In recognition of Vancouver’s 125th birthday, we asked you to provide your suggestions for things to do in Vancouver. Below are 125 suggestions we received from our reader comments – in no particular order.
Although the list is long, the reality is this just scratches the surface. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments box below.
- Ski in the morning and spend the afternoon on the water
- Hike the Grouse Grind on Grouse Mountain
- Walk along the sea wall at Stanley Park
- Eat at all the amazing restaurants
- Shop on Robson Street
- Visit Granville Island
- Mountain bike on world-renowned trails surrounding Vancouver
- Yoga at Vanier Park
- The breakfast buffet atop the revolving restaurant at the Empire Landmark Hotel
- Visit Crab Park, the downtown secret
- Early evening BBQ picnic on Third Beach
- Sip Wine at a Yaletown Patio
- Go to the Vancouver Aquarium
- Run in the Vancouver Sun Run
- Watch the fishers and crabbers at Jericho Beach
- Ride a bike through Stanley Park
- Stroll around Steveston
- People watch on Granville street downtown
- Take the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay for lunch
- Ice cream cones at Prospect Point (Stanley Park)
- Take the Aquabus to stop, shop and eat along the way: Granville Island, Hornby Street, Stamps Landing, Yaletown
- Kayak in Deep Cove in North Vancouver
- Take a hike on the Baden Powell trail
- Explore the Museum of Anthropology at UBC
- Explore the Pacific Spirit Regional Park
- Have an espresso on Commercial Drive
- Catch the improv show with Vancouver Theatre Sports (Granville Island)
- Skim board at Spanish Banks
- Relax at English Bay
- Take your dog for a walk in Vanier Park and watch the boats
- Take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island
- Sit on the patio or inside by the window at Carderos Restaurant
- Walk through the Nitobe Garden on a nice sunny day
- Watch the buskers at Granville Island
- Bright Nights train ride at Stanley Park
- Van Dusen Botanical Gardens for the annual Festival of Lights
- Enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi
- Walk across the Burrard Bridge on a sunny day
- Run around Burnaby Lake
- Watch the Celebration of Light fireworks at English Bay
- Swim at Kits Pool in the summer
- Have a picnic at Kits beach
- Shop at the unique shops on Main Street
- Pitch and Putt in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Hike around Lynn Canyon
- Hike Hollyburn Mountain at Mount Cypress
- Walk on the West Vancouver Seawalk
- Sit by a log at English Bay and watch the sunset
- See the animals at Maple Wood Farms in North Vancouver
- Check out the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
- Spend a sunny afternoon at Ambleside Park
- Rent a cruiser (bike) in Yaletown and go cycling around False Creek
- Grab some take out fish n’ chips in White Rock. Stroll the sandy beach in your barefeet and take in the scenery
- Dine Out Vancouver annual restaurant festival
- Walk around Lost Lagoon and feed all the birds
- Beach volleyball at Kits beach and Spanish Banks
- Dine on the patio at Bridges Restaurant
- Salmon Festival at Steveston Village
- Explore the Chinatown Night Market
- Soak up the sun at Wreck Beach
- The Mountain Ziplines on Grouse Mountain
- Listen to jazz at Granville Island during the Jazz Festival
- Visit the breweries and do some sampling. Granville Island Brewery… Yaletown Brewery… Howe Sound…
- Stand up paddling! Cheap rentals in Deep cove or Jericho beach
- Double features and Saturday matinees at the Hollywood Theatre on West Broadway in Kitsilano
- Skate at Robson Square
- Go for dim sum in Chinatown
- Science World
- Go for ice cream at La Casa Gelato
- Step into the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- Fly over the snow-capped peaks of the North Shore
- Skate at the Richmond Olympic Oval
- Tour the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond
- Dance in the streets of Gastown during Jazz Fest
- Walk around downtown after a Canucks win
- Shop at Metrotown
- Whale-watching out on the water
- Get fresh food at the Farmers Markets in the summer
- Hike up to Quarry Rocks in Deep Cove
- Spend an afternoon relaxing at David Lam Park
- Take the Rocky Mountaineer train through West Vancouver and along Howe Sound on the way up to Whistler
- Walk along Acadia beach between Spanish Banks Extension and Wreck beach. Quiet, walkable, rugged, beautiful
- Spend the day walking around Coal Harbour
- Watch a Canucks game at Rogers Arena
- Climb the giant rock and explore the shoreline of Whytecliff Park West Vancouver
- Have the Beluga Experience at the Aquarium.
- Explore the many unique galleries and antique stores on South Granville’s famous Gallery Row
- Take your kids to the huge waterpark on Granville Island right outside the Kids Market
- Explore the Steamclock and the funky restaurants in Gastown
- Bike the Seawall from Coal Harbour all the way to Granville Island
- Explore the Punjabi Market
- Taste all the great food at the Richmond Summer Night Market
- Watch the various film crews around town
- Watch a live concert at the Commodore Ballroom
- Bike downtown in the new bike lanes
- Wine tasting during the International Wine Festival
- Watch the streets come alive during the Pride Parade
- Catch a movie during the Vancouver International Film Festival
- See a unique show during the Vancouver Fringe Festival
- Visit the 2010 Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza
- Take a day trip to Whistler along the Sea-to-Sky highway
- Watch the sea planes and cruise ships come and go from Coal Harbour
- Take in a Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game
- Take in BC Lions football game
- Check out all the cherry blossoms in the springtime
- Ice skate atop Grouse Mountain
- Explore the new Athlete’s Village neighbourhood along False Creek
- The Pink Floyd Laser show at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
- Explore the city on the Vancouver Trolley
- Scuba dive at Whytecliff Park
- Explore Horseshoe Bay by boat
- Snowshoe + Fondue tour up at Grouse or Cypress Mountain
- Hang out in the huge glass bubble at Bloedel Floral Conservatory – one of the largest domed greenhouses in the world and home to hundreds of exotic plants and birds
- Have a picnic at Lighthouse Park amongst Douglas firs and eagles’ nests
- Find out the darker side of the city’s history at the Vancouver Police Museum or do their Sin City tour around Gastown/Chinatown
- Be out in the street and be a part of the summer festivals! Italian Day, Caribbean Days, Commercial Drive Car Free Day.. the list goes on
- Cheer on the Vancouver Canadians at a game of baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium
- Watch the Super Dogs show, gorg on carnival food, go on rides and experience the atmosphere of the PNE
- Take a culinary walking tour of Granville Island
- Go for dim sum brunch at a huge array of great Chinese restaurants in Richmond
- Eat poutine at La Belle Patate and wash it down at a bar with a spicy Caesar
- Finish work and be night boarding up on Grouse Mountain in less than 30 minutes after quitting time
- Hang out with the racoons in Stanley Park (if you find their secret place, you could be there for hours!)
- Head to Main Street for dinner and drinks
- Take a day trip on BC Ferries over to the island to visit Victoria
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