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A week in Vancouver - Canada at its best

Writer's picture: Markus NeumeyerMarkus Neumeyer

Updated: Jan 22

Max in Vancouver
There are great views on the lively waterfront in Vancouver.

Endless forests where wild bears live, millions of small and large lakes and safe, modern cities that take your breath away. That's how we always imagined Canada. During our 6-month trip with our children, we also spent a week in Vancouver and wrote down for you what there is to see in this wonderful city and whether we were disappointed.


Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of area after Russia. The distances are huge and you might wonder where to start. For us, it was obvious, as we had returned our rented motorhome from Cruise America in Seattle after our 7-week tour through the west of the USA (see also our Seattle blog post) and didn't have far to go to the border.



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By train from Seattle to Vancouver

The city is only around 45 kilometers northwest of the US border and only 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Seattle. We didn't want to get on a plane for such a short distance and decided to take the Amtrak. The US company National Railroad Passenger Corporation has been operating the majority of long-distance passenger rail services within the USA under the Amtrak brand name since 1971. Surely they will get us to Vancouver quickly and comfortably? Think again!

 

Max im Amtrak Zug
A good mine for a bad game on a delayed and overheated Amtrak train.

Our train departed from King Street Station in Seattle at 8.30 in the morning and was due to arrive at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver at 12.30 after a journey of around four hours. That was the plan, but plans are often miles away from reality. Unfortunately.


The journey on the train, which was filled to the last seat, was a real drag. Due to maintenance work on the line, the train had to stop several times for long periods. So the comfortable 4-hour journey turned into an uncomfortable 7-hour slog. What's more, the air conditioning in our carriage was faulty and it was an unbearable 32 degrees in the carriage. If we had known this, we would have preferred to pay a little more for a short-haul flight instead of the 198 euros for train tickets. But who knows.


Zugfahrt nach Seattle
The train journey from Seattle to Vancouver was scenically varied.
Things to know about Vancouver

The third largest city in Canada is located between the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains in the southwest of the province of British Columbia. Alongside Seattle and Portland, Vancouver is the transportation hub and the economic, scientific and cultural center of the Pacific Northwest region. The port of Vancouver gained international importance after the opening of the Panama Canal and is now the largest in Canada. It exports more goods than any other port in North America.


After the World Expo in 1986, the city transformed itself from a service center to a popular tourist destination. Every year, over 10 million people from all over the world visit the city, which currently has the fifth best quality of life, according to the Mercer study. Vancouver is also the third most important location for the North American film industry after Los Angeles and New York and is therefore also known as “Hollywood North”.



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The city is also known for its scenic location. Towering mountains virtually frame the metropolis. The North Shore Mountains with their three local mountains Grouse Mountain (1231 m), Mount Seymour (1449 m) and Mount Strachan (1454 m) lie on the northern shore of Burrard Inlet directly opposite the city. On a clear day, you can even see the volcano Mount Baker in the south-east, which is located in the US state of Washington. What a great location!

 

 

By Sea, Land, and Air we prosper -

Motto of the City of Vancouver

 

 

Vancouver is great, but expensive

In Canada, you pay with the Canadian dollar and we had to adjust again after several weeks in the USA. One Canadian dollar is currently equivalent to 0.72 US dollars, which of course changes all the time. We also tried to spend as little money as possible in Vancouver (traveling for 6 months with four people is very expensive anyway), but we went out to eat more often than in the USA. Both the prices in the hospitality industry and the food and everyday goods in the supermarkets seemed a little cheaper than in the States. Public transportation in Vancouver is also affordable and very well developed (cabs, Uber and Lyft are slightly more expensive than in the USA).


However, the prices for hotels and Airbnb accommodation are shockingly high and there is surprisingly little room for improvement. From today's perspective, Vancouver, along with Honolulu, was the most expensive city of the entire trip in this respect. Nevertheless, you should definitely visit it, but you have to book early enough.

 


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Our two accommodations in and around Vancouver

We decided to split our 7 days in Vancouver between two accommodations. Originally, we wanted to book three nights in the city center and four outside the city. This turned into 7 nights in the surrounding area - the city center was simply too expensive for us.


We spent the first three nights at the Holiday Inn Express in Richmond. Richmond is a city in its own right and borders Vancouver to the south. It includes most of the islands in the delta of the Fraser River and is very well connected to Vancouver by metro. This is probably also the Asian center, as there are almost exclusively Chinese immigrants on the streets. To get to the hotel by public transport, however, you still have to take the bus for around 25 minutes. The Holiday Inn is located even further out, right next to a cinema and leisure center: Richmond Ice Center, SilverCity Riverport Cinemas, IMAX Theatre and Watermania.


Tip: If you want to save some money when booking a Holiday Inn in the future, it is best to register with IHG One Rewards, the membership program of the international hotel chain.

 

 


A hotel with flaws

As already mentioned, the Holiday Inn Express in Richmond was mixed. The location is quite out of the way and the service is not particularly good. When we moved in, there was still food in the fridge from the last guest and the breakfast room was far too small. The orange juice ran out on the very first day and remained so for the remaining two days - an absolute no-go in our opinion. The hotel has a small indoor pool and a whirlpool, but apparently the pump must not be working well because the water was cloudy and looked dirty. We cannot recommend the Holiday Inn Express in Richmond and will therefore not post a link online.


Pool Holiday Inn Express Richmond
The pool would have been great, but from day 2 it was no longer usable.
Eating well in Richmond
Rot markiert: Das Holiday In Express - der rote Pfeil zeigt die Richtung zum Ironwood Plaza.
Marked in red: The Holiday In Express - the red arrow shows the direction to Ironwood Plaza.

A tip: From the hotel you can either walk (25-30 minutes along the Steveston Highway, see picture above, red arrow) or take the bus to a busier area. And 200 meters after crossing the highway bridge, the Ironwood Plaza shopping center with many restaurants and a supermarket is on the left. We had a very good meal here (Five Guys has the best fries and we had great tacos at barBurrito). Vancouver is said to have the best sushi in the world.


You definitely don't have to go hungry in Vancouver. We tested it. 


Our trips to Vancouver

We took public transport to the center of Vancouver twice. With the surrounding and directly adjacent communities, Vancouver seems huge, but once you are in the center, it seems manageable again. We walked a large part of the city center and the wonderful Stanley Park in two days. Here are some tips for you:


  • Stanley Park: covering an area of 405 hectares, Stanley Park is the largest city park in Canada and the third largest city park in North America. The largest part of the park consists of a forest with around half a million trees. Attractions include Beaver Lake, the Vancouver Aquarium, the offshore Deadman's Island and Siwash Rock. You can spend more than just one day here. We really enjoyed the hike through the park. Another highlight is the 28-kilometer-long Vancouver Seawall - a seawall that runs around the park. The most famous attraction in Stanley Park, however, is the collection of totem poles at Brockton Point.


Der Stanley ParStanley Park is huge and incredibly diverse. An absolute must in Vanvouver.


  • Gastown and the Steam Clock: Gastown is a historic district in the center of Vancouver and today a neighborhood in the downtown district. This lively neighborhood is known for its whistling steam clock (not particularly spectacular but iconic) and a mix of souvenir stores, independent art galleries and interior design stores in Victorian buildings. The trendy dining scene includes cocktail lounges and restaurants offering a wide but relatively expensive choice.


In Gastown, it's not just the architecture that is very appealing, but also the many stores.


  • Vancouver Downtown: During the day, it is a bustling shopping district with chain stores and luxury boutiques as well as upscale department stores (e.g. the CF Pacific Centre). Here you'll find numerous food trucks and lunch spots, as well as the tourist hotspot Canada Place, where cruise ships depart and you can watch seaplanes arrive and depart. The area is also known for its lively nightlife.


Kreuzfahrtschiff Vancouver
The cruise ships also dock at Canada Place.

  • Queen Elizabeth Park: Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver's horticultural gem, is a major attraction for flower lovers and view seekers and serves as a popular backdrop for wedding photos. At 125 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in Vancouver and offers spectacular views of the park, the city and the North Shore mountains. The 52-hectare park is home to the breathtaking Bloedel Conservatory.


  • Bloedel Conservatory: The Bloedel Floral Conservatory is a large greenhouse that doubles as an aviary.


  • Vancouver Lookout at the Harbour Centre: The Harbour Centre is a skyscraper in the central business district of downtown Vancouver. The “Lookout” tower on top of the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a striking landmark on the city's skyline. With its 360-degree viewing platform, it also serves as a tourist attraction with the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant and offers an unobstructed view of the city.

 

  • Kitsilano Beach and Kitsilano Pool: The beach is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, especially in the warm summer months. The beach is located on the northern edge of the Kitsilano neighborhood and overlooks English Bay. Kitsilano Pool is an outdoor saltwater pool on Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. At 137 meters long, it is the longest outdoor pool in North America.


Kitsilano Pool
The Kitsilano Pool wasn't crowded even on this warm day.

  • English Bay: This beautiful bay lies just west of the city center and is part of the Strait of Georgia. To the northeast it continues through Burrard Inlet and to the southeast through False Creek. English Bay is home to many cultural events. The Celebration of Light is a world-famous fireworks competition that takes place every summer, usually the last week of July and the first week of August. It is said to be the largest fireworks event in the world. The Polar Bear Swim takes place on New Year's Day, when hundreds of swimmers plunge into the cold waters, and the Gay Pride Parade takes place in summer. Large cargo ships often anchor in the bay and wait for passage into Burrard Inlet, where the Vancouver Port's quays are located.


    Book your suspension bridge park tour here!

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  • Robson Street: Robson Street is considered the main shopping street in Vancouver. There are several exclusive shops and restaurants on the street. Robson Street is known for the countless exclusive fashion boutiques that stretch from Granville Street in the southeast to Denman Street in the northwest. The Vancouver Public Library is also located here and is worth a visit.


  • Wreck Beach: This beach is a nude beach in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, which is part of the University Endowment Lands west of Vancouver.


  • Vancouver Stadiums: Rogers Arena and B.C. Place Stadium. Rogers Arena is the home venue of the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team of the National Hockey League and the Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team of the National Lacrosse League. B. C. Place Stadium the home of the Canadian football team the BC Lions and the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer franchise of Major League Soccer. If you want to see a Canadian sporting event, this is the right place!


  • Sky Train: With 48 stations and a length of 68.8 kilometers, the SkyTrain was long the longest automatic transport system in the world.

 

  • Spanish Banks: Spanish Banks are a series of beaches located along the shores of English Bay in the West Point Gray neighborhood. Spanish Banks is located between Locarno Beach to the east and the University of British Columbia campus to the west.


  • Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a place of cultural heritage, learning and reflection in Vancouver's historic Chinatown. Beautiful, quiet and well-kept garden. But you can save yourself the entrance fee if you just go to the public garden next door. But the paid part was also worth a visit.


  •  Marine Building: The Marine Building is a high-rise building. It is considered a tourist attraction due to its Art Deco architectural style.


Vancouver's architecture was extremely exciting.


  • Science World: a museum designed according to the science center concept. It is run by a non-profit organization and features permanent and changing interactive exhibitions.


  • The Aquabus: The Aquabus, also known as Aquabus Ferries Ltd., is a privately owned and operated ferry service providing commuter and sightseeing services to locations along False Creek in central Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Aquabus was put into operation in 1986.


  • Museum of Anthropology: In addition to being a major tourist destination, the MOA is a research and teaching museum offering UBC courses in art, anthropology, archaeology, conservation and museum studies. MOA houses almost 50,000 ethnographic objects and 535,000 archaeological objects in its building alone.


  • Granville Island and the Public Market: Granville Island is a small peninsula, shopping and cultural district in the Fairview neighborhood. It lies in the False Creek inlet under the southern end of the Granville Street Bridge.


  • Vancouver Aquarium: It is located in Stanley Park and is one of the main tourist destinations. The aquarium is run by a non-profit organization that receives no government support. It is the largest aquarium and marine biology research center in Canada. The 9,000 m² property is owned by the city and managed by the city's parks department. You can see, among other things, dolphins, sharks, beluga whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters. In total, around 300 species of fish, thousands of invertebrates, 56 species of amphibians and 60 mammals and birds live here.

 

Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is a great alternative if the weather doesn't cooperate.
Nature like from a picture book: Vancouver Island

If you have more than just a few days, you should definitely spend the night on Vancouver Island a few times. We wanted that too, but all of our desired accommodations were already full. Vancouver Island is located off Canada's Pacific coast. The climate here is predominantly mild and there is a thriving art scene. The landmarks of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia located on the southern tip of the island, include the Inner Harbour, the neo-baroque Parliament Building, the venerable Fairmont Empress Hotel and the English-style gardens. The port city of Nanaimo is home to Nanaimo bars and is known for its tasty chocolate vanilla slices. Here you will find an idyllic old town district with shops, galleries and restaurants.

 

Topgrafische Karte von Vancouver Island
This topographic map shows how huge Vancouver Island is.

But Vancouver Island has an incredible amount to offer, especially for nature lovers. It is an island of contrasts and a refuge for the diversity of this great country. In the southwest of Vancouver Island, for example, is the approximately 1,500 hectare Juan de Fuca protected area. It is characterized by temperate rainforest, wild rivers and a stony coastal landscape. The 47 kilometer long Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is said to be breathtaking and there are shelters along the way. Wild camping is also permitted in some places.


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Vancouver Island also has:

 

  • Hot Springs Cove: Approximately 26 nautical miles northwest of Tofino, the natural pools lie in a sheltered cove. If you want to enjoy the hot water here, you have to arrive either by boat or seaplane, as the area, which is part of Maquinna Provincial Park, is not accessible otherwise.


  • Cox Bay: The bay with the best conditions for passionate surfers, but long walks on the beach are also worthwhile.


  • Clayoqout Sound: A rugged coastal area declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000. Here you can see dolphins, some species of whales and sea lions, and black bears, pumas and wolves roam the adjacent forests.


  • Strathcona Provincial Park: British Columbia's oldest provincial park (since 1911) is located in the middle of Vancouver Island and is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Buttle Lake, the 440 meter high Della Falls and the mountainside of the Golden Hinde are not to be missed.


  • MacMillan Provincial Park: The protected area just outside the city of Port Alberni is home to one of Vancouver Island's most famous natural highlights: Cathedral Cove. The huge Douglas firs, which are up to 800 years old, are impressive.


  • Cape Scott Provincial Park: A somewhat remote but breathtaking wilderness region.


  • Pacific Rim National Park: Three different landscapes come together here. Long Beach, Broken Group Islands and West Coast Trail provide variety in this part of the island. The pictures alone are great!


  • Wild Pacific Trail: A little less known than the West Coast Trail but quieter and at least as spectacular.


  • Horne Lake Caves: There are over 1,000 caves on Vancouver Island, some of which have been opened to the public. A guided tour is best machen. 

 

An Airbnb gem in Steveston

We liked our next accommodation in the Steveston district much better. Just about thirty minutes by bus from our first hotel is Richmond's Steveston district. The former fishing village lies at the mouth of the southern arm of the Fraser River on the southwest tip of Lulu Island and is an almost kitschy, picturesque place. Even if you don't spend the night here, you should at least take a day trip to Steveston from Vancouver.


We stayed in an apartment with a kitchen at the Steveston Waterfront Hotel for four nights. A very good decision after the Holiday Inn flop. The hotel is modernly furnished and very clean. The location almost directly on the water and the proximity to the town center make it a perfect starting point for walks in Steveston.





Excursions and walks in Steveston: Steveston is a great family hub. There are schools and kindergartens, playgrounds and direct access to the water. Here you can also relax wonderfully as a tourist and eat delicious fish & chips and other seafood. It's almost too good to be true. We took a relaxed look around the area:

 

Steveston is still a friendly, idyllic fishing village with good infrastructure.


  • Steveston Community Park: This park in the center has a large playground, a dog park, the public outdoor pool and, great for children and free to visit, the Steveston Tram.


Alte Tram Steveston
The old tram used to run from Steveston to Vancouver City. She became a victim of the car lobby.
  • Walk through the town: First of all we walked along the Steveston Waterfront (great places) and back through the town. There are some quaint shops and shopping opportunities here.


You always see interesting things when you walk around Steveston.


  • Teemo Teemo Lagon Beach and Imperial Landing Park: In the other direction you go towards Waterfront Par, from there you also get to …


  • Historical part of Steveston: Here you can get an idea of ​​what Steveston looked like around 100 years ago, also for free. We checked out the Murakami House, the Britannia Shipyards National Toric Site and the Chinese Bunkhouse - very interesting.


The historic district of Steveston offers interesting insights into the past.


  • Garry Point Park: Garry Point Park is about 20 minutes from the Waterfront Hotel. In this local recreation area with a small, natural beach you can unwind and fly a kite. A great trip, with some viewpoints.


Garry Point Park is a great place to relax.


  • Hike from Terra Nova Rural Park to the hotel: A leisurely 1.5 - 2 hour walk along the coast back to the hotel and past beautiful Canadian homes. Shortly before your destination you cross Garry Point Park again. We took an Uber to the starting point of this hike.


Route Wanderung Steveston
This is the route of our hike from Terra Nova Rural Park to the Waterfront Hotel.
Reihenhäuser Steveston
We particularly liked the terraced houses in Steveston

Conclusion

Oh Vancouver, you will be remembered forever. The city on Canada's west coast boasts an incredible mix of rugged wilderness, temperate nature and a great urban flair. You should actually take more than a week for this region. We'll know next time! There's actually nothing to say about it.


Also read our other blog posts and follow us on Facebook or Instagram. 

Until the next blog, best regards, 

Steffi, Max and the kids

 

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Our Shopping-Tips for A week in Vancouver:

 

500 Hidden Secrets of Vancouver

Vancouver seems to have it all: a lively city centre with trendy shops, a diverse cultural scene, clubs and bars for partying, impressive architecture, but also beaches and skiing areas close by. And the beautiful wild natural surroundings are perfect for, for example, jaw-dropping hikes or kayak trips during which you might spot orca whales. No wonder author Shannon McLachlan decided to return to her hometown of Vancouver a er havinglived in London for a while. Shes born and raised in Vancouver and loves the city dearly, with its friendly and interesting residents, its georgeous views and its secret spots.





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