A Week in Vancouver

My best friend and I visited Vancouver for a week and had the most amazing time. We did everything from watching Orcas jump around the pacific, to trying local food in the markets, and loved every moment of it. There's so much to offer in Vancouver, and we just touched the surface.

Itinerary

Day 1: Granville Island and Whale Watching

Explore downtown and get breakfast at Granville Island Market. Here we had the most delicious and unique bagels in the food market, and there was so much to choose from it was impossible to decide! We had free samples, saw cuisines from all around the world and just walking around the market was a great activity in itself. From the market we headed over to Wild Whales Van, where we had pre-booked our 5 hour boat tour on the Pacific Ocean. We were briefed and suited up, before heading to board the boat. We both highly recommend doing a whale watching boat, they are run by professionals and conservationists who are always careful of the Orcas and other ocean life in the area, follow regulations and distance requirements and work closely with marine research and protection charities and organisations in British Columbia. The tour guides are very knowledgeable, even for each individual Orca which has a name and history, so you can learn about the animals you are seeing. It was the highlight of the trip for both of us and definitely the perfect way to start!

Wild Whales Van

www.whalesvancouver.com

Day 2: Whistler

Another highlight for sure was the day we visited Whistler. Up bright and early to catch our pre-booked coach for the 2 hour drive along the scenic Sea to Sky highway, we headed to the famous ski resort. The journey up the mountains is surreal, as you watch the Pacific Ocean get traded in for snowy peaks (hence sea to sky). Having an organised coach take you there and back is definitely the way to go. The driver was very friendly, and the coach was super comfortable. It made transport a lot easier, especially when heading somewhere quite far out of the city and transport links. We were blown away by how stunning the village is and all the boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars that were along both Whistler and Blackcomb areas. We started the day by heading to the Bubly Tube Park, where we spent some time sledding down the slopes in increasing speeds and lane lengths, and it was so much fun! The sun was even shining at the top of the mountain, which made the experience even better. After the tubing, we had lunch at a food truck and drinks in one of the bars overlooking the ski slopes. The atmosphere in Whistler was so cool, with lots of great music, bustling crowds and plenty of places for a good drink. We strolled through the souvenir shops picking up some great finds, and ended the trip with a visit to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, to learn about the First Nation peoples who live and have lived in the Whistler region. We were introduced to their history, cultural ceremonies and dance, canoes and totem poles, as well as learning directly from enthusiastic tour guides who made the experience interactive and insightful. I highly recommend visiting this centre and learning about the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations and territory.

Day 3: Lynn Canyon Park and Gastown

On the third day, the weather started to turn very drizzly, but it didn't stop us from putting on the hiking gear and visiting Lynn Canyon Park and Lynn Valley. We spent the whole morning here, following the beautiful hiking trails through the forest, crossing the suspension bridge over the waterfalls, climbing down to the river and seeing the mountains appear behind the mist of the lake. We knew British Columbia was famous for its stunning parks and outdoor activities, so we weren't going to miss a chance to visit one of these parks and get the steps in. There is nothing quite like standing in the middle of a suspension bridge, over a valley and waterfall and surrounded by giant trees. Luckily for us, there were no bear sightings, but Lynn Valley is home to bears amongst other animals, so if you visit, keep an eye out! Gastown was one of my favourite spots, a trendy district back in the city which we went to for lunch and some shopping. We ate in a pasta factory resembling the old train station, with yummy food options and a cool interior. Gastown is home to plenty of souvenir shops, stunning and unique boutiques and of course, the iconic steam clock which shows off just some of the charming character of the area.

Day 4: Stanley Park, RAIN and VanAquarium

The weather finally made the city live up to its nickname of RainCouver, and we spent the morning trying to decide where to go and what to do, having had baseball game tickets cancelled. The Vancouver SunRun (which took place in the pouring rain) was starting right outside our hotel, so we stood by and joined in with the atmosphere of the countdown. After watching for a while, we went for a nice breakfast at a pancake cafe, to have something sweet to start the day. We ended up going into Stanley Park, Vancouver's scenic 405 hectare park which borders the city and the ocean. It was also Cherry Blossom season, so the park was even more beautiful! Inside the park are numerous activities and sites, including the Vancouver Aquarium, where we went for the afternoon to learn about the sea life and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We got to see one of the largest seals in the world and see a 4D show about the wide range of sharks in our oceans. It was such a cool place, and above all, is known for being a centre of marine research, rehabilitation and conservation. In the evening, we booked tickets for FlyOver Canada, a 4D immersive experience ride, where we sat in chairs resembling paragliders and flew into the screen showcasing a stunning visual show of Canada's landscapes, with sound, smell and touch elements to bring it to life. It was a great activity for a rainy day, and would recommend for non-rainy days too because it was great fun!

Day 5: Kitsilano, Vancouver Lookout and the Vancouver Public Library

On our last day, we spent the morning over in Kitsilano, a beachside town just a short bus ride away from the city centre. We walked along the beach, saw some pretty houses and strolled through the town centre Main Street, stopping for breakfast at Sophie's Cosmic Cafe, a 1950s inspired diner with cool decor. Kitsilano had lots of great boutiques, shops and cafes, similar to Gastown, and one of our favourite spots was the massive angel wings mural painted on the side of one of the buildings and a popular hotspot for photos. After exploring Kitsilano, we went back into the city and headed for the Vancouver Lookout, a tall pointed building with a revolving restaurant and 360 lookout deck. All around the deck are information points to explain what you can see at each window. It's definitely a tourist spot, and has the best views of the whole city. Another great stop was the Vancouver Public Library, which has funky architecture you can actually walk around, a rooftop terrace and mini garden, and a lobby of cafes and gift shops. After a long day of trying to fit in as much more as we could, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the airport and head home. Vancouver was incredible, and we both loved the city and Canada so much.

The itinerary was perfect, and we saw everything that we wanted to! If we go back in the future, we would love to visit Vancouver Island when the weather is good to head over there, as well as Grouse Mountain, so while we saw more than we expected, there is still plenty more to see and a second trip would be most welcome!!