This nearly 1,000-acre park on the tip of Vancouver’s ‘thumb’ (just north of the West End) is home to some of the city’s favourite, most-visited attractions. You could easily spend more than a day here and still not see everything this urban oasis has to offer. If you want to experience the park the way the locals do, walk, cycle or jog around the nearly 20-mile-long Seawall that hugs Vancouver’s waterfront. The path starts at the Vancouver Convention Centre and ends at Spanish Banks Beach Park. If you’re not up for the walk, you’ll find several bike rental companies near the park. With your bike, you’ll be able to explore the more than 17 miles of forest trails that are much less crowded than the rest of the park.

Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, Gastown grew from a single tavern founded by John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton back in 1867. Today, the district has become a trendy enclave of bars, chic cocktail lounges, and restaurants serving everything from gourmet sandwiches to local seafood. Hip eateries also dot the neighbouring Downtown Eastside area, while the up-and-coming Railtown district is home to edgy fashion studios. A gathering place for stylish locals, Gastown lies along the north of the downtown Vancouver peninsula and is a neighbourhood to explore on foot.

Overcome your vertigo and experience Vancouver the way the birds do. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is the oldest tourist attraction in the city (it dates back to 1889), and the 450-foot-long, 230-foot-high bridge offers spectacular views of the Capilano River below. Visitors call it a thrilling and exciting experience, and the fun doesn’t end once you reach the other side of the canyon; more suspension bridges and daredevil activities await you at the Treetops Adventure. On this canopy walk – set among the park’s 250-year-old Douglas fir trees – you’ll have the chance to walk 110 feet above the forest floor, from viewing platform to viewing platform.

This former industrial site is now one of Vancouver’s most beloved neighbourhoods. Practically its own mini-city, Granville Island’s former factories now house trendy restaurants, galleries and theatres. But the main draw here is the Granville Island Public Market, often described as one of the best open-air markets in North America. Among the seemingly endless aisles of fresh produce and local crafts, you’ll find a variety of food stalls selling everything from baked goods to ethnic snacks. If the weather is nice, try and grab a seat outside by the water. You can watch ferries putter back and forth in English Bay while enjoying the performances of the buskers who regularly play for market crowds.

Located minutes from downtown in world famous Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium has more than 50,000 amazing aquatic creatures to discover. Stop and say hi to the adorable sea otters, or come see the mesmerizing jellyfish. Enjoy daily dolphin, shark and sea otter shows, as well as the free-roaming animals found in the popular Amazon gallery. And make sure to visit the Treasures of the BC Coast gallery to discover the unique and breath-taking animals that live in BC’s local waters, including the Pacific Octopus. You can also immerse yourself in the 4D Experience Theatre, which combines the high-definition excitement of a 3D film with thrilling sensory effects.