Stanley Park Seawall with fall colours. Photo: Destination Vancouver / Nelson Mouellic
Enjoy fall colours and fall flavours all in one amazing day in Vancouver. Wander through changing leaves in a garden, browse for harvest veggies at the farmers market, eat seasonal dishes, and more.
Breakfast at the Farmer’s Market
Fall is the best time of year to visit one of Vancouver’s farmer’s markets. It’s harvest time so the stalls are laden with tons of locally grown produce. Visit one of the food trucks for breakfast, then wander the market. In addition to fruits and veggies, you’ll find artisan crafts, jams, baked goods, meat, seafood, and more. There are eight markets in Vancouver, but opening dates and hours vary throughout the fall – check the online market schedule to find one near you.
Trout Lake Farmers’ Market. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic
Visit VanDusen Botanical Garden
Albert Camus, said “Autumn is a spring when every leaf is a flower,” and that is definitely true at VanDusen Botanical Garden. In September, the focus shifts from blossoms to golden fall leaves. Wander through the groves of sugar maples, bald cypress, and ginko trees as they change colour.
Van Dusen Gardens in Fall. Photo credit: Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Afternoon Tea at Notch8
Savour the season with the Autumn Harvest Afternoon Tea menu at Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Dig in to harvest-inspired dishes like kabocha squash tartlet, roast turkey, and smoked steelhead, then finish with a collection of decadent fall desserts including pumpkin tiramisu and cranberry cheesecake brownies.
The Autumn Harvest Afternoon Tea selection at Notch 8. Photo: Notch 8
Fall Colours and Fall Treats in the West End
After lunch go for a stroll to enjoy the best of Vancouver’s fall colours in the West End neighbourhood. Many of the quiet residential streets light up in red, gold, and orange. Don’t miss the Sylvia Hotel on Beach Avenue. The exterior is covered in Virginia creeper that turns crimson each autumn. Nearby Stanley Park also has lots of beautiful changing leaves. Wander the paths beside Lost Lagoon and out to the seawall by the Rowing Club.
Stop at one of the cafes along Denman Street for a pumpkin spice latte to sip while you walk. If you want a sweet treat, BREKA has pumpkin donut bites and mini pumpkin tarts. Or try the personal-size spiced pear pumpkin pies at Unni Pastries.
Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Nelson Mouellic
Dinner by the Fire
Finish your day with dinner at The Roof at Black and Blue. Cozy up by one of the fireplaces on the rooftop terrace in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The menu includes hearty fare like steaks, skewered fish, seafood, and poultry cooked over wood coals. If you want to indulge, they offer Japanese Wagyu and Kobe beef as well as caviar.
Photo: The Roof at Black and Blue
