Guide: 12 summer activities you can ONLY do in Vancouver

August is kinda like the Sunday of summer, which means we’ve gotta squeeze as much fun out of the remaining sunny season as we can. So, make the most of your time and become a true Vancouverite with these unique activities and places to see. Without further adieu, here are 12 things you can only do in Vancouver!

Events and Activities

Attend an all-white party on the water

In the words of Jeezy- “All white everything, I’m ’bout to kill ’em this summer, I’m doin’ all white everything.” Find your boujee friends and head down to this (admittedly pretty upscale) picnic for an iconic Vancouver experience.

Enjoy a big old fireworks festival

So you don’t actually want to have your own fireworks show but still like them. No problem, the Honda Celebration of Light is a yearly event that showcases the best of the best from an ever-changing lineup of countries.

Check out a massive Pride Parade

Vancouver is probably one of the most progressive cities in North America when it comes to accepting and celebrating LGBTQ+ communities. So it only makes sense that our Pride Parade is the largest in Western Canada, and one of the largest in North America in general.

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Food

Fill up on world-class oysters

West coast oysters are a refreshing summer treat, and the oysters around these parts are unlike any other. Head to Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, Rodney’s Oyster House or Joe Fortes to get your shuck on.

Dim sum it up

Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in Canada and the largest, so you know the dim sum game is real here. Explore around that area and try all the dim sum you can, or try places across the city (you honestly can’t go wrong). Our faves are Bao Bei Brasserie, Golden Swan Restaurant, and Dynasty Seafood Restaurant.

Be a health nut with Vegan and Vegetarian

Vancouver has one of the best vegan restaurant scenes in the world. Don’t believe us? Well, Acorn just got the top spot, while places like Heirloom, Meet, and Eternal Abundance keep them in check.

Culture

Get learned at UBC

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is one of the best museums of its kind in the world. With a focus on First Nations groups, you could spend a day here and walk out knowing way more about the history of the Pacific Northwest than you thought was possible.

Appreciate an Open Air Museum

As part of the Vancouver Biennale, large scale outdoor art projects have been popping up all over the city for years. From A-maze-ing Laughter in English Bay to the OSGEMEOS mural at Granville Island, Vancouver has really been stepping things up.

Get into the beer scene

Vancouver is home to one of the most community-oriented and dense craft brewery scenes in North America, not just Canada. Pair that with the fact that you can walk to most of them in a single day, and you’ve got an opportunity for adult fun that is hard to beat.

Outdoor Stuff

Roadie right on the Sea-to-Sky Highway

 

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This is supposed to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world, and we don’t doubt it. Put the pedal to the metal on the Sea-to-Sky corridor from downtown Vancouver to gorgeous Whistler. We’re talkin’ suspension bridges, waterfalls, vistas, the works. It’s the perfect summer activity, and the perfect way to celebrate Vancouver and its insane beauty.

Burns some cals at the Grouse Grind

This thing is called “Mother Nature’s StairMaster” for a reason. It’s famous for being a crazy workout– you’ll be going up approximately 850m up through the alpine– so make sure you pack a snack or two to attempt this bad boy.

Go to some of the world’s prettiest lakes

Who said all the great lakes have to be in Eastern Canada? Ha, just a little dad humour to warm things up for ya. Seriously though, there are tons of amazing spots to visit around the city, and the views are recognized around the globe for being 10/10 photogenic.

And that’s our guide to some of the things that make our city so special! We hope the rest of your summer is filled with these Vancouver activities, or else we’ll have to ask you to return your citizenship card. Sorry, rules are rules.

Curiocity Staff

With a curated slate of what matters in your city, Curiocity presents you with the most relevant local food, experiences, news, deals, and adventures. We help you get the most out of your city and focus on the easy-to-miss details so that you’re always in the know.

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