches, local wildlife, tennis court, golf course, seaside swimming pool, and water spray park. If this place isn't in your things to do in Vancouver list yet, add it up early as possible, and you won't regret.

Steveston Historical Society lies in Richmond city but is just 20 minutes’ drive from Vancouver. It lay on the Fraser River and was once the largest fishing port on the west coast. At present, the canneries don't operate, but you can see the largest group of commercial fishing boats (around 600 in number) on the coast. During sunny days people come in huge numbers to stroll on the waterfronts and enjoy the beautiful scenery and eat yummy food especially seafood.

You can also visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site Museum to know about salmon fishing and canning and preserved heritage boat work at enclosing Britannia Heritage Shipyard.

If you happen to be in Canada on July 1, this should be on your things to do in Vancouver list as the people here arrange annual Steveston Salmon Festival, which includes a parade and famous salmon barbeque.

People who want to shop for local stuff this place is amazing for them. The shops are lined along the waterfront and contain many homemade products, including arts and crafts and served local foods.

This popular destination for skiing lies 28 km from downtown Vancouver. The ski resort here is designed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. The resort's name is derived from the name of the bowl between the three mountains, Mount Strachan, Black Mountain, and Hollyburn Mountain- Cypress Bowl.

The resort has 53 named downhill skiing runs accessed by 6 chair lifts (2 high speed) and conducts snowshoeing tours too. It will be huge fun to cover the 19 km long cross-country trail that the resort offers. There is a magic carpet surface lift in the kids camp area, and you must visit the Snow tubing park. This place has something to offer to each age and hence should be a part of things to do in Vancouver list.

Vancouver is once such an exciting place to visit. It is filled with fun things to do, and you'll be hardly bored. The people here are very jovial and will win your hearts with hospitality. It has huge beautiful mountains covered in glistening snow almost all through the year. Since the city is surrounded by Pacific coastline, you have stunning beaches, tide pools and ocean to see. The downtown has trendy restaurants, posh hotels, theatres, concerts, shopping destinations, and nightlife to be precise. Go for the beautiful and extensive parks showcasing the rainforest! Go for its famous seafood, especially salmon! Eat dim sums! And if you are visiting during the Chinese New Year relish the parades and celebrations. Things to do in Vancouver are many; all you got to do is plan your vacation and spend some penny!