Before getting into today’s Eat+Stay+Play travel guide, I just want to say a quick thank you for all your sweet messages of support and encouragement on my decision to take Cathedrals & Cafes into a full time gig. If you missed that post, you can read all about how I made the jump to blogging full time here. I’m still so excited about it and am pinching myself daily!

Our trip to Vancouver coincided with this recent transition, so even though it was a very short trip, I was seeing things with renewed eyes. I wanted to soak up as much as possible to be able to share every detail with you. Considering we were only there for 2 days (and it rained on us basically the entire time), I think we managed to fit in a lot fun things to do.

It was also my very first time to Canada! I know…what have I been doing my whole life? Canada is RIGHT THERE!

Know Before You Go

Check the weather before planning your trip. I knew we would be expecting rain, but even the weather app made it seem like it wouldn’t be as heavy as it actually was. So, plan your outfit accordingly. I recommend a travel umbrella, but I got by just fine with my hooded jacket.

Vancouver is a very walkable city, so bring some comfortable shoes. I wore low heeled ankle boots and jeans just about every day. Vancouver does not have Uber or Lyft (yet) but we were able to find taxis pretty easily. Had the weather been sunnier, bike transportation is also a good option.

This probably goes without saying, but don’t forget your passport. You do need it to enter Canada. Also, check exchange rates on the Canadian dollar. This worked well at the time of our trip, as everything was essentially 25% less expensive. One Canadian dollar is called a loonie and two dollars is called a toonie. Credit cards are accepted everywhere.

Where to Eat

Ramen Danbo – I don’t know about you but whenever it’s cold and rainy out, I always crave a good bowl of ramen. Ramen Danbo came recommended. We arrived at just the right time to snag a spot at the community table while a long line proceeded to form outside. It’s a small space that’s been thoughtfully designed (your stool style seat opens for you to stash your purse or jacket). The lunch special allows you to customize your ramen by noodle style and spice level, and you get a side of pan fried gyoza and an add-on like seaweed, rice, or extra pork.

Breka Bakery & Cafe – For a quick coffee and breakfast or pastry, Breka is a small chain of cozy cafes that’ll satisfy your sweet or savory tooth.

Elysian – For really good coffee, check out Elysian. They source, roast, and brew their own beans. We scoped out the Burrard & Helmcken location, a cozy mid-century modern cafe with really friendly service and a great avocado toast.

Miku – We tried getting a dinner reservation here but they were completely booked. Instead, we got a table for lunch and quickly understood its popularity. The sushi is fantastic here – an absolute must! They have a box pressed sushi that we hadn’t seen before. I recommend the Ebi Oshi and Salmon Oshi, prepared with a flame seared technique. So good!

Cactus Club Cafe – Dining here wasn’t planned ahead of time, but it made for a nice stop for some pre-flight cocktails (i.e. liquid courage before the seaplane). They have some nice happy hour options and a lively atmosphere with a view of the Olympic Cauldron and the water on a nice day.

Where to Stay

Lodging is always up to the individual, so I’d recommend looking into the neighborhood you’d prefer to be in. We stayed at the Sheraton Wall Centre, which is great for accumulating Marriott points. It was also a pretty centralized location, making it easy to walk to cafes for coffee. Its proximity to Robson Street, Vancouver’s best-known shopping district, was also ideal.

Where to Play

Popping over to Granville Public Market is a must! Ever since discovering the Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid, we’ve made it a point to find other markets like it. The Granville Public Market did not disappoint. Rows and rows of food stalls selling everything from trinkets and souvenirs to fresh seafood, chocolates, bright and shiny produce, wine, fresh flowers, and more can be found.

Taking a False Creek Ferry ride to Granville Island is easy, inexpensive, and pretty fun. You can pull up the ferry docks on Google Maps and plan your way around Vancouver. It can be a nice way to see the city from the water.

Check out the Gastown Steam Clock, one of the only functioning steam powered clocks in the world. It partially relies on an electric motor as well, but every hour it whistles and blows steam from the top. At each quarter hour it whistles Westminster Quarters, a tune also played by Big Ben in London.

Gastown is a hip area full of shops, restaurants, and taverns. Wave to “Gassy Jack,” the neighborhood’s namesake and enjoy strolling along streets that feel a little like Soho.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is a great spot for art enthusiasts. Plan a couple hours to leisurely and thoroughly walk through all the exhibits. On our visit, they exhibited a Monet to Matisse collection as well as an interactive exhibit featuring works by Victoria-based artist, Mowry Baden.

If you’re looking for a little adventure, take a seaplane tour! You MUST read all about our Vancouver seaplane adventure with Harbour Air here. It’s so worth it!

Located right by the Harbour Air seaplane terminal is the Olympic Cauldron @ Jack Poole Plaza that was lit during the 2010 Winter Games. It’s a permanent landmark only lit for special occasions now, but a great place for a photo op.

We will definitely be back to Vancouver. Two days is enough time to pack in a lot of activities, if you plan accordingly. Have you been to Vancouver? I’d love to know your favorite spots and things to do!

Thank you for reading!

Don’t forget to pin!

xo – Erin

Eat+Stay+Play: 2 Days in Vancouver appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com. Thank you for reading!

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