It was 2005 when I first visited and completely fell in love with Vancouver and beautiful British Columbia. It instantly felt like home, and for the first time whilst travelling, I cried when I left. What I didn’t know then was that it would become my home 11 years later.
As part of my 5th Vancouver Anniversary celebrations, I have collaborated with 22 other fabulous bloggers to share my 3 favourite places to visit in Vancouver. This collaboration is all thanks to the lovely Bee at Mind Beauty Simplicity who came up with the idea and got us all organised.
I think Covid-19 has got many of us itching to travel and see new sights so we hope you enjoy this virtual world tour. Links to all of the other bloggers travel posts are listed at the bottom of this post so that you can digitally travel and learn about some new places.
As sunny days are upon us in Vancouver, I am going to tell you about my three favourite summer locations.
Quick Disclaimer: this post contains some affiliate links. If you click on or purchase through these links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Deep Cove
Deep Cove is my go-to spot in the summer for time outs and reflection.
It is a beautiful scenic seaside village in North Vancouver. You can get there by car or you can get a bus from Downtown Vancouver near Burrard Station which runs pretty regularly.
It’s a quiet, tranquil place at the far eastern edge of North Vancouver that is loved by locals, tourists and celebrities.
It has a small family-friendly beach with picnic areas, and a paved pathway runs along the water with the little village pier and marina in the middle.
If you want to get active you can go for scenic walks, hike up to the Quarry Rock clifftop via the Baden Powell Trail, or kayak and paddle board.
The downtown core of the village is a cute single street of restaurants, ice cream parlours, coffee shops and a few boutique stores. There is also a free art gallery that is worth a visit.
For food I usually eat at the Armโs Reach Bistro because it has the best views and the food is always delicious. Another popular option is the local neighbourhood pub the Raven as it has a big selection of craft beers and apparently, the pizza is really good.
Famous Honey Donuts
But my absolute favourite thing about Deep Cove, and a must-have for anyone who visits is the famous Honey Donuts. Without exaggeration, they are one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted…especially when they are freshly made and still warm. These doughnuts are so ridiculously good that there is usually a queue and they pretty much always sell out.
Fun Fact – Kate Winslet (one of my role models) is even quoted on their website home page.
Granville Island
My second favourite spot is Granville Island.
Granville Island is another place that is loved by locals as well as tourists and many of us buy food and produce here.
It’s right on the water with lovely views of the marina, regular buskers for entertainment, and the odd bird to battle with over your food of course.
It’s a pretty small place that you could see in an afternoon, but you could easily spend a day here and lose track of time.
Around 300 businesses have established themselves here, and this charming place is used for multiple things.
Your first stop should be the famous public market which I learnt today has over 50 food producers. Tip – If you go there hungry you will want to eat everything. This is a primary culinary destination for tourists after all.
Aside from all the delicious food, my favourite thing about Granville Island is that it is home to some of the best artisans and designers in the country. Explore the Net Loft Shops and Railspur District to visit them.
It is also one of the main places for entertainment in the city, as it is home to various cultural venues. So you can go to see a comedy show or a theatre production there. It also hosts different festivals and performing arts events all year round.
Learn more about Granville Island
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a world renowned park and tourist attraction in Vancouver, that is beloved by locals as well as visitors to the city.
It is 400 hectares of natural West Coast rainforest with scenic views of water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park’s famous Seawall. This Oasis is in the midst of the city, and only a short drive from the downtown core.
There is a 28km Seaside Greenway in Vancouver which is an uninterrupted pathway that includes Stanley Park, the Convention Centre at Canada Place and the Spanish Banks. It is the most popular recreational spot in the city. So if you love walking, I recommend walking the seawall from Canada Place down to Stanley Park past the Marina’s as it is gorgeous….but wear comfortable shoes. When you get to Stanley Park there is a lot more walking to come.
Tip: There is a lot to see and do here in the park so if you can, set aside a full day to fully experience everything.
One of the most popular things to do in Stanley Park is to walk or cycle the seawall. The section of seawall around Stanley Park is 9 km long so it will take you 2 or 3 hours depending on your fitness level or about an hour to cycle it.
There are two marked sections all the way along to separate the walkers and joggers (outside path by the water) from the cyclists and inline skaters (inside path).
Tip: It gets busy in high tourist summer months so make sure you stay in the right section and follow the signs.
As part of your walk around the seawall, you can detour and walk up to the Prospect Point Lookout. It’s an incline and I think you need a vaguely decent fitness level to walk it…great exercise but hard work if you are unfit haha.
Your alternative is to get the Stanley Park bus up to Prospect Point which runs regularly around the park. The views are stunning up there, and I’d recommend eating at the Prospect Point Cafe – great views and yummy food.
In addition to the Stanley Park bus, you could also go for a Horse & Carriage ride. When you enter Stanley Park from downtown, this is one of the first things that you will probably see.
Or if you have kids, you could also get the Stanley Park train, which is quite fun to learn more about the park.
Vancouver Aquarium is home to dolphins, walruses, sea otters, penguins and about 50,000 other aquatic creatures. It is one of the most popular aquariums in the world, and I’d suggest setting aside at least 2 or 3 hours for the aquarium to really enjoy it without rushing around.
As Stanley Park has a mix of coniferous forests, boggy wetlands, and rocky shores there is a lot of wildlife here. One of my favourite spots at Stanley Park is the Lost Lagoon. You will always see wildlife here and it is just a lovely place to relax for a bit and rest your feet from all the walking.
This is just a snapshot of some of the things that you can see and do in Stanley Park. There is also the First Nations art and totem poles, Gardens including the Rose Garden, Trails, Monuments and sculptures and so much more
Vancouver Guide Books
The Places In Vancouver That You Must Not Miss
Read About More Places Around The World
I hope that you have enjoyed reading about 3 of my favourite places in Vancouver! If you’ve visited Vancouver or have it on your bucket list, let me know in the comments.
Thanks to Mind Beauty Simplicity you can now learn about 21 other places around the world!
I encourage you to go visit all of the amazing bloggers who I have collaborated with. They are all sharing their favourite spots in their hometowns or cities.
Visit Maryland with Mind Beauty Simplicity
Visit Toronto with Inspiring Positively
Visit North Carolina with Blog Life With Erica
Visit Lisbon with Faerie Lifestyle
Visit Central Florida with Examine This Moment
Visit Florida with Headphones Thoughts
Visit Flathead Valley, Montana with Jessica Lasa
Visit Columbus, Ohio with Korra Shay
Visit New York City with Riyah Speaks
Visit Northamptonshire, England with Sophia Patel
Visit Yorkshire with The Yorkshire Dreamer
Visit Ottawa with Victoria St Michael
Visit Ontario with Simply Alex Jean
Visit Maryland with The Nutmeg Diaries
Visit Cheltenham, England with Enviroline Blog
Where will you visit next?
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Gemma Lawrence is the creator of This Brits Life. Born and raised in England, she has been living in British Columbia, Canada as a permanent resident since 2016. A solo traveler for the past 9 years, she hopes to inspire and help others to enjoy solo adventures too. As someone who has always struggled with her self-confidence and mental health, she also shares tips and inspirational stories relating to self-love, self-care, and mental health.
That opening paragraph made me smile! It is amazing that you were able to make Vancouver your home!
Deep Cove sounds like such a peaceful location to visit, especially with the picnic areas and the path that runs along the water, as you described.
Granville Island sounds like a place I could wander around, especially the public market, as I love trying new food! I’d love to walk the seawall in Stanley Park as it looks beautiful. I love the photos you have shared!
Thank you for sharing! ๐
I’ve seen tons of pictures of Vancouver over this pandemic year. I had no idea how beautiful it is! I feel like it doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but maybe that is what makes it even more magical. I definitely want to visit someday and am saving this awesome list for reference!
Thanks for sharing these interesting places to visit and providing your tips!
OMG Vancouver is such a beautiful city!! Itโs on my list and Iโm hoping to visit next year!
Would love to check out these places once I visit ๐ thanks for sharing!
All of these places seem like so much fun. I really would love to be able to visit one day. Stanley Park especially would be on my list to enjoy. I enjoy the outdoors and the aquarium looks like a lot of fun. I really enjoyed reading 3 of your favorite places in Vancouver. It was a lot of fun collaborating with each one and getting to know everyone a little more. I look forward to another collaboration in the future.
I would love to visit Vancouver. I have heard of Stanley Park and would love to see it in person. Hopefully soon.