No, I am not a Vancouverite, which is what locals from Vancouver are called. However, when I traveled to Vancouver back in May 2019, I was visiting my three friends I had met when I was on exchange. Since I had them to show me around, I wasn't wasting my time on attractions that weren't worth their hype. I also rarely spent money at any of these locations. Read below to see what you should do if you ever visit beautiful Vancouver!
University of British Columbia
UBC is British Columbia's oldest university and one of the three best universities in Canada. Its campus is located on the peninsula, so it has beautiful views of the ocean and mountains. The campus is easily accessible by bus, and once you're there, there are plenty of pretty pathways and sites to explore. At the end of the main walkway that cuts through the entire campus is the Rose Garden. This is something that must be visited if you come to Vancouver. The view is absolutely breathtaking and looks like a painting. I could've stood there and looked at it all day. While exploring the campus, my friend and I also stopped at an authentic Italian pizza shop called Mercante. The pizza was super delicious and pretty affordable as well. After refueling, we also checked out the Ladner Clock Tower, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the First Nations Longhouse.
Wreck Beach
Not too far from UBC's campus lies Wreck Beach. In order to get to the beach, you have to climb down what feels like the longest staircase on the planet. As you walk down, once you get to a certain point, you will see a sign that reads "Clothing optional beach ahead." Yes, Wreck Beach is a nude beach, so if you are not prepared to see old dudes walking around with everything all hanging out, maybe you ought to skip this stop. I decided to go just because of the experience in general. We didn't stay too long, but I did enjoy seeing the eclectic groups of people and thought it was cool how isolated the beach was from everything. After climbing back up the stairs, we walked along the street a ways to find a cliff that had the most mesmerizing view of the ocean.
Kitsilano
This "hippy" neighborhood of Vancouver is home to many beaches, restaurants, and chill vibes in general. This is where my friends along with many other UBC students choose to live off-campus due to its proximity to UBC as well as other parts of town. In "Kits," you are walking distance to Vanier Park, a large greenspace along the sea, and Kitsilano Beach. The main streets that run through the neighborhood are West Broadway and West 4th Avenue. There you can find plenty of restaurants and shops. The Naam is Vancouver's oldest and most famous vegetarian restaurant, and it's open 24/7! I went there for brunch and had tofu burritos. Another must-visit restaurant is Colony Bar, where you can eat the best Poutine and beer-battered fries on the planet. I am drooling just thinking about them. If you want to shop, check out the Lulu Lemon store, after all, this is where the headquarters of the company are located.
Deep Cove
Deep Cove is a section of North Vancouver located on the bay. It is such a cute and picturesque place, with lots of little cafes and local shops overlooking the water with the mountains in the background. Our main reason for visiting this area was to do the hike to Quarry Rock. The hike was about an hour long up wooden stairs. Once you got to the top, it was the most beautiful view of the sound and mountains. After the hike, we treated ourselves to some iced coffees and donuts at Honey Doughnuts & Goodies.
Grouse Mountain
At 1,200 meters tall, this mountain is the peak of Vancouver and is a constant steep uphill slope for a solid two hours. This was definitely the hardest hike I have ever done in my life, but it was absolutely worth it. Once you get to the top, you can see not only all of Vancouver and the ocean but the United States as well! It is just spectacular. If you need to refresh yourself after the hike, you can do so at the restaurant and bar. If you're in for more adventure, you can check out the Grizzly Bear sanctuary, zip line, and ski slope.
Granville Island
This shopping district is a peninsula located underneath the Granville Street Bridge. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, cafes, and cultural areas. It is a great place to come with friends and family alike. My favorite part of Granville Island was the Granville Island Public Market. There were hundreds of fresh fruit stands, cheeses, meats, baked goods, and more. I almost got lost wandering through all the different stalls. If you're an artsy person, you can also check out one of the island's many theatres and art galleries.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
This park located in North Vancouver is an outdoor lover's dream. Although you do have to pay admission to enter, it is worth the money. The suspension bridge is just one aspect of the park. Once you cross the bridge, you can do the Treetops Adventure, which is a network of bridges and walkways high up in the trees! This was probably my favorite part. There is also a Cliffwalk, which is exactly what it sounds like, and offers a great view of the suspension bridge itself. All throughout the park you'll also find information about the trees and plants that are native to the area, as well as many First Nations artifacts.
Stanley Park and the Seawall
Stanley Park is the largest park in Vancouver and a green oasis from the urban landscape. There are plenty of trails, beaches, and cultural sites to explore. What I enjoyed most was walking the famous seawall, which is actually the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path at a little over 17 miles. It's the perfect place to jog, bike, skate, or just take a stroll. Along the path you can see the city skyline, the English Bay, and maybe even spot a seal or two.
Gastown
As Vancouver's oldest neighborhood, Gastown is definitely worth a visit. This neighborhood completely has its own feel to it, with its cobblestone streets, brick buildings, and famous Steam Clock. Water Street is the perfect place to stroll down to marvel at all of these old beauties. If you plan on shopping while in Vancouver, this is the spot to do it. There are countless fashionable and chic boutiques, traditional souvenir stores, modern gift stores, and unique art galleries. If you get hungry along the way, this area is also home to some of Vancouver's best restaurants and bars in the city.
Thanks for reading my travel guide to Vancouver! If you check out any of these places or want to share your Vancouver experience with me, tag me @ayinzerabroad on Instagram.
For a virtual tour of the city and to learn more about my personal experience, watch my entertaining vlog on my YouTube channel!
See yinz next time!
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