Stephen & Ali's guide to Vancouver
Food scene
Really good Vietnamese restaurant. Usually you'll have to wait to get a table, or reserve well in advance for $20. Not expensive, great for lunch also. One of our favorite restaurants in Vancouver. Walk there in 15 minutes from here.
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Anh And Chi
3388 Main StReally good Vietnamese restaurant. Usually you'll have to wait to get a table, or reserve well in advance for $20. Not expensive, great for lunch also. One of our favorite restaurants in Vancouver. Walk there in 15 minutes from here.
A really good, different kind of Italian restaurant with a great space. You'll have to make reservations in advance. A 5 minute walk from our place.
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Osteria Savio Volpe
615 Kingsway A really good, different kind of Italian restaurant with a great space. You'll have to make reservations in advance. A 5 minute walk from our place.
One favorite Italian restaurant with a great environment. It's first come first served, but usually you won't have to wait longer than 15-20 mins. Great pizza and to die for meatballs.
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Via Tevere Pizzeria
1190 Victoria DrOne favorite Italian restaurant with a great environment. It's first come first served, but usually you won't have to wait longer than 15-20 mins. Great pizza and to die for meatballs.
Casual, funky vegetarian restaurant. Great drinks and atmosphere on Main St. About a 20 minute walk from here.
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MeeT on Main
4288 Main StreetCasual, funky vegetarian restaurant. Great drinks and atmosphere on Main St. About a 20 minute walk from here.
A hip pizza joint with really good thin crust pizza and nice selection of beer. About a 10 minute walk.
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Pizzeria Barbarella
654 E BroadwayA hip pizza joint with really good thin crust pizza and nice selection of beer. About a 10 minute walk.
A good vegetarian restaurant, where chickpeas feature prominently. A funky casual atmosphere. Lots of deep fried stuff though in case you're not into that. About a 20 minute walk.
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Chickpea Restaurant
4298 Main StA good vegetarian restaurant, where chickpeas feature prominently. A funky casual atmosphere. Lots of deep fried stuff though in case you're not into that. About a 20 minute walk.
Italian and pizza restaurant with a great atmosphere. About a 5 minute walk on Fraser.
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Pizza Carano
4241 Fraser StItalian and pizza restaurant with a great atmosphere. About a 5 minute walk on Fraser.
A decent breakfast place if you like big breakfasts. About 5 minutes away on foot.
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Egg & Co.
4245 Fraser StA decent breakfast place if you like big breakfasts. About 5 minutes away on foot.
Probably the best tacos in Vancouver, and cheap. Our go-to restaurant. Lots of Mexican food options. Only a 5 minute walk away.
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Sal y Limón
701 KingswayProbably the best tacos in Vancouver, and cheap. Our go-to restaurant. Lots of Mexican food options. Only a 5 minute walk away.
A reasonably priced French restaurant that's been around for many years, with great food. Most times you will need a reservation. Only a 5 minute walk away.
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Les Faux Bourgeois
663 E 15th AveA reasonably priced French restaurant that's been around for many years, with great food. Most times you will need a reservation. Only a 5 minute walk away.
If you're after European comfort food this is your place. Try the half grilled cheese with the tomato soup. About a 15 minute walk away.
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Burgoo
3096 Main StIf you're after European comfort food this is your place. Try the half grilled cheese with the tomato soup. About a 15 minute walk away.
A Mexican place with a great vibe. A nice to place to hang out and socialize, and really good breakfast when they're serving it. Lots of Mexican drinks and beers. About a 15 minute walk.
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El Camino's
3250 Main StA Mexican place with a great vibe. A nice to place to hang out and socialize, and really good breakfast when they're serving it. Lots of Mexican drinks and beers. About a 15 minute walk.
There are a lot of ramen places in Vancouver, but this is our favorite. It's pretty basic but very good. About a 10 minute drive in Chinatown.
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The Ramen Butcher
223 E Georgia StThere are a lot of ramen places in Vancouver, but this is our favorite. It's pretty basic but very good. About a 10 minute drive in Chinatown.
A nice vegetarian restaurant with very pretty food. About a 15 minute walk.
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The Acorn Restaurant
3995 Main StA nice vegetarian restaurant with very pretty food. About a 15 minute walk.
A great breakfast place with a casual vibe. About a 15 minute walk.
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Slickity Jim's Chat 'n' Chew
3475 Main StA great breakfast place with a casual vibe. About a 15 minute walk.
Probably the best sushi in Vancouver, in a very unassuming place. Usually a big lineup. If you're into sushi you should probably try it. About a 20 minute walk.
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Toshi Sushi
181 E 16th AveProbably the best sushi in Vancouver, in a very unassuming place. Usually a big lineup. If you're into sushi you should probably try it. About a 20 minute walk.
A hip but very modest vegetarian burrito place. About a 20 minute walk or a quick drive.
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Budgies Burritos
44 KingswayA hip but very modest vegetarian burrito place. About a 20 minute walk or a quick drive.
Our favorite vegetarian Mexican restaurant. Try the Ronnie Russel, baked with cheese. Great beer and drink menu. Very inexpensive and modest.
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Bandidas Taqueria
2781 Commercial DrOur favorite vegetarian Mexican restaurant. Try the Ronnie Russel, baked with cheese. Great beer and drink menu. Very inexpensive and modest.
If you're in your 20's and you like loud dub step while eating funky sushi, this is your joint. About a 20 minute walk.
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The General Public Sushi Lodge
3289 Main StIf you're in your 20's and you like loud dub step while eating funky sushi, this is your joint. About a 20 minute walk.
A Cuban restaurant with a great bar and atmosphere. About a 20 minute walk.
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Tocador
2610 Main StA Cuban restaurant with a great bar and atmosphere. About a 20 minute walk.
Always good, modern Italian restaurant. Usually need a reservation. About a 10 minute drive.
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Nook
1525 Yew StAlways good, modern Italian restaurant. Usually need a reservation. About a 10 minute drive.
One of the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver, from a very famous chef (Vij). Really great atmosphere. The cool thing is that you can't make a reservation. But they make the waiting part really easy with a nice lounge that serves drinks and snacks. About a 10 minute drive.
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Vij's
3106 Cambie StreetOne of the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver, from a very famous chef (Vij). Really great atmosphere. The cool thing is that you can't make a reservation. But they make the waiting part really easy with a nice lounge that serves drinks and snacks. About a 10 minute drive.
A healthy and delicious Lebanese restaurant. About a 10 minute drive.
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Nuba Café in Mount Pleasant
146 E 3rd AveA healthy and delicious Lebanese restaurant. About a 10 minute drive.
A huge former factory turned brewery and restaurant. Great for large groups. About a 10 minute drive.
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CRAFT Beer Market False Creek
85 West 1st AvenueA huge former factory turned brewery and restaurant. Great for large groups. About a 10 minute drive.
Really good taco shop with a nice space. About a 10 minute drive.
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La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop
2450 Yukon StReally good taco shop with a nice space. About a 10 minute drive.
One of our favorite Mexican restaurants with an innovative menu and great atmosphere. About a 10 minute drive.
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Ophelia
165 West 2nd AvenueOne of our favorite Mexican restaurants with an innovative menu and great atmosphere. About a 10 minute drive.
A great taco and burrito place in Gastown. About a 10 minute drive.
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Tacofino Taco Bar
15 W Cordova StA great taco and burrito place in Gastown. About a 10 minute drive.
If you want to visit a high end restaurant with good food, this is the place to go. A really nice environment that's usually packed. About a 10 minute drive.
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Chambar Restaurant
568 Beatty StreetIf you want to visit a high end restaurant with good food, this is the place to go. A really nice environment that's usually packed. About a 10 minute drive.
An awesome breakfast place. If you go, make sure you show up before 10am as there will be a lineup. About a 10 minute drive.
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Yolks
1598 E Hastings StAn awesome breakfast place. If you go, make sure you show up before 10am as there will be a lineup. About a 10 minute drive.
A very unique, Japanese Italian fusion restaurant with a very cool space. About a 10 minute drive.
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Kissa Tanto
263 E Pender StA very unique, Japanese Italian fusion restaurant with a very cool space. About a 10 minute drive.
Very hip Chinese restaurant with a great atmosphere. You cannot reserve, so it's best to show up at 5:30 when they open, for the first seating. About a 10 minute drive.
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Bao Bei
163 Keefer StVery hip Chinese restaurant with a great atmosphere. You cannot reserve, so it's best to show up at 5:30 when they open, for the first seating. About a 10 minute drive.
Really good Mexican restaurant with an amazing environment and food. Great place for couples/dates. About a 10 minute drive.
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Cuchillo
261 Powell StReally good Mexican restaurant with an amazing environment and food. Great place for couples/dates. About a 10 minute drive.
Fancy breakfast place. We really like the waffles you can get as a side to your dish. Show up early to beat the lineups. About a 10 minute drive.
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Cafe Medina
780 Richards StFancy breakfast place. We really like the waffles you can get as a side to your dish. Show up early to beat the lineups. About a 10 minute drive.
A really unique healthy food place with great take out, coffee, and snacks. About a 20 minute drive.
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TurF
2041 W 4th AveA really unique healthy food place with great take out, coffee, and snacks. About a 20 minute drive.
For really quick, healthy take out food this is the place to go. They have a few locations in the city.
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Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods - Olympic Village
1751 Quebec StFor really quick, healthy take out food this is the place to go. They have a few locations in the city.
One of our favorites, a Cuban restaurant with a great atmosphere. About a 10 minute drive.
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Havana Vancouver
1212 Commercial DrOne of our favorites, a Cuban restaurant with a great atmosphere. About a 10 minute drive.
If the sound of modern Vietnamese street food sounds good to you this is worth a visit. About a 10 minute drive.
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The Union
219 Union StIf the sound of modern Vietnamese street food sounds good to you this is worth a visit. About a 10 minute drive.
If you're exploring Gastown, this is a great meeting/eating/drinking place. About a 15 minute drive.
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Local Gastown
3 Alexander StIf you're exploring Gastown, this is a great meeting/eating/drinking place. About a 15 minute drive.
Our favorite ice cream shop in town. Be prepared to line up in the summer! Only a 5 minute walk.
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Earnest Ice Cream
3992 Fraser StOur favorite ice cream shop in town. Be prepared to line up in the summer! Only a 5 minute walk.
Really good donuts! Lots of vegan options too. About a 10 minute drive.
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Cartems Donuts
2190 Main StReally good donuts! Lots of vegan options too. About a 10 minute drive.
Our favorite Chinese restaurant. Can't go wrong with this place. A really nice environment. About a 10 minute drive.
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Sai Woo
158 E Pender StOur favorite Chinese restaurant. Can't go wrong with this place. A really nice environment. About a 10 minute drive.
Coffee shops
The best coffee shop that's only a 5 minute walk away.
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Matchstick Riley Park
4807 Main StThe best coffee shop that's only a 5 minute walk away.
A decent coffee shop that's 5 minutes away on foot. Really great breakfast wraps.
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JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main StA decent coffee shop that's 5 minutes away on foot. Really great breakfast wraps.
Another great coffee shop that's a 10 minute walk.
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Pallet Coffee Roasters
323 Semlin DrAnother great coffee shop that's a 10 minute walk.
In my opinion the second best coffee in town. Only a 10 minute walk.
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Prado Cafe
1938 Commercial DrIn my opinion the second best coffee in town. Only a 10 minute walk.
The perfect coffee shop that has a built in donut shop! A really nice casual environment too. A 20 minute walk.
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49th Parallel Café & Lucky's Doughnuts - MAIN
2902 Main StThe perfect coffee shop that has a built in donut shop! A really nice casual environment too. A 20 minute walk.
A French bakery with amazing baked goods and coffee. Only 5 minutes away on foot.
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Batard Bakery
3958 Fraser StA French bakery with amazing baked goods and coffee. Only 5 minutes away on foot.
A great bakery and salad place that you can combine with a walk to Trout Lake. About a 15 minute walk.
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FLOURIST
3433 Commercial StA great bakery and salad place that you can combine with a walk to Trout Lake. About a 15 minute walk.
The prototypical hipster coffee shop. Good place to go if you're visiting Gastown.
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Nelson the Seagull
315 Carrall StThe prototypical hipster coffee shop. Good place to go if you're visiting Gastown.
Bars
Our local watering hole. A beer lovers paradise with a nice menu created by an actual chef. It's pub food, but refined. Nice sunny patio when it's warm. Only a 3 minute walk.
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Bells and Whistles
3296 Fraser StOur local watering hole. A beer lovers paradise with a nice menu created by an actual chef. It's pub food, but refined. Nice sunny patio when it's warm. Only a 3 minute walk.
A hip, religion themed bar with great music. Interesting. A 10 minute walk.
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Hail Mary's
670 E BroadwayA hip, religion themed bar with great music. Interesting. A 10 minute walk.
A Hawaiian themed cocktail bar that's usually packed. A great atmosphere with live entertainment. About a 20 minute walk.
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The Shameful Tiki Room
4362 Main StA Hawaiian themed cocktail bar that's usually packed. A great atmosphere with live entertainment. About a 20 minute walk.
A good place for drinks and conversation. About a 20 minute walk.
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The Cascade Room
2616 Main StA good place for drinks and conversation. About a 20 minute walk.
If you like beer this is a great place to go. About a 15 minute walk.
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Portland Craft
3835 Main StIf you like beer this is a great place to go. About a 15 minute walk.
Vancouver's only seedy New York style bar. Worth a visit for a drink and conversation that you can't hear. About a 20 minute walk.
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The Narrow Lounge
1898 Main StVancouver's only seedy New York style bar. Worth a visit for a drink and conversation that you can't hear. About a 20 minute walk.
A solid bar that's a great place to go if you're exploring Commercial Drive and want decent food.
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The Charlatan
1447 Commercial DrA solid bar that's a great place to go if you're exploring Commercial Drive and want decent food.
Neighbourhoods
The closest "hub" to our place. Tons of great shops, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, bars, etc. Good place to spend a few hours walking up and down. About a 10 minute walk away, try staying between 8th and 26th avenue.
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Main Street
Main StreetThe closest "hub" to our place. Tons of great shops, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, bars, etc. Good place to spend a few hours walking up and down. About a 10 minute walk away, try staying between 8th and 26th avenue.
The legacy of our Winter Olympics, where the athletes were housed. Lots of great restaurants and bars, and a beautiful sea wall to walk around on - and Science World if you have kids. About a 10 minute drive.
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Olympic Village Square
The legacy of our Winter Olympics, where the athletes were housed. Lots of great restaurants and bars, and a beautiful sea wall to walk around on - and Science World if you have kids. About a 10 minute drive.
Our shopping district, if you like shopping conventional brands. About a 10 minute drive.
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Robson Street
1155 Robson StOur shopping district, if you like shopping conventional brands. About a 10 minute drive.
A historic neighborhood with lots of great shops, restaurants, and bars. About a 10 minute drive.
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Gastown
A historic neighborhood with lots of great shops, restaurants, and bars. About a 10 minute drive.
Kind of a dying neighborhood because of gentrification, but makes for an interesting walk. About a 10 minute drive.
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Chinatown
Kind of a dying neighborhood because of gentrification, but makes for an interesting walk. About a 10 minute drive.
This is our bar district. If you want to see our version of debauchery, go here on a Friday or Saturday night. About a 10 minute drive.
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Granville Street
Granville StreetThis is our bar district. If you want to see our version of debauchery, go here on a Friday or Saturday night. About a 10 minute drive.
Our trendy neighborhood where all the metro sexual guys and pouty lipped girls are. Great restaurant and bar scene here.
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Yaletown
Our trendy neighborhood where all the metro sexual guys and pouty lipped girls are. Great restaurant and bar scene here.
Probably the only neighborhood with culture in the city. Kind of an Italian vibe, but funky and eclectic. Lots of great bars and restaurants. About a 10 minute drive.
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Commercial Drive
Commercial DriveProbably the only neighborhood with culture in the city. Kind of an Italian vibe, but funky and eclectic. Lots of great bars and restaurants. About a 10 minute drive.
Breweries
A gritty East Van brewery with a super cool space. Especially nice in the summer on the outdoor areas. About a 10 minute drive.
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Parallel 49 Brewing Company
1950 Triumph StA gritty East Van brewery with a super cool space. Especially nice in the summer on the outdoor areas. About a 10 minute drive.
Bomber Brewing
1488 Adanac StA little East Van brewery with good beer.
If you like darker beers this is a good brewery.
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Strange Fellows Brewing Company
1345 Clark DrIf you like darker beers this is a good brewery.
This is the closest brewery to us, about a 20 minute walk.
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Main Street Brewery
261 E 7th AveThis is the closest brewery to us, about a 20 minute walk.
Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main StAnother nearby brewery with a nice space.
A cool space that they spent a ton of money building, with lots of good beer.
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Red Truck Beer Company
295 E 1st AveA cool space that they spent a ton of money building, with lots of good beer.
A gentrified, hipster brewery that's nearby.
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33 Acres Brewing Company
15 W 8th AveA gentrified, hipster brewery that's nearby.
A super nice space with good pizza and beer. It's loud here, but a great place to socialize.
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Strathcona Brewing Company
895 E Hastings StA super nice space with good pizza and beer. It's loud here, but a great place to socialize.
If you like weird with your beer, this is the place for you.
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Electic Bicycle Brewing
20 E 4th AveIf you like weird with your beer, this is the place for you.
Parks and Walks
Take a 25-30 min walk through the neighbourhood to Trout Lake Park. Bustling in the summer with picnicers, dog park, concession and swimming. One end of the lake has an off leash dog area with beach, water access and grass.
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Trout Lake Beach
Take a 25-30 min walk through the neighbourhood to Trout Lake Park. Bustling in the summer with picnicers, dog park, concession and swimming. One end of the lake has an off leash dog area with beach, water access and grass.
Take a walk through a beautifully curated garden and enjoy a meal at Seasons in the Park afterwards. This park also has a disc golf course. About a 40 min walk or 5 min drive away.
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Iqela likaQueen Elizabeth
4600 Cambie StTake a walk through a beautifully curated garden and enjoy a meal at Seasons in the Park afterwards. This park also has a disc golf course. About a 40 min walk or 5 min drive away.
Drive to Jericho Beach and enjoy one of the best beaches in Vancouver. There is a long pathway that goes from Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks. A 15-20 drive.
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Jericho Beach Park
3941 Point Grey RdDrive to Jericho Beach and enjoy one of the best beaches in Vancouver. There is a long pathway that goes from Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks. A 15-20 drive.
It's kind of a must do in Vancouver - rent bikes in the west end downtown and ride around the sea wall. Stop at beaches and enjoy the ocean and views of the north shore mountains. About a 15 min drive.
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Iparke ye-Stanley
610 Pipeline RdIt's kind of a must do in Vancouver - rent bikes in the west end downtown and ride around the sea wall. Stop at beaches and enjoy the ocean and views of the north shore mountains. About a 15 min drive.
Drive 30 mins across the Iron Workers Bridge and hike the trails in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. Lynn Loop, Norvan Falls, and Lynn Peak are recommended.
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Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
4900 Lynn Valley RdDrive 30 mins across the Iron Workers Bridge and hike the trails in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. Lynn Loop, Norvan Falls, and Lynn Peak are recommended.
Drive 20 min and start walking through the trails of the UBC Endowment Lands. Flat paths through the forest. There are maps at trail junctions to help navigate your walk. Great off leash dog trails.
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University Endowment Lands
Drive 20 min and start walking through the trails of the UBC Endowment Lands. Flat paths through the forest. There are maps at trail junctions to help navigate your walk. Great off leash dog trails.
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Izinto omele uzipakishe
Bring a raincoat
You likely know that it rains here a lot. Might as well be prepared if it does.
Ukuhamba-hamba
Uber & Lyft are the easiest to get around
Mass transportation in this city is not very well developed, so it's often easier to just get an Uber or Lyft. But lots of things are nearby, so always consider walking!