Time to Explore Vancouver B.C.

As avid travelers and living in Idaho for over 25 years,
there is one City so close that we’ve never experienced. In late August we decided it was time to explore
Vancouver B.C. As a Travel Agent, I had
just completed the Specialist Training and just knew this was a must-see
place!

Travel Plans

Flying into Seattle is always an experience, but the drive to Vancouver is beautiful in itself! Border crossings can be a challenge, but it is part of the journey to take time to explore Vancouver B.C. We tried several of them, and the time varied between 1 – 2 hours. The signs told us one crossing area would only be 5 minutes – however, it takes you 20+ minutes to get to it and then another hour to get across. I can’t say that anyone was better than the other with the wait time, so it is up to you which to choose. We did enjoy the drive because we got to see more of this amazingly beautiful countryside.

Lodging

Hampton Inn and Suites was our choice in Richmond. We chose to stay out of the city for this trip, giving us the option to use the Sky Train which was about a 5 min walk from the hotel. It is the best way to get around the City. Traffic can be crazy and parking hard to find and expensive. Also, during the summer months on the weekend Richmond has a nightly Farmers Market very close to the hotel, casino, and Sky Train Station.

Activities

The best way to explore Vancouver B.C. is to choose a variety of activities to experience. When you take time to explore Vancouver B.C., here are some options you might want to consider.

Forbidden Vancouver – an evening walking tour of the city that explores “Vancouver’s dirtiest prohibition-era secrets.” Glenn, our amazing tour guide, takes us through historic streets and alleyways bringing the past to life through incredible storytelling.

Circle Sea Safari Tour – 2-hour boat ride where you will see harbor seals, bald eagles, and beautiful homes. Get up close with nature and experience Vancouver in a whole different way. Sewell’s Marina has a variety of options, including boat rentals, fishing charters, and eco-tours as well as the sea safari’s.

Vancouver City Highlights Tours — Landsea Tours has so many ways to experience this amazing city. We chose the Vancouver City Highlights Tour and got to experience Vancouver Lookout, Stanley Park, and Granville Island during this 4-hour tour. James gave us information highlights as well as plenty of time to explore these amazing areas throughout Vancouver. If you want to pick and choose your locations to stop off at, then you will want to do the “Hop On/Hop Off” tour!

Totems Stanley Park — Totems in Stanley Park

Vancouver Brewery Tour — For me, no trip is complete without experiencing some of the local brews. Taking this tour, we got to meet some amazing people, learn the history of several breweries from Sam, our tour guide and sample some amazing beer. Our stops included Bridge Brewing Company, Strange Fellows Brewing Company, and Storm Brewing. As we waited for the tour to start, we visited Steamworks Brewery and enjoyed some great food as well! These breweries provided some great brew options, creative flavors, and exciting environments.

Granville Island – Oh My Gosh – you need a whole day to experience everything that this Island has to offer! The indoor public market is HUGE with a wide variety of food, produce, hand-crafted products, and unique gifts. Outside the market, there are cool shops with local art, amazing restaurants, unique architecture, and a community rich in history. Granville Island mission statement says it all:

“To steward this
public land for meaningful urban and social experimentation among diverse,
creative, cultural, and business models, engaging local First Nations and
communities while welcoming the world.”

Wok Around Chinatown – This tour starts in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. After a short history lesson and a tour of the garden, On our journey, Robert Sung took us through historic Chinatown landmarks, exotic foods, a herbal medicine store, a pastry shop, and a tea house. We also had an amazing Dim Sum Lunch with a wide selection of traditional Chinese foods – it’s okay to use a fork if you are like me and can’t maneuver chopsticks!

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – This is a must-do if you are in Vancouver! Grap your Map/Passport as you enter this incredible tour. This “naturally thrilling” adventure takes you across a bridge that stretches 450 feet across and suspends you 230 feet above the Capilano River. Be sure to take a selfie as you cross the bridge as proof that you were brave enough to take the challenge! Once across, you can experience Treetops Adventure, which took us high into the trees of this coastal forest as we crossed seven more suspension bridges. Our trip would not be complete without doing the “Cliffwalk.” “This heart-stopping cliffside journey takes you through rainforest vegetations on a series of unobtrusive cantilevered and suspended walkways jutting out from the granite cliff face above Capilano River.” It was so amazing! Plan to spend a good portion of the day so you can explore this amazing wonder – and don’t forget to get your passport stamped along the way!

Capilano Suspension Bridge — Cliffwalk Start

Restaurants

Steamworks Brew Pub – Great burgers and amazing beer are just some of the things you can experience as this pub. Right on the water near the Cruise terminal, this brewpub is massive. Multiple levels, brewing on-site and an indoor/outdoor atmosphere that is electric! It is going to be hard to choose what beer to try – so I suggest getting a flight so you can experience as much of their incredible selection as you can. The menu has something for everyone! We are big fans of burgers, so that’s what we selected. When you are all done, be sure to stop next door and grab a souvenir or a growler to go!
Italian Tomato Restaurant – traditional Italian dishes to satisfy any craving! After a long day of touring, this is just what we needed to create the perfect ending to an amazing day. The relaxing environment, extensive wine list, and the ability to design your meal are just some of the reasons you need to visit this restaurant. We went to the one in Richmond within walking distance of the hotel, but there is also a second location in downtown Vancouver.
Floata Seafood Restaurant – A traditional Dim Sum lunch was part of our A Wok Around Chinatown tour, and the food was amazing! Since I’m allergic to seafood, I was not able to partake in those items, but others were just as amazing!
Now Town Bakery & Restaurant – Another one of the stops on our A Wok Around Chinatown tour, but so glad we were able to experience the amazing apple pastries. We would not have known about this bakery if it wasn’t for the tour! You definitely want to try their “world-famous steamed buns” and their apple tarts. Just amazing!