Big-city energy. Coastal beauty. Mountain adventures. And enough incredible food to make you start planning your next trip before you leave.
There are places that are beautiful.
And then there’s Vancouver.
Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, Vancouver gives travelers a little bit of everything—waterfront walks, incredible food, urban adventures, lush forests, beaches, shopping, culture, and some seriously spectacular scenery.
For Maple & Magic travelers, Vancouver is also an incredible starting point for a British Columbia adventure.
Spend a few days exploring the city, then hop aboard a ferry and continue toward Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, or the Sunshine Coast.
This is the kind of destination where the journey really is part of the adventure.
🏔️ Why Vancouver Belongs On Your Travel List
Vancouver has an unusual ability to make you feel like you're in a major city one minute and completely surrounded by nature the next.
Grab coffee downtown in the morning, walk through an enormous coastal rainforest, eat fresh seafood for lunch, watch the sunset over the Pacific, and end the evening with dinner in one of the city's amazing neighborhoods.
And if you're traveling with a family?
There is plenty to keep everyone busy.
Traveling as a couple?
Vancouver is ridiculously romantic.
And if you're the type of traveler who would rather be outside than inside?
Welcome home. Bienvenue à la maison.
BC Ferries
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⛴️ Getting Here: Make The Ferry Part of the Adventure
One of my favorite things about exploring British Columbia is that getting from one destination to another doesn't have to feel like transportation—it can be part of the vacation.
BC Ferries connects Metro Vancouver with Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast.
🍁 Vancouver → Victoria
The most popular route for travelers heading to Vancouver Island is:
Tsawwassen → Swartz Bay
Swartz Bay is just north of Victoria, making this a fantastic option if Victoria is part of your itinerary.
🍁 Vancouver → Nanaimo
There are two major options:
Horseshoe Bay → Departure Bay
or
Tsawwassen → Duke Point
Nanaimo makes a fantastic jumping-off point for exploring Vancouver Island.
BC Ferries notes that Tsawwassen serves Victoria, Nanaimo and the Southern Gulf Islands, while Horseshoe Bay connects Vancouver with Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast.
🍁 Don't Have a Car?
You don't necessarily need one!
Foot passengers can use BC Ferries, and public transportation connects several ferry terminals with Vancouver and destinations on the other side.
From downtown Vancouver, the Canada Line + Route 620 can take travelers toward Tsawwassen, while Route 257 provides direct service from downtown Vancouver toward Horseshoe Bay.
The BC Ferries Connector also offers coach service between downtown Vancouver (or Vancouver International Airport) and downtown Victoria.
🍁✨ Maple & Magic Ferry Tip
Book ahead whenever possible, especially in summer, on long weekends, and during holidays.
BC Ferries recommends booking ahead on busy routes, and travelers with reservations should check the required arrival/check-in window before sailing.
And here's my favorite piece of advice:
Don't spend the entire sailing inside.
Grab a coffee, head outside, and watch British Columbia roll by.
Ocean + mountains + fresh air = vacation officially underway.
🌲 10 Must-See Vancouver Experiences
1. 🌿 Stanley Park
If you only have time for one major Vancouver experience, make it Stanley Park.
Walk or bike the seawall, explore the forest, admire the totem poles and take in views of the mountains, water and downtown skyline.
Stanley Park is one of those places where you can spend an hour—or an entire day.
2. 🌊 Walk the Vancouver Seawall
Put on comfortable shoes and go for a walk.
The waterfront scenery is spectacular, especially around sunrise and sunset.
And don't worry about walking the entire thing.
Your vacation is not a fitness challenge.
Stop for photos. Grab coffee. Watch the boats.
Enjoy it.
3. 🥑 Explore Granville Island
Granville Island is one of those places where you should arrive hungry.
Explore the public market, browse local shops, grab something delicious and wander along the waterfront.
It's especially fun for families because everyone can find something they love.
And yes...
leave room for dessert.
4. 🏔️ Take in the Views from Grouse Mountain
Want your Vancouver vacation to get a little more adventurous?
Head toward the mountains.
Grouse Mountain offers spectacular views over Vancouver and the surrounding region, along with outdoor activities and mountain experiences.
This is one of those places where you'll want your camera ready.
5. 🌉 Cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge
If you're looking for a little adrenaline with your scenery, head across the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
The bridge stretches above the forest canopy and offers a completely different way to experience Vancouver's coastal rainforest.
Not a fan of heights?
You may want to hold onto someone.
6. 🕰️ Wander Through Gastown
Historic buildings.
Cobblestone streets.
Boutique shops.
Restaurants.
And, of course, the famous Gastown Steam Clock.
Gastown is one of Vancouver's most recognizable neighborhoods and a fun place to explore on foot.
It's also an excellent neighborhood for a food-focused adventure.
7. 🏖️ Spend Time at Kitsilano Beach
Locally known as Kits Beach, this is a perfect place to slow down.
Bring a picnic.
Watch the mountains.
Walk along the water.
Or simply sit there and wonder why you don't live here.
8. 🌸 Wander Queen Elizabeth Park
For beautiful gardens and panoramic city views, add Queen Elizabeth Park to your itinerary.
It's especially lovely when the gardens are blooming.
And yes—bring the camera.
9. 🐋 Get Out on the Water
Vancouver's location makes it an incredible base for water-based adventures.
Depending on the season and your interests, consider:
🍁 Whale watching
🍁 Kayaking
🍁 Harbor cruises
🍁 Sunset cruises
🍁 Wildlife excursions
The Pacific is not just scenery here.
It's part of the experience.
10. 🎨 Add Some Culture
Vancouver isn't just about outdoor adventures.
Consider adding:
Vancouver Art Gallery
Museum of Anthropology
Science World
Vancouver Maritime Museum
There are dozens of museums, galleries, and cultural experiences throughout the city.
🍴 My Vancouver Food Picks
Let's talk about one of the best reasons to visit Vancouver:
THE FOOD.
Vancouver's restaurant scene reflects the city's incredible cultural diversity, with everything from Pacific Northwest seafood to Japanese, Indian, Lebanese, Italian, Peruvian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Here are some spots to put on your radar.
☕ Breakfast & Brunch
Jam Cafe Kitsilano
Think hearty brunch, comfort food and big portions.
It's a fun choice when you want breakfast to feel like an event.
🍝 Italian Night
Nook Kitsilano
A lively Kitsilano favorite for pizza, pasta and a casual evening out.
🍜 Ramen Night
Ramen Danbo Kitsilano
Perfect for those evenings when Vancouver gives you a little rain and you decide that ramen is basically a necessity.
🥙 Casual & Flavorful
Superbaba (Vancouver)
A great option around Main Street for modern Middle Eastern flavors, wraps and bowls.
🌿 Plant-Based Comfort Food
MeeT on Main
A Mount Pleasant option for vegetarian and vegan comfort food.
🇱🇧 Lebanese Favorites
Nuba Cafe and Catering in Mount Pleasant
Great for travelers looking for flavorful Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes with plenty of plant-forward options.
🍽️ Special Night Out
Published on Main
Located on Main Street, this restaurant is a great option for a more elevated Vancouver dining experience.
🦀 Granville Island Dinner
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant
If you're already exploring Granville Island and craving seafood, this is a great option. This is my personal favorite on Granville Island, it has everything great food and amazing views of False Creek.
🍁 Don’t leave without trying...
🐟 Pacific Northwest Seafood
Fresh seafood is an obvious Vancouver choice.
🍣 Sushi
Vancouver's Japanese food scene is a must for sushi lovers.
🥟 Dumplings
Because vacation calories don't count.
☕ Local Coffee
Build coffee stops into your itinerary.
🍩 Something Sweet
Because every good travel day deserves dessert.
🗺️ Maple & Magic’s Perfect Day in Vancouver!
☀️ MORNING
☕ Coffee + breakfast
🌲 Stanley Park
🚲 Seawall walk or bike ride
🌊 AFTERNOON
🥑 Granville Island
🍴 Lunch
🛍️ Browse the market and shops
🌆 EVENING
🕰️ Gastown
📸 Steam Clock
🍽️ Dinner
🌅 Sunset waterfront walk
And if you still have energy...
Go find dessert.
🍁 Want to Extend Your Adventure?
Here's where Vancouver gets really fun.
Use the city as the beginning of a larger British Columbia adventure.
VANCOUVER → VANCOUVER ISLAND
Spend a few days in Vancouver before taking the ferry to:
🍁 Victoria
🍁 Nanaimo
🍁 Tofino
🍁 Ucluelet
🍁 Cowichan Valley
VANCOUVER → GULF ISLANDS
For travelers looking for slower days and smaller communities, consider adding:
🍁 Salt Spring Island
🍁 Galiano Island
🍁 Mayne Island
🍁 Pender Island
🍁 Saturna Island
BC Ferries operates routes from Tsawwassen to several islands in the Southern Gulf.
VANCOUVER → SUNSHINE COAST
Take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay toward Langdale and explore the Sunshine Coast.
Think:
🌲 Forests
🌊 Ocean views
🥾 Hiking
🍴 Local food
🛶 Water adventures
🏘️ Charming coastal communities
✨ TRAVEL TIP
Don't try to see everything.
Vancouver is one of those destinations where travelers can easily pack an itinerary so tight they spend their vacation checking boxes instead of enjoying the experience.
Give yourself room to wander.
Spend an extra hour at the market.
Stop for coffee.
Take the scenic route.
Watch the sunset.
And if you discover a little neighborhood you weren't expecting?
That's the good stuff.
🍁 Maple & Magic's Vancouver Hot Take
Vancouver isn't simply a city to check off your British Columbia list.
It's a launch point for adventure.
You can experience city life, mountains, ocean, rainforest, incredible food and island escapes—all within the same vacation.
That’s why we love British Columbia at Maple & Magic Travel Co.
From mountains to magic, we're here to help you find the adventure that's waiting for you. 🍁
✨🍁MAPLE & MAGIC TRAVEL CO.
Mountains to Magic
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Ready to start planning your British Columbia adventure?
Let Maple & Magic help you turn the map into memories.
