My Recent Trip to Vancouver
A Three-Day Itinerary of the East Side with my sister
My mom makes the best Nanaimo Bars in the world. I sampled Nanaimo Bars made in Nanaimo, but my mom’s are still better. She made a box of them to share during my visit.
My parents call us the Wacky Sisters. I was the older, more studious sister while my younger sister refused to jump through hoops to show how smart she was. I usually had my nose in a book and she usually had a teacher yelling at her to be more mature and pay attention. She made sure I lived outside of my own head. Friends have told us we have a “schtick,” which we pick up immediately despite being months or years apart.
Growing up in Ontario, we were always together. With only fifteen months separating us, we walked to school together, hung out with a lot of the same friends, and had the same teachers. As adults, we live a six-hour plane ride away from each other, so being together in person is rare and special.
When I visited years ago with my husband and kids, the children were still young so we headed to the Science Centre. We also visited the Aquarium, Granville Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge. All of these sights are first-time visit must-sees, and they are definitely worth the visit.
If you are looking to see a different version of Vancouver, here is a three-day itinerary:
Day One
To start your first day, head to Batard Bakery for some pastries. While you eat some delicious pastries, you can check out the art which fills every inch of space on the walls. Once you’ve had your fill, you are going to need to go for a walk. Luckily, Vancouver is a beautiful city.
We spent most of my visit in the downtown East Side. Since it was springtime, there were numerous Cherry Blossoms in bloom. With the backdrop of the mountains to the East of the city, just walking around is a great way to spend your day, no matter the weather. If you walk around enough, you can also spot some streets where there is a whole row of Cherry Blossom trees, creating a beautiful and fragrant pink canopy.
While looking for Cherry Blossoms, keep your eye out for Vancouver Special houses. You are bound to spot hundreds if not thousands of these houses, which were built from the 1960s to the 1980s. They are a popular model since the floor plan is easily used as a single, dual, or triple unit building or a multigenerational house plan. Since Vancouver has become one of the most expensive cities in the world, having a home with multiple families in it just makes sense.
For lunch or dinner, head to Brown’s Crafthouse on Main Street. The art on the walls is fun here, too. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. Plus, the drinks are tasty! Once you’ve had your fill, you could head to Main Street for some shopping at second-hand stores or local clothing stores.
Fun at Night
We went bowling at Grandview Lanes on Commercial Drive. Glow In The Dark Bowling was awesome in the 90s, and it continues to be awesome in 2023. We played two games of five-pin, had some drinks, and rocked out. At $6.99 per person per game, it was an affordable evening.
Day Two
Start at East-West Markets on Main Street to pick up a picnic meal. If you need coffee to start your day, as I do, you have your pick of five to six local coffee houses to get your pick me up.
Visit Wreck Beach. In the warmer months, this beach is known for partying and a clothing-optional atmosphere. If you are hungry again, there are several places to eat on the University of British Columbia’s beautiful campus. There are also several good options just off campus.
My favourite part of the day was watching the seals playing in the ocean. There were at least twenty of the gorgeous creatures frolicking about fifty metres from us. They often popped their heads up to watch us while we watched them with our binoculars. It was a Seal Stare-down.
Despite the rain and clouds, the day was beautiful since we were on a beach with a backdrop of misty mountains. We spent a few hours enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the rocky beach, then climbed back up the long stack of stairs to the UBC campus. We warmed up with a latte at a cafe on campus.
Then we strolled around some more beautiful neighborhoods and played, “Guess the Outrageous Price of this Small House!” Once we had enough of that enjoyable yet depressing game, we headed over to Shameful Tiki. If you are a fan of coconut, The Pain Killer might be for you.
Day Three
British Columbia is heaven for hikers. We chose to hike at Buntzen Lake. You can drive for an hour or take a two-hour bus ride. In my experience, even taking a bus ride in BC is enjoyable since the scenery is gorgeous.
In BC, my problem is I am looking around so much at the beautiful trees and surrounding scenery, I am likely to get lost!
When you have finished your hike, you deserve a drink at Sing Sing. The Old-Fashioned hits the spot.
Throughout your stay in Vancouver, make sure you look for the many fabulous murals. If you love murals, you could spend several days looking for them using this handy guide. Mural Tour
There is a lot to see and do in Vancouver. British Columbia is a beautiful province. I am glad I snapped up a plane ticket during a seat sale so I could visit my sister in her East Side neighborhood. Vancouver is a very walkable city, which is fortunate since I had a lot of Nanaimo Bars, drinks, and delicious meals.
