Four things to do in Vancouver this summer – from tackling the Grouse Grind to taking a seawall stroll
If you plan to visit the ever-changing Canadian city this summer, be sure to make the most of the outdoors, with great hiking and walking trails available, or head out to support a local sporting team in action
You could almost call Vancouver the sister city of Hong Kong. About 300,000 Hongkongers hold Canadian passports, and a large number of them live in the area. So why not check out Canada’s top west coast destination? It’s basically a smaller, quieter version of Hong Kong, with a little less pollution.
Vancouver’s eclectic communities have grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Olympic Village, originally built for the 2010 Winter Games, is now a vibrant enclave, and East Vancouver has become the new go-to spot for foodies. Gastown has become hipster central as the tech workers flood the area, while downtown has become a high-end destination for luxury shoppers heading to places like department store Holt Renfrew.
There are lots of new attractions in Vancouver, and many people now speak Mandarin or Cantonese, so having strong English skills isn’t a requirement any more to navigate the city. With that in mind, here are a few things to check out if you’re thinking of hopping over the Pacific Ocean this summer.
1. Walk the seawall
Vancouverites use the seawall as their thoroughfare throughout the summer. Stretching about 30km, it wraps around downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park, all the way to Olympic Village and Kitsilano. You can hop on a bike (Mobi bike-sharing is an option) to explore the seawall or take a long stroll in comfortable footwear. If you’re staying in Vancouver’s downtown area, the walkway is not too far away.