It’s fun to experience Vancouver with visitors and share what we love about this city. We get to play tourist and enjoy our favorite Vancouver attractions.
We have a short list of must-do experiences, so when we have a limited amount of time to show our guests around, we stick to these:
Greenheart Treewalk at the UBC Botanical Gardens.
This is an all ages experience, I first took my daughter when she was a toddler, and my 70 year old parents enjoy it just as much.
Give yourself time to do the Treewalk twice, because the first time you may be paying too much attention to your footing and hanging on. The second time you won’t be thinking of plummeting to your death and you’ll see so much more. We have another post on the Treewalk here.
This is a terrific activity on a hot day, because you’ll be nice and cool in the rainforest canopy.
The UBC Botanical gardens are amazing too. We love walking the trails and we always notice something we haven’t seen before.
Our next stop after a drive through the UBC Endowment lands, past Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach, and through the Kitsilano shopping district is:
Granville Island
We obviously like to time it so that we arrive here for lunch. There are so many great restaurants to choose from, but we always go straight to the Public Market and try one of the food vendors. The truth is we nearly always each end up choosing a different vendor.
After that it’s a toss up between pastries and gelato. In our family gelato usually wins. A cone for Vivi and an affogato (gelato and espresso) for my Dad.
If there’s time we get on an Aquabus and cruise up False Creek to Yaletown and back because it’s fun and seeing the area from the water offers a different perspective.
There are too many great shops and galleries to see them all in one day so we try to pick a couple and then move on to our next stop.
Stanley Park
Our favorite way to see the park is to rent a bike and ride around. When we’re trying to see a lot in one day we drive around to the highlights. Like the Hollow Tree, the Totem Poles.
And the Brockton Point Lighthouse built in 1914.
That’s our whirlwind tour of Vancouver!
For more fun things to do in Vancouver, click here.
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What a great idea for a trip to Vancouver! Thanks a lot for your article.
I love Vancouver, it’s a wonderful place! I recently spent a weekend there and did not regret it one bit!
Botanical garden is great for families who are seeking adventure. My kids really enjoyed it! You should definitely visit this place, it’s just incredible.
I am sure that my family would love to visit Vancouver one day. It definitely a beautiful place with a lot of fun things to do!
The Treewalk looks fun. I am sure my kids will enjoy it too! I can’t wait to visit Vancouver, maybe in the summer of 2021!
Next time we visit relatives up in Seattle, we are going to head up to Vancouver. Sounds like a great place to explore!
One of my friends used to live in Vancouver. Your photos confirm her description of the beauty and variety of things to do there.
Looks like a lot of fun. Love Canada, it’s been a while since I’ve been there. Would love to go back and visist.
I have always wanted to explore Vancouver. It just looks like there are so many incredible things for families to do there. And the scenery seems like some of the prettiest in the world!
We hope to visit Canada when it’s already okay to travel. Thank you for all these ideas. Vancouver looks like a lovely place to explore with the family.
I’ve heard Vancouver is gorgeous, especially this time of year!
Vancouver has always been on my must-travel list. Will be including your checklist of places to visit with the family.
Vancouver is on my bucket list. I hear nothing but good things about it.
I have always wanted to go to Vancouver. One day, I hope! It sounds like a fabulous spot.
I remember all of these places from visits over the years. Your daughter is adorable! That Gangsta Rap shirt made me laugh. #30daywritingchallenge
ohhh must take my wife to the gardens next time we’re there!