If you’re planning a trip across Canada, Vancouver is a great location to pass through. The city is located in the Lower Mainland area in British Columbia. It has a population of over 650,000 and is the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. More importantly, Vancouver has many sights you don’t want to miss, from technological marvels to beautiful natural landscapes.
In this guide, we’ll show you the top Vancouver places you must visit on your road trip. Plan it carefully before you reach the city, and you’ll have time for a relaxing road trip while enjoying everything the city has to offer.
Bustling Casino Market
We’re going to start with something you’ll find nearby the city centre – Vancouver’s famous casinos. With gambling regulated in BC, there are dozens of excellent land-based gaming establishments sprawling over huge areas. While online casinos such as Casino Days in Canada have taken over the market in recent times, there’s no question that the mix of brilliant architecture with exciting and rewarding games makes land-based casinos a must-visit.
If you’re into big international brands, you can visit the Hard Rock casino on United Boulevard. It offers hundreds of slot machines paired with an almost equal number of table games ranging from blackjack and roulette to baccarat and poker. Grand Villa casino is a contemporary resort which looks like the most respected casinos in Vegas. Like Hard Rock, it has a large number of tables and slot machines, with restaurants and night clubs suitable for any type of player.
Our favourite would be Starlight casino. It’s an amalgam of technological advancement and contemporary design which you’ll notice straight from the entrance. The casino doesn’t just offer games – it hosts game shows including stand-up comedy and music performances which are the perfect getaway after challenging poker, blackjack or slots sessions.
Science World
Science World is a non-profit science organization run by ASTC Science World Society. It’s located in False Creek and stands tall as one of the most popular and beautiful structures in the city. The great glass dome can be seen from miles. The building was built for the Expo fair in 1986 and then later re-purposed as a science centre.
It can be said that Science World is part of the Vancouverism phenomenon. It has seen many previous industrial areas refreshed, even if the building itself was repurposed. It should definitely be on your list of places to visit while in Vancouver. You’ll see many permanent interactive displays and exhibits along with areas featuring different topics.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is your one-way ticket to a naturally thrilling experience. Cross the bridge and walk through a rainforest canopy for adrenaline-pumping walks while exploring nature in the best possible way. There’s a lot to see and do in the rainforest, and even if you’re not a fan of nature, you don’t want to miss this experience.
The bridge itself is a marvellous achievement. It stretches 137 m and is suspended 70 m in the air over the Capilano river and canyon. The birds of Raptors Ridge is a great thing to see when you pass the bridge, and there are also other organized events and displays on the other side.
Stanley Park
Visiting Stanley Park is one of the first things tourists visit when in Vancouver. The beautiful park is spotless and has a long history stretching back centuries. It was first used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before BC was colonized by the British in the mid-XIX century. Unlike other parks, it wasn’t built by landscape architects. Stanley Park expanded via natural evolution of urban and forest space. It’s a big park—bigger than most we’ve seen—and features so many sights to see it’s best to take a specialized tour.
Some of the best attractions are the public beaches, the Lion’s Gate Bridge, the Vancouver Aquarium, various lighthouses, and Hollow Tree. Small islands are part of the park too, so it’s best to dedicate a full day to Stanley Park to get the best experience.
Vancouver Lookout
Unless you’re really afraid of heights, there’s no better place to visit than Vancouver Lookout. It’s one of the city’s highlights, with a glass elevator that takes you up to the top at 168 meters in the air. From there, you can take a look at many of the city’s attractions, including Stanley Park, the Northshore Mountains, the vibrant downtown, and Gastown as well.
The building is open daily from 10 AM to 6 AM. Book your visit before you go as it tends to get busy. It was built in 1977 and has been an iconic element of Vancouver’s skyline ever since, so it’s definitely a don’t miss on any tourist trip list.
Gastown
Gastown is another must-visit place while in Vancouver. It’s the oldest commercial district in the city and a complete opposite to the modern architecture downtown. Known for its fantastic Victoria-style architecture, it offers all kinds of special tours, including the Lost Souls of Gastown, walking tours or astronomic tours of its beautiful restaurants.
It’s one of the most unique spots in the city in stark contrast of everything around it. Through Gastown, you’ll get a glimpse into Vancouver’s past which is something you won’t see in the bustling modern city areas with sky-risers and modern architecture.
Vancouver may not be on everyone’s minds while touring North America, but one trip into the city and you’ll see how wrong we’ve all been. It’s a city that pairs the vintage with the modern that has everything larger cities can offer too. From natural to culinary experiences and relaxing park walks as well as sky-rising buildings and domes, it’s one of the top tourist destinations in Canada.
Book your stay now and check out the available tours – you won’t be disappointed. There’s something for everyone to visit in Vancouver, and you’ll leave the city with your heart and soul filled up and recharged, falling in love with it until you return.