A Taste of Vancouver Before the Rocky Mountaineer
Our time in Vancouver was short—really just a quick stop between Victoria and our journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. But even with limited time, we were able to experience a few of the things that make Vancouver such a fun city to explore: the waterfront, the famous Gastown Clock, Stanley Park, Granville Island, and even a ride on one of the city's little Aquabuses. This short stop also would work well ahead or following a ocean cruise out of Vancouver.
Arriving in Vancouver by Floatplane
There are plenty of ways to get to Vancouver, but if you are coming from Victoria, arriving by floatplane is a pretty memorable way to do it. The flight is short, scenic, and lands right in Vancouver Harbour near Canada Place.
Stepping off the plane puts you right in the middle of one of Vancouver's busiest waterfront areas, especially during the summer when cruise ships are in port. For us, it was an easy—and fun—way to transition from our stay in Victoria to a quick exploration of Vancouver.
We flew Harbour Air which has planes all over the Pacific Northwest.
Canada Place is one of the most recognizable spots along Vancouver's waterfront and home to the city's major cruise ship terminal. With cruise passengers coming and going, floatplanes taking off and landing, and people strolling along the waterfront, there is plenty of activity here.
It is also a great starting point for exploring this part of the city on foot. And, our hotel was right there as well.
Hotel Views
As a part of our package at the Rocky Mountaineer we stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront. Our view overlooked the cruise ship port.
Gastown
Less than a 10-minute walk from Canada Place is Gastown, known for its historic streets, restaurants, shops, and famous Steam Clock. Of course, we had to stop and see the clock, but we were not alone—it was crowded! Even with limited time, Gastown is an easy stop to add while exploring Vancouver's waterfront.
Coal Harbour
Back to Canada Place, where you can follow the waterfront toward Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. The seawall runs along the water, making this a beautiful place for a walk with views of the harbor, mountains, boats, and floatplanes.
During our summer visit, the path was busy with walkers, runners, and cyclists. On a beautiful Vancouver day, it seemed like everyone wanted to be outside—and it was easy to see why.
It was only in the 70’s (20’s) while we were there but the kiddos still were having a great time in Splash Park along the waterfront.
Just like in Victoria, where we’d just visited, this waterfront city had its share of houseboats in the harbor. You could spend all afternoon hanging out along the picturesque Coal Harbour.
Later that evening, at the suggestion of our friends with local knowledge, we went to dinner at Miku Waterfront. It is a Michelin Guide Japanese restaurant. Every bite was delicious, and it’s fantastic location right in Canada Place. We would highly recommend Miku on your time in Vancouver.
It was still pretty light after dinner so we walked along the waterfront and Coal Harbour once more. People were out and about enjoying a beautiful summer evening. We ended up at another fun restaurant recommended by our Canadian friends, Cactus Club Cafe. The line at 9:00PM was still out the door for dinner! Fortunately, we were just there for a glass of wine, which we closed out the night in, a very lively bar. A great first day. We understand why Vancouver is so loved by locals and travelers.
Stanley Park
On the morning of our last full day in Vancouver, we rented e-bikes and headed to Stanley Park. At nearly 1,000 acres, the park sits on a peninsula surrounded by water and is one of the city's most popular places to walk, run, and bike.
There are plenty of bike rental shops throughout this part of Vancouver, so finding a bike should not be difficult. We opted for e-bikes, which turned out to be a great way to see the park without taking up our entire day.
The bike path around Stanley Park follows the seawall in one direction, which is a good thing because it gets surprisingly narrow in a few spots. Much of the ride follows the water, with plenty of reasons to slow down and enjoy the views along the way.
One of our stops was the Brockton Point Lighthouse, an easy place to pull over for a quick photo and take in the waterfront views.
We also stopped at the totem poles at Brockton Point, one of the most visited spots in Stanley Park. The colorful carved poles represent the art and traditions of several First Nations from British Columbia. It is worth getting off your bike for a few minutes to walk around, see the carvings up close, and learn a little about the stories and cultures they represent.
As we continued around the seawall, the route took us beneath the Lions Gate Bridge, the impressive suspension bridge connecting Vancouver with the North Shore. Seeing it from below gives you a completely different perspective—and another great spot to stop for a photo before continuing the ride.
With our stops for photos and sightseeing, it took us about two hours to make our way around Stanley Park. It was just the right amount of time and a perfect way to spend a morning in Vancouver.
If you have limited time in the city, renting a bike or e-bike is a fun and easy way to experience one of Vancouver's best-known outdoor spaces.
Granville Island
One of the most fun places we visited, during our short stay, was Granville Island.
There are several ways to get there, but since we were short on time, we opted for an Uber from Canada Place. If you visit on a summer weekend—especially when cruise ships are in port—be prepared for crowds.
Once there, though, there is plenty to explore. Granville Island is filled with shops, galleries, restaurants, food vendors, and, of course, its popular Public Market. We hopped in here first to check it out.
Inside, you can find everything from the freshest seafood, to baked goods, to beautiful flowers, to food hall type dining. We were there on a summer Sunday so it was very lively. If you are in a stay with a kitchen it would be great fun to do your meal shopping here!
Just outside the Public Market we came across The Lobster Man. There were live lobsters, crabs and oysters right there to take home fresh. I checked later and they only ship to Canada, but they same day delivery locally! Lucky people!
Then we came across a store we’d seen featured in a You Tube video, The Granville Island Broom Company. We had to check it out. Turns out the shop is run by sisters who were brought up in a rural artisan community in British Columbia. Their brooms are all handcrafted, made in the traditional shaker style. They were making brooms while we were there and selling them just as fast. You could see the beauty in the handcraft of every style of broom. It was a great stop and such a unique retail concept!
It seemed to us that Granville Island, on a lovely Sunday afternoon, was a mix of both locals and tourists. Everyone was enjoying the sun, the scene and the food. Granville Island is a must stop on any trip to Vancouver.
Take the Aquabus
One of the most fun ways to get around Vancouver is aboard one of the colorful little Aquabuses that travel around False Creek. With eight stops, including Granville Island, they make it easy to get from place to place while seeing Vancouver from a different perspective. You can buy tickets ahead of time or when you hop on. When we were done at Granville Island we hopped on an Aquabus and headed in the direction of our hotel.
Colorful & Efficient Way to Get Around
While we were there, the World Cup had recently taken place, and we could still see some of the area dressed up from the event as we cruised along the water.
The Aquabus is more than just transportation—it is a fun way to get around while taking in a few more sights along the way.
Our visit to Vancouver may have been short, but it gave us a taste of the city's waterfront lifestyle and a few of its most popular spots. And for us, Vancouver was really the beginning of the next adventure. We hope this is helpful for your short stop tied to a cruise or a weekend in this beautiful waterfront city.
Next up: boarding the Rocky Mountaineer and heading into the Canadian Rockies.
A quick taste of Vancouver! From biking Stanley Park to exploring Granville Island, we packed plenty into our short stay.