Explore the Best of Vancouver, British Columbia in A Weekend

We finally went to Vancouver, BC!

We’ve lived on the west coast for 5.5 years now. We’ve always talked about going to Vancouver but never did. Since it’s so close to us, almost everyone we know has been to Vancouver multiple times. You can even make a day trip out of it if you’re feeling adventurous.

Seattlites highly recommend visiting Vancouver for it’s food scene and nature. In addition to the food, Vancouver has multiple parks that offer hiking trails filled with trees, suspension bridges, and waterfalls. 

I’ll let you know where we ate, stayed, and what we did. 

But first, let’s answer an important question.

Is Vancouver in the US or Canada?

Both. There is the city of Vancouver in Washington state and in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Both were named after a British sea captain named George Vancouver and are located about 300 miles apart from each other. 

Vancouver is a city located a few miles north of the border, in the southwestern corner of British Columbia. It’s one of Canada's most populated metro areas. But the US city is older. We like Vancouver, WA too but this blog is all about Canada. 

What To Do In Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is unique because it has a modern, glassy downtown that’s surrounded by nature. It’s the perfect spot for great dining, lots of hiking, or finding somewhere quiet to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It pretty much has it all.

Here’s what we got to do on this trip.

Stanley Park

Similar to Central Park in New York, Stanley Park is the first and largest park to pop up in urban Vancouver. It’s pedestrian and biker friendly with a lane dedicated to cyclists. You can rent bikes and ride them along the seawall when it’s a sunny day with warmer weather. It has 400 hectares of natural west coast rainforest where you’ll find trails, beaches, eateries, cultural and historical landmarks, and the largest aquarium in Canada. 

We didn’t spend too much time here but we plan to go back in the summer to soak in all that Stanley Park has to offer.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

If you love Star Wars, Ewoks, and nature, you will love the Capilano Suspension Bridge. After you cross the bridge, you’ll see Treetop’s Adventure above you with seven suspended bridges among the trees. They look like little Ewok houses. 

Canyon Lights are on from November to January, lighting up the bridge and the canyon below. Some of the lights were on during the day when we went and it was already beautiful. I can’t imagine how spectacular it looks in person, at night.

At $62.95 Canadian dollars, it’s a bit pricey and may require some saving up if you have kids or have a budget to stick to. Whether or not you go when everything is lit up, the price is the same and always includes the Treetop’s Adventure. 

There is a cafe and restaurant for when you get hungry and a gift shop for souvenirs. The food at the restaurant was good, not anything impressive but tasty. 

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Take the Baden Powell trail to get to the suspension bridge. I think it was about a mile round trip from the parking lot. We found free parking close to the trail and you don’t pay anything to walk around the park. The view has a small waterfall which makes it more incredible than Capilano Bridge, and it’s free. 

Lynn Canyon Park has many trails, waterfalls, and swimming holes that would be perfect after a summer hike. They have a cafe near the entrance but it was very crowded and without a lot of seating. It might be less busy during the summer. 

Fun fact: Vancouver hosts many filming locations for popular movies and tv shows. When we walked back to our car, behind the cafe was the set for a scene from Netflix’s Virgin River. We didn’t see any actors but it was still cool.

Granville Island

Over 40 years ago, Granville Island went from an industrial wasteland to one of the most beloved spots in Vancouver. With more than 50 independent food booths and some of Canada’s best artists and designers, it’s home to more than 300 businesses. If you think Pike Place is big, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. 

Parking is a little bit of a nightmare. If you’re staying close enough to take public transportation, do that. We had to drive in circles for a while until we found an open parking spot. Traffic is one way so if you drive there and you see a spot, grab it fast so you don’t lose it — there’s no room to run around or back up. 

Our #1 favorite food shop we stopped at was Zara’s Deli with fresh pasta, sauces, olives, and antipasti. We got the garlic and parsley olives and the mixed smoked olives. And Oh. My. Word. Those smoked olives were so savory and delicious, I could go vegan and not miss BBQ. They’re that good. 

Where to Eat 

We learned quickly that you need to call ahead and make reservations for dinner. It seems pretty standard for restaurants to be booked up on the weekend. Some places that we called didn’t have space for us that night. So at the very least, call ahead to make sure the restaurant you plan to eat at accepts walk-ins.   

Miku

Owner and CEO, Seigo Nakamura, first introduced Aburi (meaning flame-seared) style food to Vancouver in 2008. Miku prides itself on using fresh ingredients that complement each other’s flavor so you don’t need soy sauce or wasabi. Even the ginger, tastes like it was freshly grated and pickled just in time for your meal.

They use a special cooking method for sushi rice. The original rice chef grew rice for a decade before being allowed to cook it. He uses the highest-grade rice and adds sugar, salt, and a few other ingredients for a fantastic, warm addition to each individual ingredient.  

My favorite roll was the Surf and Turf. Kevin got the Red Wave roll and we both got the Salmon Oshi Sushi with seared salmon on top. Each roll also has a signature sauce for a beautiful marriage of flavors. We shared the Green Tea Opera — a must try. It’s definitely a dessert for one but it’s perfect for sharing if you just want a couple of bites. 

This place is on a whole other sushi level. Fresh, innovative, flavorful, and tender — you can’t go wrong with anything from Miku’s unique menu.

Jam Cafe

We waited in line for about 30 minutes to get a table, but it was totally worth the wait. One of the locals told me that if you go during the week for lunch, you can get a table quickly. But on weekends and holidays, the line is out the door so be ready to stand for a bit. 

With its southern inspired recipes, made in-house comfort food, and warm, rustic atmosphere — you’re sure to fall in love with Jam Cafe as much as we did. At first, I thought the prices were high but with the low currency exchange rate and the HUGE portions, the food is worth every minute you wait and every penny you spend. 

I got the Chicken French Toast made with brioche and their housemade fried chicken. Then they top it with hot honey, jalapeno sour cream, maple bourbon BBQ glaze, and pickled cabbage for some color and acidity to balance out the heat. It was as big as my face and oh so yummy. 

Kev got the Buffalo Blue Benny (eggs benedict) with buffalo fried chicken, poached eggs, and housemade hollandaise sauce, topped with pickled cabbage and blue cheese. They nailed the hollandaise sauce, it was one of the best that we’ve ever tasted. Their Hot White Russian and Bailey’s Coffee were the perfect pairings to a comforting brunch menu. 

If you don’t go to Jam Cafe, you’re missing out.

Gyu - Kaku Japanese BBQ

Japanese BBQ is perfect for spending a few hours catching up with friends and family or as a date night. It’s a chain so you don’t have to go to Vancouver to enjoy this meaty feast. They offer various cuts of meats with sides you cook yourself, over a charcoal grill built into the middle of your table. 

They have different combos of meat or veggies to choose from. We love meat so we got the meat lovers for 2 with miso soup, salad, rice, edamame, and 4 different cuts of meat — ribeye, beef, steak, and short rib. It comes with a s’more for dessert but we opted for a scoop of green tea ice-cream for something a little lighter on our stomachs.

The waitress was very sweet, answering all of our questions about the menu, and brought me another alcoholic drink after we accidentally spilled mine all over ourselves. They have a great happy hour menu featuring different alcoholic drinks on each day of the week. 

Overall, I would go back. I think the amount of food we got for the price was worth it and it tasted good but it’s on the spendy side.

Where to Stay

Riverfront Bed & Breakfast

This is the first time that we’ve stayed in a B&B that we booked ourselves and this place is immaculate. It’s so clean. Located a few minutes off the highway in North Vancouver, you're surrounded by trees and the sounds of the Seymour river behind the house. 

Micheal, the owner, greets you and offers you a pair of house slippers from the cabinet where he has guests store their shoes. Then he takes you up the stairs to your room with a bed, dressers, closet, futon couch, TV, mini fridge, and en suite bathroom with heated floors! Michael gave us suggestions on where to eat and things to do. He has a few brochures in the hallway you can check out as well. 

For breakfast, we had coffee, fresh fruit, a croissant, and an omelet as thin as a crepe, as we chatted with Micheal. It was just the right amount of food, especially because we had that meat feast the night before. After breakfast, we got to meet Toby, the corgi, who isn’t allowed in the guest quarters. You’d never even know that there’s a dog on the property unless you see him at breakfast. 

We were worried that we would be able to hear other guests in their rooms but it was totally silent, clean, and a literal breath of fresh air. Michael is friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, there was only one night available when we booked our room but we will definitely be back.

Book directly with Micheal on his website or send him an email for better pricing on your room.

Tell him Michelle and Kev sent ya.