Weekend in Vancouver
Make the most out of a short trip to Vancouver
British Columbia is not that far from Portland, but it’s just far enough that people seldom visit. I’ve noticed that Tori and I don’t do much in our home region that’s outside of a 3-hour radius. 3 hours is about our limit for a day trip, and if we have time to go further, we usually go much much further. It’s easy to neglect the things that are 5-6 hours away, and Vancouver is not a place you want to neglect.
After spending some time looking at the places around the world I want to visit, I’ve noticed that at least a dozen of those world-class destinations are in our own backyard—the majority being in British Columbia. It’s a world of high-contrast culturally and geographically. The rugged Coast Range falls away into the icy-cold Pacific. The dense urban jungle abruptly gives way to ancient evergreens and ferns. You’ll hear accents from different corners of the globe in a place that feels more like Hong Kong than Canada.
Vancouver is probably my favorite city in North America: it’s vibrant, modern, and sits minutes away from some of the most rugged terrain on the West Coast. Here are a few of our tips for seeing the city in a weekend:
Stay outside of the city
Take advantage of the SkyTrain and avoid paying for higher rates and expensive parking downtown. We found a modern development in Surrey (which can get sketchy in places) that was half the price of properties downtown and were able to get a corner room. It’s roughly a half-hour train ride into the city, and you can purchase an all day pass.
the Waterfront and Stanley Park
Stanley Park puts New York’s Central Park to shame. Walk or rent a bike and stroll around one of the largest urban nature preserves in the world. Check out soaring views of the Lions Gate Bridge. Return to the waterfront at Canada Place and watch the seaplanes buzz through the harbor.
Capilano Bridge
You’ve probably seen this place on Instagram. It’s one of the more photographed places in the area, and it comes with crowds. Go an hour before closing, and the crowds will start to taper off. You can catch a free shuttle from Canada Place, and there’s a late-afternoon discount. Plus, bring your student ID (if you still have it) and take up to 50% off (Airline employees also get a discount). There’s so much more here than the bridge. We spent the better part of our time exploring the treetop paths that reminded us of Star Wars. Take your time and photograph the bridge on your way out—most of the crowds will be gone.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Just an hour north of the city is a quaint mining town called Squamish. There, you’ll find a Gondola that will take you above the Howe Sound to some of the smaller peaks in the Coast Range. From there, you can visit their bistro, walk the boardwalks and suspension bridge, or you can opt for some of the trails that access the high country. Read more about it in a separate post here.
