This was my second trip to Vancouver, and even though I saw many of the sights my first time around, this time was completely different and I got a whole new feeling for a city I already loved. I think one of the most important things to note with Vancouver is that it has a ‘home away from home’ feel – it’s very similar to Australia in lots of aspects. The people are friendly and welcoming, the main city itself is fairly compact (600,000 in the main city but then it sprawls into suburbia) and it’s very easy to navigate.
To get your full bearings, head to the top of the Vancouver Lookout Tower, as this gives you a 360 degree view of the city. Your tickets are valid for the full day, so pop back as we did when it was dark so that you can see the city all lit up as well as during the day. Enjoy a drink and snacks in the revolving restaurant and watch the world go by.
Stanley Park is an absolute must and can be done on foot, by car, by bicycle or horse and carriage which is a whole lot of fun. The Park itself is huge, 400 hectares in total and you can enjoy views of the water, surrounding mountains and take in the famous seawall. Don’t miss the First Nations totem poles, 9 O’clock Gun, Girl in a Wet Suit rock monument and take in the amazing trees and gardens. And if you’re travelling in March/April, you won’t have far to look to get a magnificent view of the cherry blossom trees which are absolutely stunning.
Visit Granville Island and walk through the fantastic public markets; the perfect place to buy a few items and enjoy a spot of lunch. The fresh produce on offer is fantastic and more than worthy of sampling and savouring so it is a great place to head too when you’re ready for a bite to eat.
Gastown is another area to visit, although I would suggest doing at night. Gastown is home to a number of bars, restaurants and cafes, and a great place for dinner or a spot of nightlife action. Be sure to see the old Gas steam clock which is still operating today, it’s something quite different. Yaletown is the other area that is filled with restaurants, very trendy and modern and there are some fabulous restaurants here but I have to admit, Gastown would be my preference.
Take in a Canucks Ice-Hockey game if you can. This was so much fun, and one of our highlights in Vancouver without a doubt. We had no idea what we were watching but it was easy to get carried away with the crowds, so would recommend getting involved and obtaining tickets if you have the opportunity. The whole city watches and the stadium is great, a definite for any sport or live action lover.
We had a few ‘in and out’ stops in Vancouver on this journey (as we were following a School rugby team). Each time we stayed in a different hotel, namely the Hyatt Regency and then the Westin Grand Vancouver and I can highly recommend both hotels. Everything is within an easy walking distance of both and to be honest, it would be hard to stay in a bad location but the hotels are all of varying standard and easy walking distance to different attractions.
Check out my previous blog on Vancouver http://spectacularworldtravel.com.au/2015/03/cool-canada/ for more suggestions and things to do in Vancouver and other parts of Canada, although this is the first in a series of Canada blogs, so make sure you subscribe if you don’t want to miss out on our weekly blog!