48 Hours in Vancouver: A Weekend Adventure Guide

Because I will be living in the Seattle area this summer for my internship at Boeing (yes, this is a hard launch), I am extremely excited to take advantage of being close to Vancouver! I’ve been interested in traveling to Vancouver for a while now and this summer is the perfect opportunity for me to take a weekend trip there. Speaking of weekend trips… I should brush up on my packing skills with my post from two weeks ago to make sure I pack as efficiently as possible 😉. 

Accommodation 

When looking into accommodation, I found that there aren’t too many cheap options outside of hostels. However, I’ve compiled a few options of places to stay below that each offer something special and different for a good price.  

St. Clair Hotel-Hostel – An old and charming nautical-themed hotel/hostel that offers private rooms with shared bathrooms. It’s close to Gastown and has lots of great spots to eat close by.

Kitsilano Point Beach B&B – This Bed & Breakfast is in the heart of Kitsilano. This location is within walking distance from Bard on the Beach and Kits Beach. 

Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown, an IHG Hotel – You can never go wrong with a Holiday Inn located right in the heart of the city. With super close proximity to Yaletown and other fun attractions, it will be easy to get around and make the most of your time in Vancouver. 

The Itinerary

Friday

Once the work day ends I plan on going home to grab my bags and then hit the road! With Vancouver only being a two-hour drive from Everett, I should arrive around 7:30 pm. I’ll hit a quick restaurant for some dinner, maybe the famous Ramen Danbo, and then if I have it in me I could hit one of Vancouver’s many breweries to check out some live music and a craft beer. 

Saturday

I decided that the best way to spend Saturday is to spend the whole day in Katsilano. If I decide to stay at the Kitsilano Point Beach B&B, everything that I plan to do on this day will be within walking distance from the Bed & Breakfast!

First, you have to start the day with a good coffee. Artusus Coffee offers a great cup of coffee along with a fun vibe. Sounds like a great way to start the weekend adventures!

Next, I know that I will be dying to spend some time at the beach after all of my long days of work at Boeing. Kits Beach is walking distance away and has a nice and relaxing environment. 

After the beach, Kitsilano has great shopping nearby as well as the Maritime Museum in Hadden Park! If I decide on shopping, West 4th Ave and West Broadway have many cute boutiques and thrift shops to check out. As for the museum, it’s considered one of Vancouver’s hidden gems and has lots of information on the maritime history of Vancouver. Both of these activities are great ways to explore Vancouver. Hopefully, I can squeeze them both in!

Before leaving Kitsilano, there’s one last thing to get done. Go to Bard on the Beach for a live Shakespeare show! There are four different shows performed here all throughout the summer with times being offered at 2 pm, 6 pm, and 7:30 pm. 

If I have any energy left after this jam-packed day, I’d want to check out the nightlife in Vancouver. The Grandville Entertainment District offers plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs. This is the hub of Vancouver’s nightlife so you’ll probably find me here!

Sunday

While I’m going to have to drive home Sunday night, I want to make the most of my time during the day. 

The first thing I want to do is grab breakfast in Yaletown. OEB Breakfast Co. is a great place for a nice sit-down brunch. However, if you want to save room in your belly for the day’s next activity, Angus T Bakery and Cafe is a great spot for high-quality pastries and coffee. 

Next, we’re heading to Granville Island via ferryboat! This boat is a quick and fun way to get to Granville Island where there’s an indoor market with plenty of yummy food, live music, and fun craft beers. There’s a lot of seafood here and you can certainly find a great lobster roll! The Granville Island Brewery is another popular spot to spend some time at. A few hours can be spent walking around here before heading to the next and final destination. 

Stanley Park is going to be the last stop on this weekend’s excursion. There are a few things to do here but depending on time hopefully I can get it all in. One of the most highly recommended things to do is rent bikes and cruise along the Seawall Trail. This trail offers beautiful views and even better vibes. Another exciting activity that I hope to squeeze in is the Vancouver Aquarium which is located in Stanley Park (it’s recommended to book tickets online). This is an activity that’s right up my alley and I know it would be a great way to conclude my trip. 

I’m beyond excited to go on this adventure and happy to have my plans figured out well in advance! If you’re looking to take a trip to Vancouver someday soon, I hope you find some activities here that are of interest to you. Feel free to comment any other Vancouver activities I missed in the comments below!

Sending virtual hugs and high-fives,

Chlo

P.S. To sign up for my newsletters you can put your name and email on the form on the “Contact Me!” page 🙂