Top 10 Vancouver Summer Activities

By Devon O'Malley

10. Capilano Suspension Bridge The Capilano Suspension Bridge is only a short drive over the Lions Gate Bridge from downtown Vancouver. Just as the name implies, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is a large suspended bridge that allows guests to cross a deep gorge. Aside from the bridge, the area also features the world's largest private totem pole collection. Please note, there is an entrance fee associated with this activity.

9. Vancouver's Gardens Tourists with an interest for horticulture will be well impressed with Vancouver's offerings. Queen Elizabeth Park, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Classical Chinese Garden, and Vandusen Botanical Garden are only a handful of Vancouver's most popular gardens. Both Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Classical Chinese Garden and Vandusen Botanical Garden have entrance fees, however Queen Elizabeth Park is free to the public.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Classical Garden is special because of its central location while Vandusen Botanical Garden features over 255,000 plants from across the world! Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver's second most visited park and features a conservatory for tropical animals.

8. Vancouver's Nightlife Location, atmosphere, and convenience are the three reasons why downtown Vancouver's Granville Street is a hotspot for late night fun. Guests looking for a more calm setting should consider taking a stroll around the downtown's waterfront area for romantic views and sounds of the water.

7. Vancouver's Beaches During the scorching summer months, local Vancouver residents along with the city's visitors, flock in herds to the beaches to cool off. The two most popular Vancouver beaches are English Bay and Kitsilano Beach due to their list of amenities and location. Both English Bay and Kitsilano beach are conveniently accessible and have active lifeguards during peak hours. Guests looking for more seclusion should head down the Sea-Wall into Stanley Park as there are smaller, quieter beaches here. These beaches have no active lifeguards and feature few public amenities.

6. Seawall Biking or roller-blading around the Seawall is a great way to see a few of Vancouver's diverse views. There is an abundance of shops and restaurants along the way ensuring no tourist goes hungry or thirsty. Biking around the seawall non stop typically takes 3-6 hours for average riders.

5. Vancouver's Markets Vancouver offers a diverse selection of truly unique marketplaces. Chinatown and Granville Island are a couple of Vancouver's markets.

Chinatown, located in downtown Vancouver, offers a unique Asian-Canadian experience as everything here is influenced by Chinese culture. Tourists are able to buy everything from modern Chinese apparel to traditional Chinese medicine.

Granville Island offers a different type of shopping experience as it specializes in fresh local food. Live fish, fresh organic produce, and all types of imported food can be found here. During the summer months, live entertainers wow visitors on the dock for free [not including gratuity]. Granville Island is located right under the Granville St Bridge and is a healthy walking distance from downtown Vancouver.

4. The Grouse Grind Spanning up an elevation of 800 meters, the Grouse Grind is a challenging 2.9 kilometre trail that snakes its' way up the side of Grouse Mountain. Once conquered, the breathtaking views atop Grouse Mountain are well deserved. In addition to panoramic views of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain's peak also offers a live bear display, a lumberjack show, and a semi-casual restaurant with full bar. People wanting to skip the Grind and still get access to the perks atop the mountain will have to shell out a premium fee to take the gondola up. Tourists looking to challenge themselves should seriously consider taking on the Grouse Grind.

3. PNE/Playland Playland and the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) come together every year to offer a fair/carnival-like experience to the residents & visitors of Vancouver. Located in Vancouver's Hastings Park, Playland is Canada's oldest amusement park. Unlike most things that get old however, Playland rejuvenates itself every year as it brings in new rides and gets rid of old ones. Visitors should head over to the 1958 "Wooden Rollercoaster" first as it always has the longest lineups.

2. The Vancouver Aquarium The Vancouver Aquarium is located in Stanley Park and is most popular with families. This fun yet educational centre features a conservatory for tropical animals, whale & dolphin shows, and much more. If marine life just isn't your thing, there is a petting zoo with live farm animals located right next door.

1. HSBC Fireworks Hundreds of thousands of spectators descend to the downtown coastline to catch a glimpse of the fireworks every year. Countries put their pride on the line as they compete for the best show. Professional judges vote after each performance and ultimately declare a winner. Canada, China, and Spain, are all recent first place winners.

Devon O' Malley is a staff writer for alluraDirect, a website featuring beachfront vacation rentals in downtown Vancouver. Research, review, & book Vancouver lodging through a safe, trusted website - alluraDirect

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