Vancouver is an amazing and diverse city! You can spend the morning in the hustle and bustle of downtown and be up on the top of Grouce mountain for the afternoon, hiking, snow shoeing or skiing! The views are incredible, unlike any other city I have been to before, with the skyscrapers of downtown against a backdrop of mountains and surrounded by the ocean. My time in Vancouver was slightly different to the rest of my travels as I was visiting friends who live in the city so it was a little more laid back and not so touristy. We spent lots of time making home cooked food, sitting in lovely coffee shops and restaurants and cycling the bike paths. I did manage to squeeze in quite a bit of sightseeing and here are some of the things I got up to...
Visit China Town
Walk through the streets of china town, weaving in and out of the supermarkets and shops full of colour, smells and quirky trinkets! Stop for some dim sum at one of the many restaurants for a cheap and tasty lunch!
Vintage/Boutique Shopping on Main St.
I decided to spend an afternoon exploring the vintage/thrift shops and boutiques on Main Street. I did this on the same day as I visited China town as they are both located on Main Street. After spending the morning exploring the streets of china town I walked down main street all the way to King Edward Ave popping in and out of all the shops along the way. It is a fairly long walk from China town and you will pass an industrial looking area before coming across the first of the shops, which mostly begin with secondhand furniture shops and lots of little cafes. I stopped here for a bite to eat in a little coffee shop before carrying on up Main. Once you get to Main and Broadway you will start to come across lots of individual boutiques and thrift shops.
I visited Gas Town in the evening for drinks and it seems like a really cool area to hang out. The streets are lined with trees covered in fairy lights and there is an old steam clock. There are lots of bars and restaurants and there also seems to be some interesting shops in the area but I didn't get a chance to explore it during the day time.
The Granville Market was probably my favourite place in Vancouver, and if you are a foodie you will love it! Make sure you go there with an empty tummy as you are sure to fill it with lots of yummy treats! The market is a beautiful place with so much variety. The fruit and veg stalls are perfectly arranged with towers of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries everywhere you look. Buy some lunch and sit out on the harbour front taking in the beautiful views. I would recommend trying the curry from 'Curry 2 U.' I tried the butter chicken rice bowl which was a huge portion and also came with a little slice on naan bread for around $8. You can also buy tiffin lunch boxes which are around $12 initially and $6 for a refill which is great value if you plan to return more than once! I also made a hamper for my friends to say thank you for having me to stay which was full of lovely cheese and crackers, cornish pasties, olives, strawberries and chocolate bunnies for Easter Sunday. The cornish pasties were delicious and very traditional, just like you get back in Cornwall. We also tried a Nanaimo bar from the same bakery which was super yummy and a must try when visiting Canada! We also went back to the market a second time to collect some ingredients for homemade sushi. We bought some smoked salmon and some maple glazed smoked salmon which was so tasty! We also got some fresh wholegrain bread from one of the bakers which we toasted for breakfast and it was so fresh and delicious. There are also lots of little trinket shops and galleries at the market which are fun to explore.
Grouce Mountain
Take the gondola to the top of Grouce Mountain for amazing views, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing (seasonal activities will vary.) I was very lucky as my friends had passes to the mountain which meant I got 50% off my ticket so I paid around $22 for the gondola. We did a little walk up the snow shoe trail and took in the amazing views. There is also a cafe, restaurant, cinema and shop at the top of the mountain. If you are here during the warmer months you may be able to do the Grouce Grind which is a 2.9km trail up the face of the mountain. Once you reach the top you can ride the gondola back down if you have had enough hiking. Unfortunately it was not yet open so we couldn't give it a go. There is also a bear habitat where you can see bears however they were in hibernation when we visited!
Hire a bike and cycle round Stanley park. Its a great way to see some awesome sights and get some exercise in the fresh air. There are lots of places to stop along the way, like the beach, if you want to take a picnic along with you. There are also some really cool totem poles along the bike path. Be careful as the bike path is only one way!
Have a Picnic at Kits Beach
Pack a picnic and head to Kits beach for the afternoon! Its a beautiful beach with lovely views and in the summer there is even a salt water swimming pool!
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