Vancouver, B.C.

Hi Halfdozmom! Sounds like a great trip. I live in a suburb of Vancouver BC and here are a few places I like to take guests when they visit:
-a day trip to Bowen Island
-a hike in Lynn Canyon (the free version of Capilano Park)
-Granville Island, including a water taxi ride
-there are lots of great improv groups in Vancouver, such as Tightrope or TheatreSports
-a walk along the seawall
-kayaking in Deep Cove (North Van) or Rocky Point Park, Port Moody

And a few of my favourite places to eat:
-Blue Water Cafe (a splurge, but the best seafood in the city)
-Hart House (ask for a table with a view)
-Forage
-Saint Street Grill (in Port Moody, about a 40 minute drive from downtown)
-Cactus Club is a local chain but with good food.
-There are tons of great sushi places; Miku or Miko are both great
-Vij's for Indian food

Have a great time!

https://www.bellagelateria.com/

The best gelato in the world. Even the Italians were impressed. My wife and I went back three times.

I used to live on Vancouver Island and Spent many weekends over in the big city. While the restaurants have surely changed since then, you will be hard pressed to find a bad meal, especially if you enjoy Asian.

One must do is a 5 minute ferry to Granville Island to check out the public market and local artisan shops. There is a wonderful seafood place under the bridge called “The Sandbar”.

For a taste experience, go to Joe Forte’s on Robson for their oysters. Try the sampler of BC oysters. Each bay has a distinct flavor profile. It is amazing.

1. I cannot advise on any restaurants in Washington State. Once you cross the border, if you are in the mood for a late lunch, I suggest that you stop off in Richmond before heading downtown. Richmond has the best Asian food. I would recommend that you check out the Aberdeen Center food court. It is super busy because the locals love to eat here. Huge selection of Cantonese, Szechuan, Japanese, Malaysian, etc. High quality food, low prices. Lots of pictures and English menus. The four of you can select different foods from different vendors and have a huge meal at one of the round tables by the giant picture windows with a view of the North Shore mountains (depending on the weather).
   https://www.aberdeencentre.com/en/shopping.php?type=dining

2. Walk around False Creek, take the False Creek ferry (take the long route and cruise the whole Creek) and visit Granville Island (lots of places to eat, nice view of broad Street bridge and city).

3. See 1 and 2.

If you haven’t been to Fairhaven (oldtown Bellingham), or even if you have, it is a great place to stop for lunch. We had a nice lunch with friends at Skylark’s Cafe a few years ago, but there are lots of other choices. ;You could just wander along 11th St. and explore some of the side streets and pick a place.

https://www.skylarkshiddencafe.com/

For more of a walk, dogleg over to 10th or 12th and pick up the Interurban Trail at the end of Donovan Ave. You can walk west through the green space, kand down to the waterfront near the Alaska Ferry Terminal.

North of Seattle you'll pass through Skagit County, where the Tulip Festival starts April 1. You'll be passing through just before it starts and, I think, coming back through the day it opens. The tulips will be there both times, with less crowding (of people, not tulips) on your way north. Just get off I-5 and drive around some of the fields if you don't want to stop.

If you're in Skagit County, you could check out the charming town of LaConner west of I-5, and/or head north along the shore on Chuckanut Drive which will take you to Fairhaven and then Bellingham.

That said, driving from Vancouver to Vancouver will probably take a whole day, including some of the nation's worst traffic congestion around Seattle. Use the express lanes if you can.

Another vote for Bellingham. Whatcom Falls, on the east side of I-5 is a nice area to stretch your legs and do a short walk.

I would do Chuckanut Drive. It basically parallels I-5, but is very scenic and you can stop off at the Taylor Shellfish Farm and get lunch.

I second the Granville Island recommendation. Also don't miss a stroll in the Coal Harbour area near Stanley Park for a stunning view of the north shore and to see the massive 2010 Winter Olympic Games cauldron. Along the same waterfront, Canada Place will give you an opportunity to get up close to cruise ships destined for Alaska, although cruise season may not have started at the end of March.

If you end up in Richmond, you'll be in for some gastronomic delights such as Hong Kong dim sum, Shanghainese dumplings, Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho, and Taiwanese bubble tea. If it's history you enjoy, located in the southwest corner of Richmond is the historic fishing village of Steveston where a visit to the Britannia Shipyard will bring you back in time to the late 1800s when this little fishing community flourished. You can walk through Murakami House and the Chinese Bunkhouse, giving you a perspective of how life was back then.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your visit and the soccer game!

Thanks for all the great info!! We are looking forward to our visit 😁

On your way up to Vancouver BC consider stopping in the Fairhaven district in Bellingham for a cozy bite and some unique shops. Once in Vancouver, Stanley Park is a must-see. Don't miss the Seawall and the Totem Poles!

For eats, Jam Cafe in Gastown has an amazing breakfast, and for dinner, check out Nuba for some tasty Lebanese dishes. And for a fun twist, why not dive into some adventures with in Vancouver Island Vacation Rental before the game? It's a cool way to see more of what BC has to offer.

Enjoy your trip and the game!

Normally I would recommend a visit to the museum of Anthropology at UBC, but it is currently closed for renovations. If you like parks then Stanley Park is the obvious one. If you are thinking of walking the entire way around the sea wall the just know that it is about 10km, so will take a while. There is also Queen Elizabeth park which has a great view of the city. If getting a bit of wilderness appeals to you then you can take the Seabus from Waterfront Stn.( near Canada Place) and in the bus loop on the other side you can catch a bus to the Grouse Mtn. skyride, the suspension bridge at Capilano, or to Lynn Canyon, which has a free suspension bridge as somebody else mentioned. There is a great public market just to the right of the Seabus terminal when you exit on the other side (Lonsdale Quay). The Granville Island public market can be reached via the #50 bus from downtown, it will drop you off at the entrance right under the bridge. Then you could ride one of the little False Creek ferries back to the other side. If you like gardens then check out the Dr. Sun Yat Sen garden in China Town. Gastown is quite close to Canada Place (just east past the old train station at Waterfront), but I have not been down there myself in years. It used to be full of interesting, quirky and artsy stores. If you are going to use transit a couple times each day then I would suggest buying a day pass as individual fares can add up. Here is a link https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/pricing-and-fare-zones. A day pass will also work on the Skytrain if you want to go for a ride (a regular bus transfer won’t work on the Skytrain, they are different tickets). You can buy a day pass at the ticket machine at Skytrain and Seabus stations.

If you a AAA member or know someone that is, the March+April 2024 Via for here in Oregon just arrived today. Nice article about dining in Vancouver.

My husband’s favorite restaurant is Joe Forte’s. When husband worked in Vancouver, we went to Granville Island and Stanley Park almost weekly when we weren’t coming south to Oregon. Agree with a stop in Bellingham for lunch before enduring the border. Fairhaven is a lovely area.

When you get through the border before venturing on to Vancouver, suggest getting off at White Rock if you need a break. You can park, get some ice cream, walk out on the pier and see the “white rock”.

Have fun!

Hafdoz, one fun place to eat in the neighbourhood where you'll base='Meat & Bread'.
I am done. The end.

Consider renting bikes for a trip around the seawall at Stanley Park. 10km and all flat. Lots of rental places on Denman St near the park. Amazing views of the north shore mountains and harbour. Another vote for Joe Fortes and the pickle boats that take you across False Creek to Granville Island. Tons of restaurants near the stadium too. Have fun! Go 'Caps Go!

Kathleen - love the bike idea!

But for us, it’s RCTID!!!💚💛

I agree with the Stanley Park and Granville Island suggestions! If you like tea, the Granville Island Tea Company (in the Public Market) does good drinks (their chai is a favourite of mine. Walking eastbound (toward Science World) along the False Creek seawall from the entrance to Granville Island (under the Granville Street bridge, just south of the entrance to the Island) is nice (and in my opinion less touristy/more local that the section downtown).

Food:
Mister Ice Cream (https://madebymister.com) do ice cream frozen with liquid nitrogen, sounds odd but the texture is very smooth! I particularly like the creme brulee ice cream sandwich. Breka is a local cafe chain that do good baked goods. I support the suggestion for Jam Cafe!