Gastown Mason Square, Vancouver, British Columbia
Elevate your Vancouver day trip with a walk the cobbled streets of Gastown, admiring 20th-century brick buildings and taking a selfie with the whistling Steam Clock. Explore Maple Tree Square, site of ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton’s first tavern, and then stroll under the elaborate Chinatown Millennium Gate. Eat Asian delights— or escape the bustle amid Dr. Su Yat-Sen’s peaceful gardens.
Stanley Park Urban Greenspace, Vancouver, British Columbia
Bask in nature during your vacation in Vancouver. Breathe in the 1,000-acre greenspace of Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. Hike red cedar forest trails, relax beachside, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or view the Brockton Point totem poles. Then walk along the Seawall, with the downtown skyline as your backdrop.
Take a scenic ferry ride to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Get lost in the romance of its English-inspired traditions with proper tea at the Empress hotel. Wander Butchart Gardens’ gorgeous topiaries and admire Craigdarroch Castle’s Victorian architecture. Victoria Public Market is an excellent dining and shopping spot.
Vancouver’s cultural diversity is the key ingredient to its unique culinary scene. Dozens of food trucks, street food carts and farmers’ markets offer something for every taste. Farm-to-table dishes feature Fraser Valley duck and spot prawns. Enjoy an assortment of Asian cuisine, from Chinese dim sum to Japanese ramen. Then sip Okanagan Valley wine or Granville Island beer from Canada’s first microbrewery.
Head to Robson Street for mainstream chain stores, or hit the quirky indie shops of Gastown, Main Street and Commercial Drive. Lonsdale Quay Market is home to 80 unique shops, while Granville Island’s art studios sell First Nations carvings and jewelry— plus its public market is known for gourmet goods.