A Day in Vancouver: This Weekend in Canada
Friday at 5pm - we headed to the airport. Our flight was boarding at 6pm & that should have been the first sign for me to arrive a bit earlier… running through the airport always makes the journey more interesting. Come along with us as we do indeed make it to Vancouver, Canada this weekend.
4.5 hours from DFW to YVR - we have arrived! We landed at 9:30pm and drove a short 30 minutes to Coal Harbour. We checked in to our Airbnb and planned our exciting adventure ahead.
Here are some of my tips for first timers in Vancouver -
Coal Harbour is a fantastic location to stay in - offering a wide variety options between hotels and Airbnbs.
Vancouver is a walkable city and we found the connection between different parts of town to be quite easy to navigate.
Early morning walk to Coal Harbour to watch the Sea Planes take off - I stood in owe for over an hour just watching the planes with the most beautiful backdrop. The harbour meets the mountains in a stunning fashion.
2. Bike or Walk the Stanley Park Sea Wall - we spent Saturday afternoon exploring the park and it did not disappoint.
The walk to the lighthouse is well worth it for the views of Lion’s Gate Bridge and Grouse Mountain.
3. Brunch at Medina Cafe - worth the wait on a Saturday morning! The restaurant is known for its after brunch dessert waffles while the whole place buzzes with weekenders. We ordered a feast.
4. Take the ferry to Granville Island Public Market - although you can drive there, the ferry offers such a fun adventure. For $5 each way, the time out on the water was one of my highlights. I always enjoy seeing a city from a new perspective and this is a great way to create a different viewpoint.
Open 7 days a week, Granville Island Public Market is the place to be on a Saturday! The whole market was filled with happy shoppers and vendors who were passionate about their products. Every food option under the sun is available right there within the walls of Granville Island Public Market. Same time next Saturday??
5. Happy Hour in Yaletown - Homer St Cafe & Bar
We took the ferry from Granville Island to Yaletown - walking from the port to Homer St Cafe & Bar. Everyday from 2:30pm-5:30pm, Homer St offers $2 off cocktails and an extensive food menu. We ordered espresso tinis, wine by the bottle, burger & fries, charcuterie board, and oysters. Highly recommend the atmosphere along with the overall experience at Homer St Cafe & Bar.
6. Cocktail Hour before dinner in Maple Tree Square - The Diamond: the staff has great recommendations on their beautifully crafted cocktail menu. I tried something new and outside the comfort zone - perfect place for cocktails before heading to dinner. The Diamond is also a short walk from the Vancouver steam clock in Gastown.
7. Dinner at Miku in Gastown
The best pieces of sushi I have never had. Enough said. Order from their local menu (ABURI OSHI SUSHI) and it will be the most wonderful experience. The Salmon Oshi was my personal favorite.
Our weekend trip to Vancouver was short & sweet. One of my new favorite cities as the combination of outdoorsy adventure meets city life. If we had more time, skiing is only a 40 minute drive from downtown and Canada is known to have some of the best in the world. I have added new bucketlist destinations and activities throughout Canada to my list.
The weekend was such a wonderful change in perspective and coming home felt like something to celebrate. Celebrating the big moments within a trip while also celebrating the quiet moment when you walk through the door of your studio apartment and remember how beautiful the Sunday night routine can also be. Grateful for these weekends and the adventure, growth, joy they bring.
