Nothing beats Vancouver in the summertime. With its beautiful parks and easy access to outdoor activities, you’ll have plenty of ways to enjoy the perfect weather. For dining, take advantage of Vancouver’s multicultural diversity and sample delicious cuisines from around the world. The city is as amazing as it sounds.
Where to Eat
Tetsu Sushi: This restaurant may have had the best sushi we’ve had outside of Japan. Tetsu is pretty small and very crowded, so make a reservation well in advance. We loved everything we ate, but the highlights were the Albacore Tuna Toro Sashimi, the Toro Taku Roll, and the Ocean Roll.
Chancho Tortilleria: We weren’t expecting to find great Mexican food in Vancouver, but that is exactly what Chancho Tortilleria offered. Yes, this counter-service restaurant has an extremely limited menu. No, it may not have what you typically order at a Mexican restaurant. Nevertheless, the Maciza Carnitas were perfect. Ten out of ten.
Granville Island Public Market: If for some completely irrational reason you don’t want to eat at the Granville Island Public Market, it is still worth a visit. There are a ton of interesting shops, and you can always pick up food to enjoy later. For those of you who do want to eat at the market – good decision! You’ll have your pick from a number of food stands offering delicious bites. We chose to get some New York Chocolate Cheesecake from Stuart’s Bakery and salmon candy from Longliner Seafoods. We tried the salmon candy because it was kind of a “thing to do” at Granville, but it wasn’t our favorite. Still, it was definitely unlike anything we’ve had before. At least get yourself a sample.
Steamworks Brew Pub: Come for the beer, stay for the food. We recommend ordering the lamb curry burger along with some poutine. (You are in Canada, after all.) Order some of the house brews to wash everything down, and you’ll have yourself a great time.
Shannon Falls along the Sea-to-Sky Highway
What to Do
Sea-to-Sky Highway: This drive has it all. Beautiful views. Great food along the way. A top-shelf ski destination at the end. Driving along this highway will take you from Vancouver to the ski town of Whistler. The journey is a destination in itself, though, and we recommend taking your time along the way to enjoy the views and the town of Squamish. While in Squamish we stopped at Backcountry Brewing for a drink and a quick bite. The Wake-N-Bacon 3.0 Pizza was great, and by the time you visit they may even have the 4.0 available. Other highlights along this road include Porteau Cove, Shannon Falls, and the Sea to Sky Gondola. If you make it all the way to Whistler, you can also enjoy a number of incredible alpine lake hikes.
Porteau Cove along the Sea-to-Sky Highway
Gastown: This district in Vancouver has a ton of restaurants and bars to visit. Take a walk through this area in the day if you are keen to explore the various shops and galleries, but make you sure come back at night for the great ambiance and lit up streets.
View from a beach at Stanley Park
Stanley Park: This massive park has stunning views of the Vancouver skyline and offers an excess of spots to sit, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. The Vancouver Seawall and Brockton Point Lighthouse make for a great coastal stroll. In the summertime, you can also enjoy the beaches situated around the park, which serve as prime locations to watch the fireworks leading up to and on Canada Day in July. If you choose to watch the fireworks from here, though, beware the traffic leaving the park. It took us about an hour to complete a 20 minute drive.
Other Tips & Tricks
The Westin Grand: This (surprisingly very dog-friendly) hotel has large rooms and a great central location. We booked this room with Marriott points, and we couldn’t have been happier with the decision. The service was great, and our dog Arya received a very warm welcome from everyone she met.
Driving from the USA: We drove from Seattle to Vancouver for this weekend trip. While the drive was easy, getting through the border was a pain going both ways. If you’re able to get NEXUS ahead of time, it will make your life much easier. If you can’t swing that, take advantage of the duty-free store when you’re heading into Canada. A quick visit to this parking lot will allow you to skip much of the customs line.