During my last summer vacation, I traveled to Canada, and, so, of course we took a trip to Vancouver! Whether it was visiting Vancouver’s beaches or gazing at stunning views of the city at 4,000 feet above sea level on “The Peak of Vancouver,” there were so many fun things to do there.
Here’s a little slideshow from our YouTube channel of moments from our trip to Vancouver:
Vancouver’s Beaches
We actually traveled to Alaska first (another post on our trip to Alaska coming soon!), so we took a flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, and from there took a bus to Vancouver. After checking into our hotel, the first thing we did was to visit some beaches! The two beaches we went to were Kitsilano Beach (image below) and Jericho Beach (image above), which were along the same coast. What’s unique about each of these beaches are the large logs that are scattered across the sand. The water and the sand were all very clean, and the beaches weren’t crowded at all. Even with the little time we were able to spend there, the beaches were definitely a must-visit destination especially during the summer months!
North Vancouver
North Vancouver has a lot of good destinations for anyone who likes the outdoors. Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge were two of my favorite places in Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, also known as “The Peak of Vancouver,” boasts spectacular views of Vancouver, the forests, and the ocean beyond. We took the Skyride and then a lift up to the top of the mountain. The Skyride also gives you plenty of time to enjoy the view and take a few pictures!
The Capilano Suspension Bridge was a thrilling and exciting experience. Even after you walk the bridge, there are more walkways in the treetops on the other end of the bridge. Along the walk, you can explore the history and nature of this attraction as well. If you’re feeling even more daring, you can try the Capilano Cliffwalk that takes you along cliff-side suspended walkways with the Capilano River below.
Canada Place
Canada Place is an iconic building in Downtown Vancouver. It’s white sail-like structures on its top make it look like a sailboat, which is fitting considering the massive cruise ships that crowd its ports.
Stanley Park
If you’re looking for amazing views, Stanley Park is the place to go! There are many other activities in Stanley Park. We chose to visit Prospect Point, which offered us a great view of the city of Vancouver.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the University of British Columbia (UBC)
While in Vancouver, we also visited two universities—Simon Fraser and University of BC. Simon Fraser University had a very nice campus especially with its modern architecture. There are many points along the campus where you can get a nice view of the surrounding forest and mountains beyond.
After a nice walk around campus, we stopped to get some lunch at the food court! We ate delicious ramen (a little spicy too) at the Gawon Korean Restaurant and got some bubble tea from Bubble World.
At the University of British Columbia, we went on a campus tour. The campus and scenery were all very beautiful.
Afterwards, we ate some pizza at a restaurant called Pie R Squared (ha!).
Vancouver Island
We took a car ferry from Vancouver city to Vancouver Island and then drove to Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia. Victoria was very beautiful, especially with the colorful flower display. Magnificent mountains and forests also surround the city.
After Victoria, it was time to hit the beaches! Specifically, we went to Long Beach, which is a 10-mile beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island. We stopped along the various beaches encompassing Long Beach. Some of the beachers were quite secluded and provided you a peaceful slice of Long Beach.
This trip was so fun, and with so many things to do, I would definitely recommend traveling to Vancouver, Canada, for your next vacation!
If you liked this post on our vacation to Vancouver and want more, check out our other travel posts here! Also, make sure to subscribe to our blog and check out our book review and recipe posts!
