Exciting Things to do in Downtown Vancouver from a Montrealer’s Perspective

Are you planning a family vacation soon? How about visiting Vancouver and enjoying some fun things to do in this beautiful city. I fell in love with this city 2 weeks ago while I was traveling for a conference. Even though time was tight, I made sure to tour downtown Vancouver. Coming from the East coast (Montreal), I am not sure I will be visiting Vancouver again anytime soon. Fortunately enough the conference organizers were wise enough to provide us with free time that allowed me to snap some pictures.

Let me start form the beginning. I landed in Vancouver International airport around 10 am Local time. (It was 1 pm EST) and took the train to downtown Vancouver.  It is a 20 minutes ride and costs around $9. The train is adjacent to the airport and it is easy to take. The Four Seasons Hotel where I stayed was only 2 minutes walk from the train station.  Once I checked in, I starting touring the city. It was raining hard (Which is not unusual in this city, they even had an umbrella bag box in the mall!).

So here are the things I did in downtown Vancouver during my weekend stay that I would recommend for your family vacation itinerary on a trip to downtown Vancouver.

Related Posts:

• Visiting Egypt in Montreal: Tutankhamen Expo
• What Can You See in a Single Day While Visiting Montreal?
• Go Around the World in a Day at the Calgary Zoo

Things to do in downtown Vancouver on a family vacation

Robson Street

It is a look like modern European street where stylish boutiques, cozy cafés, stunning chocolate shops are mingling together. We don’t have this kind of vibe in Montreal. We have the European style but we don’t have this mixture of chocolate shops, cafes and boutiques in one street.

The street is crowded but not too crowded. Perfect for a Sunday morning walk. While I was walking alone, I felt a lot of warmth while crossing this street.

Granville Island

I did not have the chance to visit it but those who did found it stunning. Activity is centered around the Granville Island Public Market, with its bevy of merchants selling seafood, fresh produce, cheese and breads. It’s probably one of the best spots in the city for lunch, according to Tourism Vancouver.

Gastown

It is their traditional historical town of Downtown Vancouver. It scrolled it through this town and enjoyed the display at the art galleries. It is full of souvenir shops. I grabbed few souvenirs for my family and for my house. The street has a nice vibe and lots of cafes where you can have a delicious maple dessert.

Visiting the Harbour or Place Canada

This was by far my favorite thing to do in downtown Vancouver. I enjoyed walking to the harbor.

It was a 10 minutes walk from the hotel. Nothing like breathing fresh air, enjoying the wonderful fall view and seeing boats. See for yourself.

 Simply Enjoy the  Downtown Sites

You don’t even have to choose a specific destination to enjoy Vancouver on a family vacation. Simply walk in the downtown and enjoy the mix of Skyscrapers and European style buildings. Then indulge in yummy treats. (That picture of the treat is upside down. No matter how much I rotate it, it stays this way. I apologize for that)

Whatever you do, don’t miss your chance to get a great view of downtown Vancouver at night! Isn’t it gorgeous?

There are so many things to do in Vancouver on a family vacation. I hope I get a chance to visit again one day!

Have you ever been to downtown Vancouver? What are your must-see spots for a family vacation?

Want to check other family vacation ideas? Follow our Pinterest Board

Follow OurFamilyWorld Magazine’s board Family Vacations on Pinterest.