Everything to do, see, and eat, from mountains to MICHELIN-starred restaurants.
surround on three side by water , home to a temperate rain forest , and nestled at the base of the North Shore Mountains , Vancouveris a urban center truly eat up in nature . This is a place where the glittering glass tower of business district reflect the moody greys and blues of the Burrard Inlet , and you ’re likely to spy at least a couple of bold locals cold dip in the ocean every day of the year . ( And we ’re not just talking about the seals . )
While it seldom dip below freeze in the city itself , the snow - covered mountains just 15 to 30 minutes from business district become a true wintertime wonderland from December through early give . It ’s the ideal city to act as in the snow all day and get back to townsfolk in time for dinner party at a cozy muddle - in - the - rampart or MICHELIN - asterisk hotspot .
With multiple flights every day from all major California cities , Vancouver is an easy pickup with no modification in time zone for Californians looking for a gustatory perception of wintertime spell . Pack your parka and your political party shoes , and get ready to feel refreshed in Vancouver ’s winter wonderland .
Destination Vancouver.
Find your snow day
Vancouver ’s three local mint each have distinct personalities , so there ’s a perfect snow-covered playground for everyone of any old age . Just 20 minutes ’ campaign from downtown , a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. atGrouse Mountainstarts with theSkyride , an ethereal tramway whisking you more than 5,000 feet up the mount for outdoor skating , sledding , and other kin - friendly bodily process . AtMount Seymour , love a peaceful even snowshoe tour that includes chocolate fondue in a snow gild , or quetch the adrenaline up a snick at the award - winning terrain parks .
Cypress Mountain , which hosted freestyle skiing and snowboarding issue at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games , offer 600 skiable acres , panoptic Nordic skiing trail , and a six - chute snow tube park . Do n’t pretermit the photo op with the Olympic rings , or the stunning lookout station spot on your direction up Cypress Bowl Road . No matter which hatful you take , you ’ll be honor with snow - cover tree diagram framing over-the-top views over the metropolis and the coast .
Light up the night
The winter nights are tenacious , but you could disrupt the darkness atCapilano Suspension Bridge Park . Here , the rainforest and river sparkle with over a million lights for theCanyon Lightsadventure running through mid - January and again for Love Lights from late January through recent February . Walk across the fully well-lighted 450 - substructure hiatus bridge , or search down on it all from the cantilevered walkway jutting out from a granite drop-off .
Until other January , you ’ll find another spectacular light display atVanDusen Botanical Garden ’s Festival of Lights , where you could saunter along 15 Acre of garden trails past ponds and beam trees .
Explore an urban park
At 405 hectare , Stanley Park is 20 % larger than New York ’s Central Park and home to roughly half a million tree , many hundreds of years old . In winter , the trail winding through the forest feel solemn and tranquil . Skies are somewhat brighter along the six - nautical mile seawall walk around the common , which loops past the Brockton Point Lighthouse , under the Lion ’s Gate Bridge , and past a string of sandy beaches , offering arresting views of the coke - capped mountains . Time your paseo to come at Third Beach for one of Vancouver ’s in effect sunset .
Stanley Park is located on the unceded territories of the Musqueam , Squamish , and Tsleil - Waututh Peoples . To explore the park through an Indigenous lens , connect withTalaysay Tours , a local Indigenous - owned company volunteer guided jaunt to learn about the parkland ’s recondite ecologic , diachronic , and cultural meaning for First Nations Peoples . If there ’s no availability during your sojourn , theTalaysay Tours Appprovides interactional function and self - guided tours .
Get to know Granville Island
Not technically an island at all but a peninsula , Granville Island is even so well accessed from downtown by taking a ready jaunt across False Creek on theFalse Creek FerriesorAquabus . These wee boats are a finical hitting with kids , but they ’re a darling for visitant of all years for their brook - level position of Vancouver ’s bridgework and skyline . Both ferry companies also offerday passesthat can be used to research all of False Creek , or just take a shortsightseeing tour .
Granville Island is well known for the indoorPublic Market , a picture - suitable feast for all five smoke where you ’ll observe florists and fishwife , ok European cheeses , and some of Vancouver ’s best bagels ( Siegel ’s ) and donuts ( Lee ’s ) . Beyond the market , the island also has an artisan district , where you ’ll find everything from a saki - Lord to handcraft brooms . Do n’t miss theGiantsmuralby Brazilian graffiti artists OSGEMEOS on the silos at Ocean Concrete .
Dive into the culinary scene
By now , you ’ll probably be fairly athirst . Luckily , Vancouver has you fumble for choice . Make a night ( or Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ) of your culinary adventures by die ona tour of Vancouver ’s Chinatown , where you ’ll find North America ’s best Chinese food — good-for-nothing , Californians . Once you ’ve finished the track , dig into a locals ’ favorite brunch atLivia Forno vitamin E Vinoon Commercial Drive or enjoy uniquely Vancouver Indian dining at theeponymous flagship eating house of celebrity chef Vikram Vijon Cambie Street . ( Do n’t omit the portobello mushroom curry or the lamb ice lolly . )
For a nice eventide out , heading toThe Acornon Main Street for exceptional , elevated vegetarian dining and creative cocktails orNightingalefor topically sourced West Coast culinary art and woods - evoke pizza pie in a brilliant and Laputan place business district . Or , to really go all - out , call in one of Vancouver’s10 MICHELIN - asterisk restaurants .
Sit back with a craft beer
Vancouver has a long chronicle of brew fine craft beer — and after everything you ’ve undertake here , you ’ve realize the right hand to sit and sip awhile . Originally get laid as Brewery Creek , the region of East Vancouver now shout out Mount Pleasant has a o.k. brewery and tasting room on just about every corner .
For some of the city ’s best brews , lead toBrassneck Brewery , a clear local favorite often recognized with top print in theB.C. Beer Awards . Another can’t - young lady is33 Acres Brewing Co. , where you ’ll sip the multiple - award - winning33 Acres of Life beerin a gleaming ashen brick space . It ’s bad to go wrong in Mount Pleasant , though , so come after your understructure and drink down into whichever ginmill catches your fancy , or make a day of it by following theBrewery Creek Ale Trail .
Destination Vancouver.
Destination Vancouver.
Destination Vancouver.
