SGDF and I had been meaning to visit Vancouver for such a long time given how many people have raved about the nature, food, and the city itself. We booked our flights as summer was coming to a close end because we wanted to visit Vancouver before it got too cold/rainy. This is a summary of our trip including all the amazing recommendations and tips from many friends (THANKS FRIENDS!).
- Parking Downtown: we’ve heard it can be expensive (prices vary so just do your research) / inconvenient to park due to time limits in downtown Vancouver. We tried to take public transit when we could. You can buy one way ticket for their metro or a full-day pass (better if you plan to take several rides in one day).
- Renting a car: if you plan to explore outside downtown, then you will most likely want a car. It was convenient having a car to get to hiking, kayaking, and other nature spots. One thing we learned in Vancouver is that the airport rental companies may state certain operating hours, but most of them (if not all) have an after hour drop-off option. We were concerned we couldn’t return our rental since we had a 6am flight but it was super easy.
- Weather: We visited during Labor Day weekend (early September) and it was still warm out but at times it got chilly in the shade. Bring layers!
- Cycling: Vancouver is amazing for cycling because there are so many protected bike lanes. Most of the time you will need to share the bike lane so cycle on the right side of the road. If you aren’t cycling, then don’t walk on the bike lanes (it was actually super common).
- Flying out: Time it well since you will need to go through customs at Vancouver Airport (at least we had to when we were flying back to SFO)
- Other random stuff: If you have AT&T and an unlimited plan, then you get free data, calls, and text too (may want to call to confirm) but that was super helpful to get around the city and to navigate. Canada uses the same electricity outlets as the US.
Day 1
SGDF and I stayed outside of downtown in Burnaby given we were more interested in exploring the outdoors than the city center. Our Airbnb was close to a metro stop so it was convenient to get to downtown when we wanted to. We took a 7AM flight out of SF and headed straight to the Airbnb to drop off luggage. Post that, we went to City Tour Bike Rentals to cycle and explore downtown and Stanley Park. There are many bike rental shops closer to the park if you prefer. We decided to rent it closer to downtown to save time getting from the metro stop to the park. It was also easy and safe to cycle in the city since there are so many protected bike lanes.
We went around the Seawalk from downtown to Stanley Park. You can just cycle the perimeter of the park, along the water, or venture inside the park as there are many bike lanes and paths. Our first stop along the perimeter was Third Beach. We then went all around and inside the park to Beaver Lake. Many of the trails are rocky so having a mountain bike helped. Stanley Park is so different compared to Golden Gate or Central Park in that it felt more like a forest or marsh than a city park.
After cycling inside the park, we ended back on the Seawalk and went to Second Beach (drivable as well) before leaving the park to go to English Bay Beach. We cycled along the perimeter of the city, stopping by the docks, various parks, and Science World.
We got lost several times trying to find the protected bike path back to the city center but eventually found the bike path on Union and Dunsmuir (it is actually elevated and located on a bridge structure). We dropped off the bikes and immediately searched for food as we were starving. We went to Japadog and devoured two hotdogs (unfortunately their popular kobe beef hotdog was sold out) and then walked around to Yaletown.
Day 2
SGDF booked a surprise kayaking activity for the morning. We headed over to Deep Cove early to get breakfast. We highly recommend Honey Doughnuts and their signature item (which of course are the honey doughnuts). We loaded up on carbs before setting out for a 3 hour kayaking adventure. We recommend going to Jug Island, and if you have time (and the energy), to Twins Islands. The morning was amazing and we even spotted some marine animals including seals, jellyfish, starfish, and various birds. We decided to stay in our kayaks the entire time (mostly because we were lazy to disembark) but you could park and hike or picnic at the various small beaches.
Post the beautiful kayaking tour of the area, we went to Arm’s Reach Bistro for lunch (get the baked pasta, beer flight, and rosé flight) and then Cafe Orso for coffee. Fueled up, we headed to Lynn Canyon. Friends recommended this spot for the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, a great (and free) alternative to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, for picnicking / spending the day out, and for hiking. SGDF conquered his fears and walked across, which was pretty scary when you reach the middle since it does swing a little.
We went to the 30 foot pool where people were tanning and cliff jumping, and then Twin Falls (recommend).
We then headed back to our Airbnb to freshen up to go to dinner. A friend recommended Bao Bei, a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. This restaurant doesn’t take reservations and the wait can be long (they told us 1.5 hours for a table) but luckily we found a spot at the bar and were able to order off the same menu. This place is not your typical Chinese restaurant. This trendy restaurant serves sophisticated Chinese dishes with a modern twist. We recommend the lamb baobing (lamb sandwich), seafood homemade dumplings, and crispy pork belly (you should also get a side of rice for it). Post that, we walked across town from Chinatown to Waterfront. Heads up that you will pass by a few homeless camps and dodgy streets, which is probably fine during the day, but we would have taken a cab at night. We eventually ended up at Bella Gelateria, the award winning gelateria. I would say it was worth the wait (~30-40 min in line) to try it once but I probably wouldn’t wait again. You pick / pay for your order first before going to the counter to try samples (up to 3 per order). It was the perfect end to a long day.
Day 3
On our last day, we decided to drive up the recommended Sea-to-Sky highway to the Sea to Sky Gondola for a hike.
We wished we had more time in Vancouver because there are so many great hikes nearby, but ultimately decided on the Sea to Summit hike that takes you up to the gondola. This 7.5 km, ~3,000 foot elevation gain hike was one of the hardest I’ve ever done. Tip: Wear good shoes (the hiking boots helped), bring water, and be prepared to basically be on a stairclimber for 3-5 hours. There are 3-4 moments where you will have to climb using rope or chain to get up. It is a dog friendly hike, but I would only bring a large and athletic dog since the terrain is very difficult and there were areas where owners had to push or carry their dogs up.
If you are feeling lazy, then you can also pay for the gondola there and back (a bit over $40 pp). If you do end up hiking the entire way, then it’s $15 pp (yes, it’s $15 for your dog too) to go back down. At the top of the gondola, there are different walking trails, a suspension bridge, large cafeteria, picnic areas, and beautiful vista points. There were many families and large groups just hanging out and I can see people making a day of it. If we had more time, then we would have stopped more along the drive to the Cove and Shannon Falls (also hikable).
We hit some traffic back but made it to the surprise dinner that SGDF planned at Miku Sushi on the waterfront. We decided to drive and park downtown since we were in a rush. We got the tasting menu, which was so very worth it. We were delightfully stuffed by the end of the meal and it was some of the best sushi / fish we’ve had. Unfortunately we had an early flight the next day so we called it an early night. Post everything, our verdict – we will be back!
Across Oceans & Travels 