Vancouver

Vancouver is alive with energy and by far one of my favorite cities in the world. I love how you can be in the city doing normal city things one second and then two minutes later out in the wilderness hiking beautiful mountains. There are few places I’d live in the world but Vancouver is one of them. The city is also ripe with history, good Japanese food, great music, and just a great quality of life.

Typical Costs

• Hostel Prices: Expect to pay about $25- 30 USD a night for a dorm room in a hostel.
• Budget Hotel Prices: Budget hotels range from $50-80 USD depending on how close to the city center you are.
• Average Cost of Food: The average restaurant meals will cost you around $15 USD. If you are going to cook your own food, expect to pay between $50 to 75 USD per week. This city has a wealth of cheap and delicious ethnic restaurants. For ethnic fast food like pho, Taiwanese soup, or ramen to pay between $7 to $12 USD for a meal. Vancouver has a lot of really nice Asian and Japanese restaurants so gorge on them! It’s some of the best in Canada.
• Transportation Costs: Adult fares for travel within the city cost $2.50 USD and are valid for 90 minutes. Travel to nearby places like North Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond costs between $2.50 – $5 USD depending on the time of day and number of transit zones you cross. The ticket you receive is valid for 1.5 hours from the time of purchase and can be used to transfer to any bus, SkyTrain or the SeaBus during that time. A more convenient option for the traveler may be the day pass, which offers unlimited travel for a single day for $9 USD.

Top Things to Do

• Grouse Mountain - For anyone who loves the outdoors, this is probably Vancouver’s number one attraction. Take the SkyRide gondola up the mountain where you can see a fantastic view of the mountain, then go skiing or snowboarding, or walk one of the forest trails during the summer months.
• See a sporting event – This city is full of sporting events, and whatever your taste there is something here for you. If you like football try to stop by for a BC Lions game, but watch out; they can get pretty rowdy. However, Canada is hockey country and if you really want to see what Canadians love, visit a hockey game.
• Granville Island – Granville island is a pretty cool place. The island offer a full day of shopping and eating, a market for buying delicious, and fresh groceries. Most of the food is local. There is also the Granville Island Brewing Company, British Colombia’s oldest brewery. It’s easy to spend a day watching the street performers and sampling farm fresh food.
• Lynn Canyon Park – With impressive waterfalls a beautiful bridge, this park is not only a good half-day trip, but it’s free. Consider walking to Lynn Creek to watch the cascading waterfalls.
• Go whale watching – If you’re looking to spend money on something, consider this and watch Orca whales. A tour typically costs $94 USD for a day trip. You get a lot of whales coming up the inside passage so chances of seeing them are very high. If you don’t, most companies will give you a voucher for another trip.
• Stroll down Robson Street – This is a amazing street for dining in and window shopping. During lunch, it’s also a good place to people watch. Moreover, it’s not too far away visit the art gallery, which showcases more than 9,000 pieces of art.
• Stanley Park – Located right in the city center, this park is an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown. It has beautiful trail, a waterfront path for hiking, and from here you wouldn’t even notice you are in a city. It’s my favorite park of the city.
• Capilano Suspension Bridge – This 440 ft long suspension over the Capilano River is not for anyone who is afraid of heights. It’s a big drop! Located outside the city, this bridge and surrounding trails and scenery makes for one of my favorite trips from the city.
• Wreck Beach - As the only nude beach in the city, Wreck beach has a
  community vibe with naked folks hanging out, sunbathing, swimming, and playing music. This is one of the last places to embody the free-spiritedness that Vancouver was famous for in the seventies.
• Saturday Farmer’s Market - Vancouver has an active local food scene and
  of the best places to dig into grown-and-prepared in BC food is at the farmer’s market. The location changes throughout the year, so be sure to check eatlocal.org for times and dates.
• Richmond Night Market – Between May and September one of the coolest
  spots in the city is the Richmond Night Market. Inspired by markets throughout Asia the Richmond Night Market is a delight of Asian food, culture, and shopping. Snacks ranging from dumplings to meat on a stick and everything in between are available from $2 – $6 USD.
• Vancouver Art Gallery – The collection of national and international contemporary art work here is phenomenal. Spending an entire afternoon here is well worth it.
• Vancouver Aquarium – Home to over 70,000 creatures, from the Arctic to the Amazon, this aquarium is a fascinating attraction. There is a daily shows with the beluga whales, dolphins, and sea otters.
• The Lookout – Located in the downtown Harbor Centre, this building is 430 feet high and the perfect place to check out the city. There is a lot of pleasure to be taken from something as simple as being so high up.
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – The first authentic classical Chinese garden built outside of China, this sanctuary is in the heart of the city. Everything about the rock, water, plants, and architecture is harmonious and peaceful.
• Gastown – This area is filled with lots of souvenir shops and restaurants. Other than wandering around, the steam clock is the main attraction here.

Budget Tips

• Take Public Transportation – A monthly transit pass will allow you unlimited transport on public transportation.
• Free parks and gardens – If you want to spend the day outside but not spend a lot of money, walk around the many parks and gardens the city has to offer.

Other Destinations in Canada