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Seaplane to Vancouver Island (1 day)
It is great to visit Vancouver Island while you stay in Vancouver. And the most beautiful way to do so is with a seaplane of course. Known as the ‘City of Gardens’, Victoria is an attractive city and a popular tourism destination.
You can take a plane from the seaplane airport in downtown Vancouver to Victoria Harbour at Vancouver Island. There’s a flight every hour and the flying time will be approximately 35 minutes. After a day strolling around in Victoria, you can take a seaplane back to Vancouver.
There are several airlines that operate this flight. Westcoast Air for example operates flight from downtown Vancouver and from the international airport Richmond YVR to Vancouver Island (YWH). Check their website for availability, schedule and prices.
Stanley Park (3 hrs)
The seawall refers to the 22 km walking, jogging, cycling and inline skating path that lines Vancouver's waterfront from the convention centre on Burrard Inlet (Coal Harbour), around Stanley Park and False Creek, past Granville Island and ending at Kitsilano Beach Park. It is the most popular recreational facility in Vancouver.
8,8 km of the seawall trail is located in Stanley Park, which is Vancouver’s favourite outdoor hangout. Encircling the entire park, it offers spectacular waterfront mountain-fringed vistas on one side and dense, forest canopy on the other. You can walk the whole trail in two or three hours.
While visiting Stanley Park, go to the totem pole display area at Brockton Point as well. This is the most visited tourist attraction in all of British Columbia, where you can see the original Indian History.
Whale watching (3-5 hrs)
Just a step away from the bustling city of Vancouver, you can go whale watching in Steveston. Besides whales you can expect to see a wide range of sea animals and birds, specifically bald eagles, porpoises, seals, and sea lions.
Tours are operated from April until the end of October. With Steveston Seabreeze Adventures you will go on a 40-foot covered vessel accommodating a group of maximum 23 passengers, offering comfortable inside seating and unrestricted outside viewing.
A ticket costs CAN$ 120 per person. Tours depart from Steveston Wharf, which is located in south Richmond. It is about a 40-minutes drive from downtown Vancouver and only 15 minutes from Vancouver International Airport.
You can drive there yourself, but they also provide a free shuttle. They pick up from all of the downtown Vancouver and Richmond hotels and return you back after the trip. You can contact their office for more details. You can book your trip online.
Rent a bike (1 day)
Vancouver is a city that easily can be discovered by bicycle. Rent a bike at Simon’s Bike Shop for example. The rental, including helmet, costs $7 for one hour, $24.99 for 24 hours and $125.00 for a week. The shop is located downtown at 608 Robson Street. At weekdays the open at 8 am to 6 pm. During weekends they open at 10am.
A great track to go to is the 22km Stanley Park Seawall. Once on two wheels you’ll be able to cover the route in about an hour. Keep in mind that cyclists and rollerbladers must travel counter-clockwise on the seawall, so there’s no going back once you start rolling.
You can also rent a bike from Spokes near the Stanley park entrance. They are located at 1798 W Georgia Street. They are open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm.
Capilano Suspension Bridge (4 hrs)
If you like nature and want to see something spectacular, you’ll have to go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, just 10 minutes away from downtown Vancouver. Besides this wonderful Suspension Bridge, there’s a lot more to do in the park. Check it out here.
The address 3735 Capilano Road. It is just 1.2 km from downtown. You can even go there by bicycle. The driving directions can be found at their website. There’s also a bus going there, line 236 from Lonsdale Quay.
The normal price for an adult is $29.95 but they have reduced off-season rates. The Suspension bridge is open year round, but opening hours may vary during the season. You can read all this at their website as well.
Vancouver Lookout (1-2 hrs)
If you want to get great views on the Vancouver harbour and skyline and don’t want to go in a plane, you have to go to the Vancouver Lookout. There you get a 360º aerial view of Vancouver. Your adventure starts with a 40 second glass elevator ride, whisking you 130m skyward to the panoramic observation deck.
You will find the Lookout at 555 W Hastings Sreet. If you go there by public transport you have to go to Waterfront. The entrance fee for an adult is $15. The opening hours vary during the year, you can get the information here.
There is also a revolving restaurant in the Lookout. More information about this place can be found at their website.
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Language of the world
Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in Vancouver.