Vancouver
Sept. 2 - 5 (4D4N): Leg 1 of our Pacific Northwest trip where we continued our journey visiting various spots in Washington State including Seattle. Vancouver - what a metropolitan city, full of energy and vibrant food scene! Beware of Gastown if you have a rental car. Our rental got broken into so definitely put away everything even though the city feels pretty safe!
*Highly Recommended Food & Accommodation
Day 1
1am flight arrival in Vancouver from JFK
Pick up rental car from National @ Vancouver Int. airport (closes at 1:30am)
Drive to River Rock Resort & Hotel and rest
Dim sum @ Kirin*
Drive around Stanley Park:
Totem Poles
Prospect Point lookout
Third Beach
Lost Lagoon
Walk around Robson Street
Dinner @ Miku (beautiful view if you can get a seat by the window; otherwise food was average)
Walk around waterfront + Gastown (check out the Steam Clock)
Grab bubble tea from Bubble Queen*
Day 2
Eclair from L'eclair de Genie
Breakfast @ Birds & the Beets*
Gassy Jack Statue
Maple Tree Square
Learn the history of Gastown
Lynn Canyon Park (hike the 30ft pool trail via suspension bridge; suggested duration 1 hr)
Lunch @ Go Fish*
Granville Island (suggested duration 1 hr)
Look out to False Creek
Gelato @ Pistachio* (next to Bridge restaurant)
Follow Frommers Downtown walking tour
Dinner @ Kitch izakaya
Day 3
Quick slot machine @ River Rock Resort & Hotel Casino ($5 playing credit for staying at the hotel)
Breakfast @ Yung Ho Soy*
Drive to Whistler (1:53hr):
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park & Bungee Bridge (20 mins hike)
Check in @ Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside, Whistler*
Hiking trails @ Whistler (Make it a loop – go up Whistler, across the PEAK 2 PEAK and down Blackcomb; suggested duration 3.5hr)
Take the lift up to the Summit & down (some hiking is needed to take the 2nd lift up to the summit)
Beer break @ the Lodge
The Harmony Lake Trail Loop (40 mins RT; leads to a small, postcard-perfect mountain lake)
The Upper Village
Relax at the pool/jacuzzi
Dinner @ 21 steps*
Walk around the village
Day 4
Walk around the village (Olympic sign) & breakfast @ Pure Bread*
Drive to Vancouver (1.5 hr)
Brunch @ Raisu*
Drive to Washington State/broader crossing (1.5 hr)
Other points of interest & food
When in Granville Island, stop by the ferry stand to charter a boat. The price is pretty reasonable but they ran out of boat for rental when we got there.
Hokkaido ramen santouka (2 locations to choose from)
Tips
If you an Equinox member, stop by the Vancouver downtown location. It is one of the best in my opinion!
You can also rent a bicycle to bike around Stanley Park. We opted to drive and stop by each site as we had a rental car.
If you are wondering why I did not put Capilano on here that's because I went there in 2008 and while it was nice, it is very expensive (C$43). As suggested by a friend from Vancouver, Lynn Canyon is a much better alternative - it is free, has a nice long suspension bridge, and not as touristy!
