Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown on the west coast of North America and the original cultural centre for Chinese immigrants — most of whom settled in Vancouver after the construction of the national railroad. The settler Chinese community has left a rich history of architecture in Chinatown, including the Clan Houses, which served as a community support system for newly arriving Chinese to Canada. A self-guided walking tour to see the Clan Houses would be of interest to history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.

Vancouver’s Chinatown is also home to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first Ming Dynasty traditional garden built outside Mainland China and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

Gastown
Gastown is a very popular tourist area and just a five-minute walk east from the Vancouver Convention Centre. The neighbourhood is named after “Gassy” Jack Leighton, who opened the first saloon here in 1867. In the lore of local history, Gassy Jack is both revered for his fabled skills as a storyteller and reviled for his infamous personal history with Indigenous people; to the delight of some and the disgrace of others, he is commemorated with a statue in Gastown.

Trendy restaurants, bars and tourist souvenir outlets line Gastown’s original cobblestone streets. Some of the most popular annual events here include the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix international bicycle race. However, Gastown is most famous for its iconic steam clock. Blowing its steam-whistle every 15 minutes, it beckons legions of camera-waving tourists to gather beneath.

Granville Island
Take a water-taxi trip from downtown Vancouver on one of the two private carriers – False Creek Ferries or the Aquabus – to visit Granville Island, a former industrial site that’s been transformed into a unique cultural and commercial area located just under the Granville Street Bridge. Today, Granville Island is home to an eclectic mix of artist studios and a wide array of independently owned restaurants, pubs and retailers. Its central hub is undoubtedly the Granville Island Public Market — Vancouver’s largest and most famous public market. Circle Craft Co-op is also an interesting stop, it houses the work of artists who have been collaborating since the 1970s to bring their wares to the public.

Olympic Village
Take the water taxi one stop further and visit the Olympic Village. Originally built as the 2010 Winter Olympics Athletes’ Village, the area is converting to a new model of private, rental and co-op housing. The Village is also home to some of Vancouver’s newest and most interesting public art installations and community spaces. A large public art installation is a feature here, which is an ideal spot to grab a coffee, sit outside and do a little people-watching.

Stanley Park
Stanley Park has the distinction of being North America’s largest park site located within an urban area — and is also considered by many to be the most beautiful. For 8,000 years this was a rich gathering and celebration site for the Coast Salish people; it was also home to a large village called Whoi Whoi, or Xwayxway, which loosely translated means ‘place of masks’. A wonderful walking tour of Stanley Park can be taken with Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous-led tour outfit. Another option for visitors is a simple walk (or bike) around the 8 km seawall of Stanley Park that also wraps around the city and connects the neighbourhoods of Tinseltown, Coal Harbour, English Bay, Yaletown and Granville Island. Whether jogging, biking, walking or rollerblading, the seawall is an authentically local way to discover the city.

Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
Van Dusen Botanical Gardens is a wonderful visit any time of the year. These gardens were built to reclaim land that was a former private golf course. Covering 22 hectares of land, this year-round facility has recently embarked on a “re-wilding of the grounds,” introducing more native species and natural features. Van Dusen was the site of an international stone sculpture symposium in 1975 and the dozen unique pieces that were carved by artists of international fame remain here, offering interesting visual challenges to the natural environment. Throughout February, guided tours of Van Dusen are offered on Sunday afternoons.

Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is another beautiful outing in central Vancouver, featuring beautifully kept gardens and a wonderful view of the North Shore mountains and the downtown harbour. The park is also home to the Bloedel Conservatory, a domed lush paradise atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. More than 120 free-flying exotic birds, 500 exotic plants and flowers thrive within its temperature-controlled environment which contains an amazing collection of flora and fauna from around the world.

Grouse Mountain
A bus trip to the North Shore and up to Grouse Mountain is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon — and see a magnificent view of Vancouver and the harbour from a crow’s nest perch via the gondola. Grouse is one of the most popular sites for ecotourism and wildlife preservation in the Metro Vancouver area. Along with the year-round breathtaking views, in the winter Grouse turns into a snowy wonderland renowned for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and sleigh rides. Travel options to Grouse Mountain in February are private car, taxi or public transit.

Museum Of Anthropology
Another spectacular Vancouver attraction is the Museum of Anthropology (MOA), located on the endowment lands at the University of BC. There is simply no better place to learn about the rich, inspiring history of the Coast Salish people who thrived here before the first European settlers arrived. MOA is unique not only because of its physical setting, but also because of the way the Museum collaborates with cultural communities on research methods and exhibitions. A stunning large-scale sculpture, “Raven and the First Men,”holds a place of particular pride at MOA. UBC is easily accessible on public transit from downtown Vancouver.

Vancouver Art Gallery
Located walking distance from the Summit venue is the Vancouver Art Gallery, a fantastic way to escape the rain and enjoy Vancouver. Housed in a former courthouse, the Vancouver Art Gallery is one of North America’s most highly respected visual arts institutions. The gallery combines historical and contemporary art and highlights the accomplishments of First Nations artists and artists from the Asia Pacific region.

Restaurants and Bars
Vancouver is home to an ever-changing food and beverage scene with options to suit anyone’s taste. As the birth place of Ocean Wise, Vancouver has an emphasis on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and fresh meat and seafood. Vancouver’s diverse and multi-cultural community is reflected in the selection of trendy restaurants and bars. Depending on which neighbourhood you would like to explore, there is always a fantastic eatery nearby. Check out Vancouver Magazine for a list of last year’s award-winning restaurants or Scout Magazine for all the latest food and beverage news.

Local Craft Breweries
Interested in seeing a growing part of the local economy? Hand crafted beer, cider and spirit-makers are fast growing new players in our community. East Vancouver in particular has earned the moniker of ‘Yeast Van’, as a growing contingent of independent local craft breweries serve up a creative array of uniquely local flavours. The craft spirit market offers tasting rooms and tours throughout East Vancouver.

Farmers’ Markets
Vancouverites are big believers in supporting local growers. Throughout the growing and harvesting season, there are farmers’ markets in communities across Vancouver every day of the week. In the winter months, the markets are consolidated into one central location at Riley Park — right next to historic Nat Bailey Stadium in central Vancouver and easily accessible by public transit.