We continue the journey that began in Banff and arrive in Vancouver, the largest city in the province of British Columbia. This beautiful city, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by scenic mountains, attracts visitors year-round. Warm summers, excellent winter sports, and countless attractions and outdoor activities both in the city and its surrounding areas make Vancouver one of Canada's most popular travel destinations 

Day 1. Arrival

Since our plans changed due to the wildfires burning between Banff and Vancouver, we arrived in Vancouver two days earlier than originally planned. We immediately added a few new excursions to our itinerary and booked a stay at Accent Inns Vancouver. The hotel is not close to downtown, but it is conveniently located near the ferry terminal, where we would soon be departing for the island. It is a small, cozy hotel and a great place to begin our Vancouver adventure

Day 2. Exploring Stanley Park

Stanley Park is Vancouver's largest urban park and one of the city's most famous attractions. It is even larger than New York City's iconic Central Park. This vast green oasis, surrounded by the waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay, is home to scenic forest trails, beautiful gardens, playgrounds, tennis courts, golf courses, a miniature railway, the Vancouver Aquarium, outdoor pools, and beaches. It would probably take at least a week to explore everything the park has to offer.

We decided to rent bicycles and ride the scenic seawall that circles the entire park — a route of about 10 km (6 miles).

Before setting off, we had breakfast at Café Portrait. The name perfectly matches the interior

We rented bicycles and set off to explore the park 

The weather was perfect — warm with a light breeze. We stopped to admire the Indigenous totem poles, took in the views of the lighthouse, and simply enjoyed every moment 

We rode through a dense forest to see the famous Hollow Tree. The boys couldn't resist stopping at a basketball court. Basketball has been their favorite sport for many years, so they quickly found a group to join for a game. Meanwhile, we discovered a blackberry bush and enjoyed a sweet little snack 

The girls took the opportunity to snap a few photos 

The day had been a busy one, and by evening we were all tired, so we simply ordered dinner to our room. The next morning we had an early start, as our ferry to the island was scheduled to depart at 7:00 a.m. We were lucky to get tickets at all. Normally, they need to be booked well in advance, but because our plans had changed at the last minute, we had to book ours just in time.

Day 3. Ferry Ride to the Island. Botanical Gardens. Meeting Friends

Our ferry set sail for Vancouver Island, home to the famous Butchart Gardens. Looking ahead, I can say that these were the most beautiful gardens we had ever seen.

The ferry was huge, almost like a cruise ship, with a large dining area (where we had breakfast), a shop, and comfortable seating areas. The journey took about an hour and a half. After arriving on the island, we drove for about 40 minutes to reach the gardens.

The gardens have a history of over 100 years. The Butchart family came to this area because of the rich limestone deposits needed for cement production. They built their home near the quarry where the limestone was extracted. When the quarry was no longer in use, Mrs. Butchart decided to fill it with soil and transform it into a garden, where flowers could flourish. Over time, with care and dedication, the former quarry was transformed into a beautiful blooming oasis, passed down from generation to generation.

I won’t describe all the different areas of the gardens — I’ll simply share some photos instead

We moved to another hotel, this time right in the city center. In the evening, our friends were already waiting for us.

We had all flown from Toronto, but at different times, and each family had slightly different vacation plans. However, some of our plans overlapped, and we were happy to spend time together.

We met in Coal Harbour, one of the most beautiful and upscale areas of the city, and had dinner at Cactus Club Cafe, located right on the waterfront. This popular restaurant chain originated in British Columbia. We had made reservations in advance, as we did for all of our dinners during the trip

We ordered poke bowls. As soon as it got dark, it was the perfect time to take photos at the square next to the Olympic Cauldron sculpture from the 2010 Winter Olympics.

And our group had a new addition...

After that, we took a walk along the waterfront, where we saw the famous Drop sculpture with the ship-shaped Canada Place building in the background. We would come back to this place later

Day 4. Capilano Suspension Bridge. Granville Island. FlyOver Canada Attraction

A visit to the Capilano Suspension Bridge is a must for almost every tourist visiting Vancouver. The bridge is more than 130 years old. Of course, it looked completely different when it was first built and has since been reinforced and rebuilt to meet modern standards.

The bridge is 137 meters long and stretches above the Capilano River. At first, brave visitors carefully make their way across the swaying bridge, and then continue exploring the forest from above, walking among the treetops on a series of smaller bridges and suspension walkways

Nature in Vancouver is incredibly beautiful. The ocean air, mild climate, and abundant rainfall create the perfect conditions for lush greenery and breathtaking landscapes 

We decided what to do next. As it turned out, the boys had several friends in Vancouver at that time. Some had moved there after studying in Toronto, while others, like us, were visiting the city on vacation. Everyone decided to meet up and spend some time together.

The basketball game at Stanley Park that day was especially fun, but the evening was just as memorable, with visits to a few of the city's pubs. In one of them, the boys were lucky enough to meet an Olympic kayaking champion who had literally returned from Tokyo that very day and came to celebrate her gold medal at that particular pub.

Meanwhile, we headed to Granville Island. Technically, it is not really an island but a man-made peninsula located within the city. It is a wonderful place filled with small shops, artisan studios, cafés, restaurants, and a large public market. I absolutely love these charming and colorful places! Granville Island can be reached on foot, by car, or by water buses. The ride on these little boats is an attraction itself. The water buses travel not only to the island but also to different points along the waterfront.

Here are some photos of the water bus and the different spots on the island. We explored various shops, craft stores, and of course, the local market

In the evening, we met our friends at a very unique place — Ludica Pizzeria and Game Room. Here you can not only enjoy delicious wood-fired pizza, but also choose from a huge selection of board games and play together right at your table

Day 5. Britannia Mine Museum. Sea to Sky Gondola 

Today we set off along the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway toward the town of Whistler. Many people drive this route just to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, with towering cliffs on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Our first stop was the Britannia Mine Museum.

In 1888, a mineral deposit was discovered here by chance — thanks to a deer. At the time, many prospectors were searching the area for gold. One day, two prospectors shot a deer in the mountains. When they walked over to retrieve it, they noticed a rich mineral deposit right beside the animal. This discovery led to the development of the mine, and soon an entire mining town was built nearby. For many years, mining families lived there until the mine closed in 1974. Today, the site has been transformed into a museum.

We put on hard hats and rode small mine carts into one of the tunnels. There, we learned about the miners' daily lives and saw how they worked underground. Afterwards, we visited the interactive exhibition and watched an amazing multimedia show

After spending some time exploring the museum grounds, we continued our journey. The main goal of today's trip was to ride the Sea to Sky Gondola, but along the way we stopped to admire the beautiful Shannon Falls.

Just a few minutes later, we arrived at the base of the mountain and boarded the Sea to Sky Gondola for the ride to the top. It was an unforgettable experience!

We took in the breathtaking views of the mountains and the bay from the observation deck 

And took a walk across the suspension bridge 

We then arrived at Olympic Village, one of Vancouver's most beautiful neighborhoods. One of the plazas is home to a charming sculpture of giant sparrows. And there, once again, is one of Vancouver's colorful water taxis 

Unfortunately, we also saw Vancouver's more troubled side. Homeless people and individuals struggling with drug addiction could be seen on many streets throughout the city. There are well-known areas that are best avoided, but even in the nicest neighborhoods, you occasionally come across people in difficult circumstances. Behind one beautifully painted wall, we discovered an entire tent encampment...

Day 6. Final Day. Exploring the City

We started our morning with breakfast at the very popular Jam Cafe in the Gastown neighborhood. The area is charming, with beautiful shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The café is so popular that there is usually a line at the entrance.

The food was truly delicious. However, I was still craving a good cup of coffee, so we stopped by another café, where I ordered an Italian classic — Affogato: a shot of espresso served with a scoop of ice cream

We walked around Gastown, bought a few souvenirs, and admired one of the neighborhood’s most famous landmarks — the Steam Clock, which has stood in this location since 1977.

Every 15 minutes, the clock puts on a little show, chiming and releasing steam

We then walked to one of the city’s most photographed historic landmarks — the Woodward’s Building 

We returned to Granville Island once again. This time, we simply wandered around, exploring the little shops, grabbing a snack at the market, and cooling down with some delicious ice cream 

Everyone decided to return to Stanley Park. The boys went there to play basketball, while the rest of us wanted to enjoy the ocean views one more time.

One of the popular attractions nearby is the huge saltwater swimming pool at Kitsilano Beach

We walked along the beach, collected seashells, and said goodbye to Vancouver — knowing that we would definitely come back one day