9 Shop the Boutiques
Gastown is known for its cool, fashion-forward boutiques with anything from streetwear to high end and eclectic euro, so if you’d like to exercise your wallet, shop until you drop and hit up the countless stores along Water Street. We recommend One Of A Few, Hey Jude and Oak + Fort for high quality staple pieces or The Latest Scoop for trendier ones.
8 Get Cultured at the Museums + Galleries
Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery for some inspo (and new IG pics.) The gallery was first founded in 1931 and moved to its current location, a former courthouse, in 1983. It’s one of the country’s largest art galleries and was designated a National Historic Site in 1980. If you become a member, you can help support the institution of culture AND skip the lines!
Connect to the city and uncover stories, objects, displays and experiences that make up Vancouver’s past, present and future at the Museum of Vancouver. Anyone that says that Vancouver lacks culture clearly hasn’t done their homework.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Where | 750 Hornby Street
Website | http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
Museum of Vancouver
Where | 1100 Chestnut Street
Website | https://museumofvancouver.ca/
7 Visit the Aquatic Life
Learn about the conservation of aquatic life while admiring some magnificent life forms at the Vancouver Aquarium. (Nemo, is that you??)The non-profit public aquarium serves as a major tourist attraction and facility for marine life research, conversation and re-rehabilitation.
Where | 845 Avison Way
Website | https://www.vanaqua.org/
6 Smell the Roses in the Gardens
Gorgeous is an understatement when describing the VanDusen Botanical Garden. If you’re #plantstagram obsessed, you’ll find yourself in greenery heaven. A maze made out of 3,000 pyramidal cedars, a stone garden (next to the second highest point in Vancouver), a moorland themed Scottish shelter, and a colorful Korean hexagonal pavilion are a few noteworthy features.
Where | 5251 Oak Street
Website | http://vandusengarden.org/
5 Tour the Oldest Island
Feast your eyes and treat your tastebuds to rows and rows of edible treats at Granville Island Public Market. Looking for that perfect gift? The market is a true showcase of craftmaship and features all kinds of custom-made trinkets. Outside of the market, tour galleries, sample small-batch sakes, listen to live music, enjoy a comedy show and more!
Fun fact: Granville Island is the 2nd most visited tourist attraction in Canada!
Where | 1669 Johnston Street
Website | https://granvilleisland.com/
4 Bum out on the Beach
How lucky are we to have beaches right in the urban city? Pack some food and have yourself a sizzling waterfront bbq and bust out the tunes. If you’re looking for convenience, head to English Bay, Sunset Beach and Kits Beach, if you’re looking for more privacy, Third Beach or Wreck Beach are it, and if you’re looking to go swimming, Jericho Beach or Spanish Banks are the nicest. Here’s a breakdown of all the beaches.
3 Shop the Markets
One of the best parts of living in BC, is the endless fresh and local grown foods. If you like to eat and support local, then check out the many Vancouver Farmers Markets that run every weekend: Downtown, Trout Lake, Kitsilano, West End, Main Street Station, Mount Pleasant, Nat Bailey and Hastings Park.
Website | https://eatlocal.org/
2 Sunday Funday Brunch
And on the 7th day, there was brunch. We may not have as big of a brunch culture here as in NYC or London, but for those who aren’t too hungover to leave their houses, we have so many places to choose from. Our go-to favs are Reflections: The Garden Terrace, Provence Marinaside or Botanist for the buffet, if you want to get real fancy.
1 Float your BBQ Boat
This is as waterfront dining as it gets. Bring your own bbq, hop on Joe’s BBQ Boat and get ready to grill and chill. This eco-friendly boat fits up to eight people and you drive it yourself. No boating license required. #ImTheCaptainNow
Where | 1820 Mast Tower Lane
Website | https://joesbbqboat.com/
