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5 things to do in Vancouver, Canada

July 20, 2016 by Tania 14 Comments

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5 things to do in Vancouver

5 things to do in Vancouver

5 things to do in Vancouver, Canada

Summer nights in Vancouver are very long. It’s light, even sunny until at least 9.30- 10 pm. This is something I didn’t know. After an all-night flight from a different time zone, things were very confusing. Did I have the right time on my watch, should I go to sleep, whats going on?.  Welcome to summer in Vancouver.

Downtown Vancouver

If you plan on visiting Vancouver, you need to stay in the Downtown area. It is close to everything and is very easily walkable. The City/ Downtown is only a small part of the municipalities that make up Vancouver, the suburbs are spread out over a large area, and if you are lucky you might get to visit a few of those. It doesn’t matter much what part of Downtown you stay in, it’s a small area and easy to get around. When I was booking I had no idea that Downtown was small and I spent quite a bit of time trying to work out where to stay.

So here are 5 things to do in Vancouver

  1. Tour Granville Island:

I visited here twice, the first time I took a food tour of Granville Island with Vancouver Foodie Tours. Whether you go on a tour or not this is a must destination.

Fact: This market attracts 10 million visitors a year including locals and tourists alike. It is the 2nd biggest visited attraction in Canada after Niagara Falls.

In 1979 a visionary Mayor began to convert the abandoned industrial land and buildings into a market. There are reminders all over the market of its industrial past in the old converted buildings and the one remaining 90-year-old business, Ocean Cement Company, who try to fit into its new surroundings by being as colourful as possible. You will notice their cement trucks are painted up as vegetables and the silos where they keep the mixes have been painted in colourful urban pictures. The graffiti artists responsible for the work were commissioned from Brasil

The market is made up of local produce including fruit and vegetables, seafood- fresh smoked and cooked, butchers, cheese and other dairy, patisseries, bakers, tea, coffee, smallgoods, honey, maple syrup a brewery, a distillery, wines, cafes, restaurants, artifacts, street performers ( there are 21 in and outdoor busking spots) and a handful of clothing outlets.

5 things to do in Vancouver

There are so many interesting things to try here at this market. If you can resist the food court offerings or any of the cafes and restaurants,  buy a whole bunch of different things and head to the outdoor area for a picnic. This is why I returned for a second visit.

5 things to do in Vancouver

The Foodie tour only runs a couple of times a week but it starts at Edible Canada, just opposite the main market hall, this is a Farm to Table Restaurant owned by a local chef and business identity, that also has a food store at the back.  70% of the food here is sourced from the surrounding BC district 20% from other parts of Canada and 10% from other places. The tour starts and ends here, and the offer of wine at 11 am means we begin in style with a choice of red or white from one of BC’s (British Columbia’s) oldest family-owned wineries Gray Monk Winery. This is offered with a Farmers Harvest Bowl of roasted vegetables and hummus along with a house-cured Arctic Salmon Gravlax. The informative and fun tour winds on through the market with tastings of coffee at JJ Bean, Vancouver’s favourite single origin medium roast coffee, (with over 18 outlets around the city), and moves through extensive tastings of one of 5th generation Charcuterie maker, John van der Lieck’s wares at Oyama Sausage Co.  A bag of samples from Terra Breads a small batch sourdough bakery that has a 20-year-old starter are handed out and we are encouraged to move onto tastings of local BC Farmhouse cheeses from Benton Brothers, including 6-year-old cheddar. The next stop is The Granville Island Tea Company where we try a very generously sized Iced White Tea Lemonade.

5 things to do in Vancouver

If this weren’t enough we try some of the summer season ruby fruits, giant cherries, and sweet perfumed strawberries from #1 orchard, finishing with cinnamon glazed light as air doughnuts from the 31-year-old shop, Lee’s doughnuts, and complete the round trip with a tasting of truffle salt from Edible Canada.

5 things to do in Vancouver
5 things to do in Vancouver

The tour is a beauty and after it is finished I head inside to try Edible Canada’s version of a Canadian Favourite snack food Poutine. Have you heard of it?……. yes, well it is a large plate of fries covered with cheese curds, and gravy and then melted under a grill. This version includes a braised oxtail and a fried egg with hand-cut fries. It’s delicious.

5 things to do in Vancouver

2. False Creek Ferries, Vancouver

These cute little ferries are a feature in Vancouver. The tiny character ferries ply the waterway known as False Creek. It looks anything but a creek these days, but 30 years ago this area was a swamp. Now the creek can be traversed from one side of the city to the other and best of all they stop at Granville Markets. The journeys are cheap and a fun way to sight-see from the water.

5 things to do in Vancouver

Take a hop-on-hop-hop-off cruise around the city in your own time or do a circuit cruise.  Alternatively, just hop on and go to one destination. Prices range from about $5-$15. There are special occasion tours and celebrations so check their website.

5 things to do in Vancouver
5 things to do in Vancouver

3. Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

This is a great place to visit for a picnic or a hike, it’s green and cool and makes you feel a million miles away from the world.  The Suspension Bridge was built for pedestrians within Lynn Canyon Park, in North Vancouver. The bridge is suspended 50 meters from the bottom of the canyon. It was built by a private company in 1912 and has been a feature of this park since then.  There are a few easy walking paths that take you through the beautiful forest, past crystal clear pools of water and babbling water courses.

5 things to do in Vancouver

The bridge itself swings over the abyss, and when it gets busy it can be a nerve-racking experience. If you are a bit nervous about being on a swinging bridge over a canyon with a crowd of people, then get there early, and live on the edge- literally. The park is accessible by public transport and it is highly worth visiting.

5 things to do in Vancouver
5 things to do in Vancouver

4. A Trip to Whistler

A snap decision to visit Whistler was a very good one. I contacted Landsea Adventure Tours and they had space on a trip the very next day. Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are the largest ski-able area in North America, with roughly 12 meters of yearly snowfall. The road to Whistler follows the beautifully named “Sea to Sky” highway and travels past waterfalls and glaciers, all within a day trip from Vancouver.

5 things to do in Vancouver

The trip is around an hour and a half, an incredible landscape transformation from city to ski slope without ever feeling like much of an incline. But those views out through the bus window as you pass waterfalls, vertical rock faces and those snow-capped peaks that seem to follow you all the way is exhilarating.

Whistler and the lower town of Squamish are both winter and summer playgrounds and when you arrive at Whistler village, there is plenty to do. The list of things you can do in the summer is so long, the Village is booked out and completely packed with people. The sun is out but there is still snow on the peaks of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains making the “Peak to Peak” the perfect summertime activity. The ride to the very top involves an initial Gondola trip to the top of Whistler where there is a restaurant.

5 things to do in Vancouver

In the summer you can look down onto the slopes below the Gondola and spot Black Bears foraging for berries and peer with awe at the dare-devils hurtling down the dirt tracks and over jumps on their bikes. Once you are at the top of Whistler, you can stay if you like but the Peak to Peak just begins here when you catch the next Gondola from the Peak of  Whistler to the Peak of Blackcomb mountain, kilometers across the valley. The sight of the bottom of the valley below and the sweeping Mountains in a 360-degree view of the village, glaciers, forests, and lakes are the reward for being brave enough to ride high above the ground. It is quite spectacular.

Beautiful whistler
5 things to do in Vancouver
5 things to do in vancouver

If Peaks aren’t your thing there is a huge variety of other activities besides, mountain biking down the (snowless) ski slopes you can go hiking, zip lining, fishing, white water rafting,  bungee jumping, Canoeing, Helicopter sightseeing, horse riding,  as well as eating, drinking, shopping, joining in community BBQ’s and joining a tasting tour. It’s a very well organised village.

5 things to do in Vancouver

5. Finding Exciting places to eat

No trip is complete without giving the local cuisine a nudge. He’s a couple of places I tried :

  • Gringo in Gastown- Fun-filled casual, cheap, cocktails, tacos: Blood Alley, Gastown
  • Timber- Canadian-based foods with local wines and smoked meat sandwiches a specialty: 1300 Robson St, City
  • The Distillery bar and Kitchen – Great cocktails with very enticing happy hour specials on food and drinks. indoor and outdoor eating. They also have a very imaginative Brunch menu at 1131 Mainland St, Yaletown
  • Rodneys Oyster House  Fresh seafood, raw bar, fish tanks, 1128  Hamilton st Yaletown
  • Meet,   Vegan with a bar and great food: 12 Water Street,  Gastown
  • Forage- Farm to plate, creative same chef owns Timber: 1300 Robson St, Vancouver
  • Zefferellis, Italian excellent service great food, large servings here  1136 Robson St, City Vancouver,
  • Miku sophisticated, trendy, fun seafood and drinks: 200 Granville st City
  • Japa Dog Creative Hotdogs with a twist a social media sensation: 530 Robson St, Vancouver,
  • Bella Gelato is the best ice cream in Canada- Their lines: 1001 West Cordova Street
  • Edible Canada Locally sourced ingredients imaginative food: Granville Markets
  • Belgard Kitchen and Postmark Brewing  at the Settlement Building, brewery, winemaking and brilliant food: Railtown
5 things to do in vancouver
Eating in Vancouver

Above a Beef salad from Belgard Kitchen, the doorman (Ben) from Melbourne (the bearded one) made the night at Gringos too much fun and crazy kitchen antics at Gringos, Smoking Brisket with the chef at Timber, Tacos at Gringos, Beef Carpaccio with 60 degrees Egg, Ponzu, Jalapeno, Lotus root at Miku Japanese on Granville Street.

5 things to do in Vancouver

Baby Flatiron Building, Gastown Vancouver

Vancouver is a city that is serious about the environment and intends to be the greenest in the world by 2020 by having zero waste.

www.mykitchenstories.com.au

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Filed Under: RECIPES, Travel Tagged With: canada, eating in vancouver, False creek ferries, granville island food tours, gringos gastown, land sea tours, peak to peak, poutine, restaurants vancouver, things to do in vancouver, travel, vancouver, visiting granville island

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid

    July 29, 2016 at 3:26 pm

    I’m looking forward to following in your footsteps around Vancouver – thanks for all the top tips!

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 30, 2016 at 11:39 am

      Hi Sammie hope you enjoy it it is a nice easy to navigate city

      Reply
  2. chgojohn

    July 26, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    I’ve heard nothing but praise for Vancouver and this post certainly doesn’t contradict any of it. It’s a gem, all right. I’ve relatives in Winnipeg and watching the sun set so late was a bit of a shock during my first visit. All the better to enjoy a wonderful place. Thanks for taking us along, Tania.

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 26, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      You are very welcome John. Thank you

      Reply
  3. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    July 22, 2016 at 9:29 am

    Vancouver is such a brilliant city with so much to offer. I can see why so many Aussies want to live there.

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 22, 2016 at 2:56 pm

      Yep. Its full of them isn’t it?

      Reply
  4. Lenore Gee

    July 21, 2016 at 8:41 pm

    What wonderful information, it’s great to get a heads up on some places to eat, I always waste a whole lot of time trying to decide on this. Thanks

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 21, 2016 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks Lenore!

      Reply
  5. Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

    July 21, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    I’d love to get to the west coast of Canada (I’ve only been to the Toronto region) – thanks for the inspiration and beautiful photos!

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 21, 2016 at 9:47 pm

      Oh thats nice Kari. Thanks. I’d love to go to Toronto

      Reply
  6. Krista

    July 21, 2016 at 4:56 am

    Loved seeing your pics and reading your descriptions of my old stomping grounds. 🙂 You captured them beautifully. 🙂

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 21, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      Really Krista, I didn’t know that. I can imagine you there though its very pretty

      Reply
  7. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    July 21, 2016 at 3:38 am

    Have never been to Vancouver, but now I want to! All those berries and fruits are really amazing.

    Reply
    • My Kitchen Stories

      July 21, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      Its a pretty place for sure Angie

      Reply

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Tania Cusack Hi, I'm Tania and this is My Kitchen Stories. I share all kinds of recipes here. Most recipes are quick and easy, just perfect for families. BUT, you could also find vegan, cakes and desserts too. Come and have a look around Read More
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