A brief overview of the place
Vancouver is a hip and trendy city that is surrounded by mountains, forest and national parks. This city has everything to offer you.  Whether you are looking for great shopping, amazing restaurants, hiking or days on the beach, Vancouver has you covered.   This city has a thriving art and music scene and is a popular filming location.

What I did there.
Personally, I think cities on the coast are the best because you have the combination of that laid-back seaside vibe and the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

I have been lucky enough to spend quite a few days in Vancouver and have loved every single one of them because there is something about Vancouver that feels like home to me. 

One of my favourite days spent in this beautiful city was one spent with a friend who lives there, so I got to have the ‘locals’ tour, which is always the best.   They do say ‘it’s not about where you are, but about who you are with’, and having both wonderful company in this equally wonderful place made for a fabulous day. 

Dylan took me to his favourite breakfast place which is called Cora’s and is found on 1368 Robson Street. Oh my gosh!  You have never seen breakfast’s like it.   The fresh fruit that was presented so wonderfully, and the smell of the waffles as they were carried past me to the next table.  I had a real struggle choosing what to have, but in the end, I went for the ‘Strawberry Avalanche’ french toast which was incredible. 

The sun had come out just as we were leaving Cora’s, so we headed for Stanley Park. This park is a wonderful metropolis in Vancouver. The park sees over 3000 visitors a day and is the perfect meeting place for coffee catch ups. Dylan and I found a little patch of grass overlooking the water and the mountains and sat down in the sun.  I love ‘people watching’ so it was lovely to sit and watch the world go by.  

The shopping in Vancouver is second to none, with so many great shops that can keep you occupied for days.   Walking back from the park, we zig-zagged through the glitzy shops, looking at all the stuff I wouldn’t be able to fit in my case to get back home to England. 

This was a simple day.  There wasn’t any great activity, but sometimes, just wondering aimlessly is the best way to get to know a place. 

Most popular excursions

Stanley Park 
Stanley Park is a 404-hectare public park in downtown Vancouver. Here you will find a multitude of things to do like a bike ride, a visit to Beaver Lake or to the Lost Lagoon.  In Stanley Park, you can also find an impressive array of totem poles at Brockton Point.   This park is a perfect place to spend the day exploring on a nice day. 

The Sea Wall
The Sea Wall is an 8.8km visual treat that was built between 1917 and 1980.  This wall covers the whole of Stanley Park, and incredible views of the mountains and forest can be enjoyed while exploring this wall.   To walk the whole wall it would take about 3 hours, so it is more popular to take a bike ride along it.   A few historic sights are on this route, like the Nine O’Clock Gun and the Brockton Point Lighthouse, and others like the Totem poles and Siwash Rock.

Grouse Mountain
This pinnacle offered brilliant views of downtown Vancouver.  Here you can find lumberjack shows, alpine hiking, bird-of-prey displays and zip lining.  You can also find restaurants up here, so you can enjoy lunch and enjoy the views. 

Capilano Suspension Bridge
This is the longest (140m) and highest (70m) suspension bridge in the world that hovers over the Capilano Canyon.  The bridge doesn’t sway too much as the steel cables are embedded into concrete.  There are also totem poles on the other side of the walkway. 

Currency
Canadian dollar 

Language
English

Population
631,490 people

Things to know
Take an umbrella
Vancouver sees about 170 days of rain a year, so be sure to have your Kagool and umbrella at the ready. 

time to cycle 
Vancouver has an avid bicycle culture.  Gregor Robertson (the most handsome mayor ever) will do anything to get as many bikes on the road as possible.  This means that there are a lot of road works going on in the city to alter the roads to incorporate a brand new bike path. 

Do you smoke
Vancouver is an organic, fitness-loving city of wellness.   This means smoking tobacco in a public park can get you $250 fine.