Main Street
Main Street has always been one of my favorite parts of Vancouver. Main Street is filled with cute shops and hipster restaurants for blocks. Some of my favorite shops on Main Street are Red Cat Records, Front and Company, and the Regional Assembly of Text. Red Cat Records is a small local record shop in the middle of Main street, and I always find the best indie and alternative names there. Front and Company has two stores: one is a consignment clothing and jewelry store, and the other is a home goods and speciality items store (both are super cute!). The Regional Assembly of Text is a stationary store with the best notebooks, calendars, and cards. These are only a few of the best places on Main Street, so if you visit you’ll have plenty to explore!
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is the largest park in the city of Vancouver, and the second largest in North America after Central Park. Located just north of Downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is the best place to go for a walk through the trees or along the beach. It’s the best place to grab some food and have a picnic (Close by is the Falafel King, which is the best place to try Shawarma, a great Middle Eastern dish).
Kitsilano
Kitsilano is the more artsy side of Vancouver. Kits Beach is a great place to visit during the summer and West 4th Street is a great place to find more indie shops and restaurants, similar to Main Street.
UBC
The University of British Columbia is great to drive through because the campus is gorgeous and goes on for miles. Along UBC is Wreck Beach, the only nudist beach in Vancouver (not everyone is nude, don’t worry). The coast is beautiful to walk during golden hour.
Downtown
Downtown Vancouver has the most name-brand shopping opportunities. Robson Street is lined with big name stores and restaurants, however this area is very touristy. The Pacific Center Mall is also a great place to shop downtown.
Granville Island
Granville Island is very cute but also kind of touristy. It has a market similar to Grand Central Market in LA or Pike’s Place Market in Seattle with lots of cool vendors of both food items and gifts. There are also lots of stores and restaurants to visit on the Island. The view of the Vancouver skyline is beautiful from Granville (the featured photo was taken here).