Bottom line: If you saw every one of the pics I snapped, you’d want to hop a plane to Vancouver today. It’s gorgeous and such a great city to visit. Here are some of the fun things we saw:
Kitsilano Beach: This beach has something for everyone! Sunbathers, volleyball players, sandcastle makers and families alike will love this beach. Kits Beach as the locals call it, is a great beach to swim at, too, because the water is calm and there’s a pool called, Kits Pool, which is Canada’s longest pool and part of the beach’s extended park.
Stanley Park: The city’s largest urban park is a national historic site right in the center of the city. With 405-hectares that border downtown Vancouver. Stanley Park is almost entirely surrounded by the waters of Vancouver Harbor and English Bay and, and is one of the top Vancouver attractions. Mountains, rain forest, and sea wall, one walk through the park and you’ll hit all 3!
Vancouver Aquarium: The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s largest aquarium and home to more than 70,000 animals including eels, dolphins, anacondas, sea otters, sloths, and more. Visitors can learn all about the region’s marine life through their educational “encounters” program, which allows visitors to go behind the scenes and get up close and personal with the animals and the people who train them. So you can help “train” and feed dolphins, otters, turtles, sea lions, and more!
Vancouver Art Gallery: This gallery was awesome! It included artwork by all sorts of artists: indigenous, super world-famous, and Canadian alike. They also had a lot of art of the Asia Pacific region at the gallery’s Institute of Asian Art. Oh and if you’re hungry, they have a cool rooftop patio cafe.
Queen Elizabeth Park: This 128-acre park is the highest point in the city and located at Vancouver’s geographic center. It’s full of gorgeousness like quarry gardens, amazing city and mountain views, an arboretum, a cool rose garden that’ll blow you away and a place they call Painters’ Corner, where local artists display and sell their work. It really is a lovely park with a lovely name to boot!
So what did I miss? What are some awesome Vancouver hot spots? Have you been? Did you love it as much as we did?
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone,
~Mavis
Emily B. says
MAVIS! I needed this a month ago right before I went to Vancouver! We did the train from Seattle. Got to Granville Island on public transport (man, their transit system is NOT user friendly)! So wished we had more time, but sadly had to get back for the 4 hr train trip back.
Amy says
Your vacation sounds so fun! And it look like you got to do a lot while you were there! Our family is still trying to decide where to go this August. Half want Hawaii. The other half (which includes me) would rather do Canada. When you were there- how long did you stay and what was your mode of transportation? I need some things to convince the other half my idea would be so much better.
Erin M says
Vancouver is pretty incredible isn’t it. It sounds like you hit all the important spots. If you ever get a chance you should try to make it to Vancouver Island if you are ever back on the west coast again.
Mary Neathway says
My dearest daughter lives in Vancouver and we went down last spring to play tourist with her as the guide. Besides most of the places you mentioned (Granville Island is walking distance from her home) we also went to the UBC anthropology museum- incredible displays, both inside and out- wandered around Gastown, ate in Chinatown…. and revelled in the miles of cherry trees in full blossom.
KATRINA FOURNIER says
Anyone know if one can do Neverland Tea Salon, Granville Island, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Bloedel Floral Conservatory all in one day?? Would love to do all of them and it would have to be all in a day..
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! We did. 🙂 Make a reservation at Neverland Tea Salon though.
LaToya says
PERFECT TIMING!
We’re going to Vancouver the week after next for my daughter’s 15th birthday.
I already have it all planned out, but planned for the same bakery we’ve been to before and swapping out that one for Butter is easy-peasy. I’m excited.
Thanks, Miss Mavis!
Mavis Butterfield says
Be prepared to fill a BOX with goodness from Butter. Everything is delicious! Have fun.