VANCOUVER MUST SEES

Vancouver is a major city in Canada’s province of British Columbia. Surrounded by mountains with incredible bars and restaurants, a thriving art scene, and relatively mild climate, Vancouver has many must see places. If this is your first time in this city, do not miss these spots below!

Gastown Steam Clock

The Gastown Steam Clock was built in 1977 to cover a steam grate and is one of a handful of steam clocks in the world. Technically the whistles are powered by steam and the clockworks itself are electric powered, but we still call it a steam clock! Nowadays you might see a little crowd around the clock enjoying either the Westminster chime that is produced throughout the day or the little toots from each whistle to mark the hour!

Vancouver Art Gallery

The Vancouver Art Gallery is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1931 that is currently in a 15,300 square metre building, taking the top spot as the largest art museum in Western Canada by building size. At the time of writing this (October 2024) the museum is, however, moving to a new location in the future! I personally found the gallery areas limited.

Stanley Park

New York has Central Park, Amsterdam has Vondelpark, and Vancouver has Stanley Park. Stanley Park is Vancouver’s oldest and largest urban park, stretching out over 400 hectares. This park is quite famous for its Seawall Path, a 10km seawall loop around the park. Here you can walk, run, bike, or inline skate! Just keep in mind that cyclists and skaters must travel counterclockwise on the seawall, so once you start your journey you are committed to it! (Note that pedestrians can walk whichever direction they so choose.) Another popular site in Stanley Park is the collection of totem poles sourced from different areas in British Columbia. We actually took a tour here that gave us a great introduction to Salish and Northwest Coast indigenous art, specifically detailing these magnificent totem poles that are in the park. As Stanley Park is on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, I encourage you to keep this in mind as you walk through Stanley Park and take in all there is to see.

Museum of Anthropology

If you enjoyed viewing the totem poles in Stanley Park, you are going to love the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, as it has quite a large collection of Northwest Coast First Nations art. The Great Hall of the museum has an impressive array of totem poles, and there are rooms upon rooms of cultural artifacts like masks, baskets, and textiles most notably from the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, but also from other areas of the world.

Granville Island

Okay so technically Granville Island is not an island, it is a peninsula. This means that depending on where you are coming from, you might want to take a bus, a ferry, or even walk there. We visited Granville Island from downtown Vancouver, and we hopped on an Aquabus to reach the area (which was very nice!) Once there, you will see why many regard Granville Island as an artistic and cultural hub. Visit a plethora of artisan shops, enjoy a festival or performance, or make your way to Granville Island’s famous Public Market.

Let me tell you, I had no prior knowledge of the Public Market and only happened to go into what seemed like a sleepy industrial building because I wanted a pickle. When CJ and I walked through the automatic doors, we were blown away by the over 50 independent food purveyors, the throngs of people, and just the vibrant energy that moved throughout this indoor market. You want fresh produce? It's there. You want a rotisserie stall? A baked goods stall? A broth stall? Perhaps a prepared foods area or even frozen pies ready to bake? The Granville Island Public Market has it all, and this market alone is worth a trip to Granville Island!

VanDusen Botanical Garden

In addition to Stanley Park, the VanDusen Botanical Garden is a lovely green oasis you can enjoy while still remaining in the city. The gardens span 55 acres with thousands of plant species. Notable spots are the visitor centre equipped with restrooms, a café, and a little shop, the great lawn which is a lovely spot to sit with a book, and my personal favorite: the rose garden!

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Now if you want to experience nature and you are willing to leave the city centre, you absolutely must head to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The main attraction (that you can guess from the name) is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge stretches 450 feet and is 230 feet above the Capilano River (so if you are afraid of heights – don’t look down!) While it will feel quite wobbly, it is reenforced and has seen a few facelifts since 1889. Once across the bridge, you will be surrounded by stunning coastal rainforest. Head to new heights as you have the opportunity to walk smaller suspension bridges from tree to tree, high up amongst the branches! There is also a cliff walk, a chance to meet birds of prey, guided talks, a large gift shop, and a handful of dining options. For me, this is one of the highlights in Vancouver!

Mt Seymour

Mt Seymour, specifically the Dog Mountain Trail, was another highlight on our Vancouver trip. Similarly to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Mt Seymour is (understandably) outside the city centre. The Dog Mountain trail is a pretty easy two-hour hike with minimal elevation, but opens out onto wonderful views of Vancouver when you reach the top. While easy, it is important to note that it is quite a technical path, with many tree roots that are slippery even on dry days.

Grouse Mountain

A gondola ride will take you up to Grouse Mountain, where you will find a small grizzly bear habitat, owl talks, ziplines, and more activities. If you are a hiker, you probably come for one thing and one thing only: the Grouse Grind. The Grouse Grind is a 2.5 kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain. While the distance is not something to be scared of, the incline is indeed something to think about before you take on the journey affectionately known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster!”

48 HOURS IN VANCOUVER

WHALE WATCHING, VANCOUVER ISLAND