Vancouver, BC is just a three hour drive north of my hometown of Seattle, but I’m embarrassed to admit that other than Handmaid’s Tale-induced fantasies of possible escape routes from the political apocalypse, I haven’t given it much thought since I last visited on a family vacation when I was 12. On my last visit back to the Pacific Northwest I decided it was time to rectify this oversight and planned a quick mother-daughter excursion north of the border. Surprise-not-surprise, if you like trees, water, food, and international culture of all sorts, Vancouver is a total delight. A week wouldn’t really even be enough, but even if you have just a weekend it’s still totally worth a trip.
Day 1 – Robson Street & Gastown
3:30pm – After an easy drive up I-5 from Seattle (you can also take a Greyhound in about four hours), we arrived at The Sylvia Hotel on English Bay. Somewhat secluded from the busier downtown area but still close enough to walk to many downtown attractions, English Bay is a great spot for views to the south and west, and the perfect starting point for exploring nearby Stanley Park. The Sylvia is an atmospheric hotel over 100 years old with a historic restaurant and bar on the ground floor.
4pm – Walk along Robson Street towards downtown, checking out the wide range of international eateries and stores along the way. Scope out some restaurants to return to for dinner, or if you’re feeling peckish stop in at PappaRoti for Malaysian coffee buns.
5pm – Cruise through the downtown sights and continue exploring east into Chinatown, or head a few blocks north into Gastown, a hip section of lamp-lined streets full of boutiques and cozy gastropubs. Don’t miss the Gastown Steam Clock with its regularly-timed whistles and crowd of tourists snapping photos.
6pm – Stop for a cocktail and maybe dinner in one of Gastown’s many restaurants; we loved The Flying Pig, where you can indulge in some traditional Candian poutine 😉
7:30pm – If you’re not tired of walking yet–or compelled to work off that poutine–continue your downtown walking tour back west towards the Vancouver Harbour, checking out the Canada Place convention centre and the Seawall Water Walk. You could theoretically hoof it all the way back to English Bay, perhaps fueled by a late-night snack, or grab an Uber whenever you feel like your feet are going to fall off.
Day 2 – Kitsilano and Mt. Pleasant
9am – The best remedy for tired legs from yesterday’s exploration is more walking! Start off today walking southeast along Sunset Beach Park and across the Burrard Street Bridge to the yuppie paradise of Kitsilano. (Or, give yourself a break and grab a quick ride to the intersection of 4th and Burrard.) Wander west down 4th, maybe embrace the hippie vibe and grab a juice at Glory Juice Co. If you’re really feeling it, pop in for a class at Semperviva Yoga or YYoga down the street. Alternatively if the weather is decent, there’s a beach! Either way, donuts and coffee at 49th Parallel Coffee are a must.
12pm – Pop into a drugstore to buy a TransLink day pass and then walk a couple of blocks south to Broadway and catch the #99 bus heading east. Get off at Main Street to explore the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. It’s worth a wander a couple of blocks north to check out some thrift stores and murals, then double back south and browse the boutiques until you’re ready for lunch.
2:30pm – Time for lunch! We stopped at Colony Bar and enjoyed some delicious mezze and salad, but intriguing options abound–there seemed to be somewhat of a concentration of Korean restaurants and little cafes in particular that I would probably check out next time.
3:30pm – Keep browsing down Main; some of our favorites included Urban Source “alternative art materials” (think baskets of buttons, ribbons, and trinkets of all sorts) and The Soap Dispensary and Kitchen Staples for all the bulk goods you could imagine. We intended to make it as far as Queen Elizabeth Park, which seems like it would be a great place to watch the sunset.
6pm – Make your way by bus or by car towards dinner, or a cocktail at least; we found Vij’s Ragnoli off Granville ideal for both. A bus runs up Granville across the bridge towards downtown, where Yaletown or Davie Village could be great spots for a nightcap.
Day 3 – Stanley Park, Granville Island, + High Tea
8am – Make like an English Bay local and explore Stanley Park. The Seawall Walk is amazing, with views of mountains and bay, but there are plenty of great (and shorter) trails through the park to explore as well. The building that houses the Prospect Point Bar and Grill has a gift shop and a cafe with pastries and coffee if you’re looking for breakfast, or seems great for lunch if you really make a morning of it. However, with limited time, you may have to tear yourself away from the park and save lunch for the market.
12pm – Head to Granville Island and either find a proper lunch, or happily snack your way through the Granville Island Public Market. There’s plenty more to explore on the rest of the island as well, from shops like MAKE Vancouver to Granville Island Brewing.
2:30pm – Lest you think you could leave Canada without paying homage to Her Majesty’s Commonwealth, stop in to the Secret Garden Tea Company for high tea (seatings at 2:15 and 4:30). But don’t worry, you don’t have to leave the Pacific Northwest entirely; gluten-free and vegan menus are available.
