Hello, fellow travelers! Today, we’re going to explore the stunning city of Vancouver, Canada. Our Parents Weekend Out from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada is not over. We’re in for a day filled with excitement, breathtaking views, and delightful bites.
Note: This post was updated after our visit with the kids in the summer of 2023.
Before you travel across the border, make sure you have your passport with you, you’ve talked to your telephone provider and your bank to open up more data and your bank card to Canada. The last two things, we totally forgot!! But we only had ONE day to explore this beautiful city. We’ve heard so much about it! So here we go!
Travel and Stay
Our day begins with a scenic drive from Seattle to Vancouver, taking roughly 3.5 hours, border wait included. Next time, when we will be in this area again, I’d love to see more of the parks and islands around this route. The drive is beautiful and the weather is perfect. On Hotwire we found a great hotel, The Holiday Inn, near the airport in Vancouver. It was very simple and clean with a European charm.
Exploration Mode: ON
Because our limited time in the city of Vancouver, I asked a friend for guidance on what to do, see and eat. Unfortunately there was no time to visit her, but we got some great ideas.
She told us to go to Granville Island first, then to Robson Square and Stanley Park. The lady at the hotel advised us to go to Stanley park and bike around with a rental bike and stop at the different beaches. That sounded great, because today would have been perfect for that.
In the summer of 2023 we drove with our RV to Vancouver and stayed at the Burnaby campground, owned by Dutch people. The park was quiet and clean. The RV spaces were narrow, but all the amenities were spot on. This time we had 5 days to discover Vancouver and with the kids it made more sense to do a bike ride around Stanley Park and to visit the beaches.
Vancouver
Granville Island
The city offers an abundance of transportation options – from driving to biking and even trolleys and boats. Deciding to leave the car at the hotel, we chose to walk and use public transit.
The lady at the hotel said, the best way for us was to drive down with our car and park as close as we could to Granville Island, we could also take a bus, or even the Skytrain. It was amazing how many possibilities there were. And how easy to get around. Vancouver has paths for pedestrians, separate bike lanes and a great Skytrain. Well done, Vancouver!!!
Green Tip: Just leave your car at the hotel and just, walk, bike or use public transit!
We didn’t know about all these transportation possibilities yet and their schedules, so we decided to take the car and park as close as we could to Granville Island. Later that day we were planning to drive back to Seattle, so it would be easier for us to hop in the car at the end of the day. Leaving the car parked near 14th and Hemlock, we enjoyed a pleasant stroll through Granville Loop Park. The reward? The sight of Granville Island, complete with charming shops and an indoor Public Market bursting with delicious and creative offerings.
A short walk through Granville Loop Park and we were underneath a huge bridge facing Granville Island with little shops and a huge indoor Public Market with all kinds of yummy and creative things to buy.
The back of this market was a bustling area where people sat outside enjoying food, the weather and the view.
Robson Square Extravaganza,
We took a one way ferry trip across the water to walk up to Robson Square, where lively events, kid DJs, food trucks, and parade-goers fill the streets. Surprisingly, there are even palm trees amidst the modern buildings, giving the city a European vibe.
We wanted to walk to Stanley Park, but it was already time for us to go! We would have loved to rent a bike and ride through the park and alongside the beaches. That’s another activity to do when we come back with our kids!
In the summer of 2023 we took our kids to Granville Island. They wanted to come back every day. Even the cute little ferry boats were an event by itself.
Tip: If you have a day pass for the Skytrain, you can use the ferry to North Vancouver as well!
We walked back over the Granville Bridge. What a beautiful view!
What to eat in Vancouver when hunger strikes
Amidst the city’s bustling energy, hunger strikes! Across the street from a Starbucks, we spot Paul’s Omelettery, a breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot with a long line – a sign of its popularity. No chance for us to try this place. Granville Market offers delightful donut holes, sandwiches, fish, soups, juices.
A Taste of Dutch and More
My friend suggests that any sushi place in Vancouver is a must-visit, promising fresh ingredients. And for those who crave a taste of the Netherlands, De Dutch restaurant offers a blend of Dutch classics with Canadian and American twists.
Fritz Fries brings a taste of Dutch “Fritessaus” to Vancouver. Even people from Seattle are crossing the border to buy the Dutch “Fritessaus”.
On our trip in the summer of 2023 the kids picked and chose what to eat at Granville Market. And we definitely tried “De Dutch” restaurant to find out if they really served traditional Dutch food. And they did!
More places to explore
While our day was packed, there are still many gems left unexplored in Vancouver.
Chinese Garden: This place looks amazing. I would love to see it!
A little north of Stanley Park is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge is 460 feet (140 m) long, and sits at a height of 230 feet (70 m) above the river. Something fun for the kids, maybe! Quite impressive!
The convention center would have been fun to see for all things Canadian. The Canada Place is located at the Vancouver Harbor and has stunning views from the water, the city and mountains.
I’ve heard from friends that the Science center and the Aquarium are really fun for kids to see. Those will be on our list for our next trip;)
Restaurants with Dutch influence.
Le Petit Belge: Talking about more European places to eat. This would be a fun one to try! Belgian waffles in all kinds of flavors and toppings!
De Dutch restaurant seems really…well Dutch to me, but looking at the menu, they tweaked the menu somewhat. Yes, they have Dutch Pannekoeken (pancakes) and “uitsmijters” (Eggs on toast), but they added Canadian or American things to it, like hashbrowns, hamburgers and wraps. Don’t get me wrong…it looks delicious!!!
Vancouver, you’ve won our hearts! Our one-day adventure was filled with beautiful views, delicious bites, and an undeniable European charm. We can’t wait to return for more discoveries. Until next time, keep exploring!
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my Crafty Dutch Girl blog! Grab a cup of “koffie” and browse through fun blog posts about our Dutch family expat life in the USA, Dutch history, Dutch recipes, Dutch things to do in the USA and all kinds of crafts and activities. Don’t forget to connect with me for new ideas! “Groetjes en tot ziens”.
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