Last Updated on April 28, 2021
This year we vowed to explore more of Canada. We usually always have opted for far off places, until we realized how much beauty was in our own backyard. It’s easy to take your surroundings for granted and not appreciate all the beauty that is around you. What we have discovered so far this year, is that Canada really can be that dream vacation you’re looking for.
Our favourite Canadian city, hands down, is Vancouver.
In all fairness, Vancouver is home, but we couldn’t picture having our roots anywhere else. We are so in love with the city and feeling like we never run out of incredible things to discover. It is one of the few places where you can go golfing, snowboarding and play on the water all in the same day. We also love how close of a drive it is to so many great places around Vancouver for a day trip, while you’re still able to not have to move to different hotels.
Here are our top eight picks of what to do when visiting Vancouver:
1. The Aquabus
A recommendation we always make to visitors is to get out on the water. A great way to explore Vancouver and get out on the water at the same time is to hop on a water taxi that provides frequent, daily service between the popular destinations along False Creek. All routes are wheelchair, stroller, bicycle and pet accessible, which is fabulous as we need a stroller, when possible, to make life easier on outings with our girls.
2. Granville Island
One of the most popular stops on the Aquabus route is Granville Island. There’s so much history within Granville Island, along with a colourful artistic community and it really adds to its intrigue. No visit to Vancouver is complete without spending some time at Granville Island. One of the biggest draws to Granville Island is the Public Market, featuring a mixture of a farmers’ market, day vendors, and artists offering local Vancouver goods. Waking around the market, your senses will be in overdrive as you see just how delicious everything looks and how amazing the handmade crafts are.
3. Kayak False Creek
Getting out on the Aquabus just isn’t enough. We love experiencing Vancouver from a kayak as well. We love staying active when we travel, and we love that even on easy waters, like those in False Creek, paddling improves your flexibility and strength, but at the same time is mentally relaxing. When you’re in the water, it gives you a sense of peace and openness in a busy, bustling and condensed city.
4. The Seawall
The Seawall is one of the top attractions in Vancouver. Even a short walk along the Seawall and you’ll understand why it is so popular. In 2014, Vancouver’s Stanley Park was named best park in the world by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Stanley Park even beat out New York’s Central Park and was the only Canadian park to make the Top 10 list. You’ll find joggers, rollerbladers, bikers and walkers all taking in the 8.8km of scenic beauty you’ll find along the seawall path.
5. Grouse Mountain
Busy all year around, there’s plenty to keep you occupied at Grouse Mountain regardless of the time of year. There’s a Birds in Motion Demonstration, Grizzly Bear Habitat, the World Famous Lumberjack Show and Ziplines, to name a few of the activities. You can ride the Gondola up the mountain, inside of it, or on top of it (yes, you read that right). However, in the summer months, our favourite way to get to the top is to do the Grouse Grind, otherwise known as “Mother Nature’s Stair Master”, a challenging 2.9 Kilometer trail (2,830 stairs) up the face of Grouse Mountain. Snowboarding and skiing are huge in the winter months, as are the mountaintop ice skating pond and sleigh rides.
6. Whistler
Whistler is a town north of Vancouver, that’s home to Whistler Blackcomb, one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It is a short two and a half hour drive from Vancouver, making it easily accessible for a day trip (though a day trip will leave you wanting more). There is so much to do in Whistler, that no matter how many times we go, we always find something new to do “next time” while we are there. It’s a charming and compact, chalet-style pedestrian village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Whistler is an adventure lovers paradise and we suggest you take the scenic drive along the Sea To Sky Highway and spend the day in Whistler before returning to your hotel in Vancouver. It’s more than worth the drive.
7. Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is located in Stanley Park, just off of the famous Seawall we mentioned above. It is one of top 10 Aquariums around the world that both successfully entertains and educates. Though we aren’t fond in any animals or marine life being kept in captivity, the kids really learn a lot when you go to the Vancouver Aquarium, and so do you.
8. Gastown
Gastown is a national historic site in downtown Vancouver. There’s great quirky shops to browse, a myriad of restaurants and bars to discover, and the famous Steam Clock to admire. One of the best ways to take in the sights of Gastown is to take advantage of one of the walking tours in the neighbourhood.
CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED
Win a free night at Radisson.
To build on the Discover Your Canada campaign, the great folks at Radisson have offered to give one of our readers a free one-night hotel stay at any Radisson location within North America. No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win.
We are totally thrilled to offer this giveaway because we love staying at Radisson hotels and highly recommend them to anyone traveling within North America.
Why we love Radisson…
We know that when we are staying at a Radisson hotel, we don’t need to worry about the quality of what we may be walking into. Radisson hotels have a great, consistent standard so that we know exactly what we are getting for our money.
Entering couldn’t be easier
- Like us on Facebook.
- Visit the Stay Canada link where you can find out more about Radisson Hotels throughout Canada and get a discount on your stay.
- Leave a comment on this blog post and let us know where in Canada you would like to explore and which hotel you would choose (don’t worry, your choice isn’t set in stone). Make sure your e-mail address is correct as we will be contacting the winner by email.
Contest Rules
- One entry per person, 19+
- Contest ends October 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM PST
- Winner will be announced October 4, 2016
- You must be a Facebook fan of World Adventurists
- Winner will be randomly selected, contacted via email, and announced on our Facebook page
- You must be a Canadian or US resident
- Contest for hotel voucher only, no airfare or other expenses.
- If winner cannot be reached within a week, a new winner will be chosen
- Only open to those who have reached their age of majority
- Winner will receive one (1) Radisson vouchers, each redeemable for one (1) night at any Radisson hotel in North America (some conditions may apply)
How is the Winner selected?
We will use a random number generator to select our winner, based on the number of comments left below. For example, if we randomly draw #12, whoever left comment #12 will win.
Explore your own Canada with Radisson and take advantage of savings of up to 20%.
This post is sponsored by Radisson but the content and opinions expressed here are our own.
We would stay in Calgary, so we could do a few activities down there like the zoo and Heritage Park
We would use it in Vancouver as we are planning our first trip out west next month!
I would love to visit Toronto or Ottawa. I’ve never been to Ontario.
Oooo I would use it to go explore Jasper. Or maybe norther BC, I’ve always wanted to go adventuring there!
Sooooo many choices 🙂 I think I might take advantage of being so close to Vancouver and have a mini vacation.
Vancouver is where I am heading in November! I am totally looking forward to all the food, hikes and attractions! I would also love to check out the Radisson in Minnesota – the hotel looks so luxury and gorgeous!
I’d love to take a mini vacation to Niagara Falls with my husband.
Yip I am a fan of your FB page!
We would stay in Toronto Raddison! Thanks!
Email–> amyjaneheffernan@gmail.com
I would stay in Toronto I think 🙂 thanks for the giveaway, following on facebook under Janine Alton
I love Radisson. Perhaps a staycation is in order!
We would love to plan a trip to Banff and Jasper and would love to win this!
Thanks. Great Initiative. xoxoxo
I was born and raised in Toronto and was inclinded to say I would love to stay in Toronto lol but I’ve recently had cousins move to British Columbia, and their pictures are absolutely stunning !! I would love to visit soon and if the pictures are altered and that really is their view everyday I may not come home haha. Wonderful contest, thank you for the chance 🙂
I would love to see Vancouver.. I’ve never been to Canada!
I would love to visit Vancouver and the airport hotel look amazing. Love Radisson Hotel
i’d love to stay in Calgary. We go there often and this would be a great treat!
This looks fantastic, I would love to stay in Vancouver.
Would love to explore Montreal!
I would love to stay in Calgary. I liked on Facebook, thank you so much for this!
I would love to go to Jasper National Park . Perhaps, we’d stop in Calgary on our way!
We live so close to Canada, and never really get a chance to visit. Vancouver looks beautiful!
I would love to explore Toronto, Ontario and stay at the Radisson Hotel Toronto East.
love to go check out vancouver! or a staycation in calgary
I would love to stay in Vancouver! The hikes and the views look incredible!
We’d go for a weekend trip to Vancouver. So much to see and do there!
I would love to explore Toronto and stay at the Park Inn by Radisson Toronto Airport West, ON.
I would love to stay at the Toronto harbourfront!
Niagara Falls, of course! I love it!
We are planning a trip to Toronto to see the AGO and visit some friends.
Would love to spend the night instead of driving home!
I usually stay at Best Western cause its cheaper, but if money is not a factor, I would stay at Radisson because I had a good experience with them in the past. I would love to visit Toronto!
i would love to go back through the Rockies and out to the West Coast to explore more of this beautiful area again thanks!
go check out vancouver!
anywhere in whistler or victoria
I would choose Montreal in the summer to take in some of the just for laughs festival
I would love to stay in Vancouver!
This would be wonderful, heading to Vancouver in the spring to see family.
I would stay at Radisson in Halifax as a base for a road trip across the Atlantic provinces.
Vancouver hands down. So much to doooo
We would like to explore Kitchener Ont.
I would love to go to Niagara Falls and stay at Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview, ON
We would definitely use it in Vancouver so we can see a Canucks game!
I would like to visit PEI.
I would love to go to Montreal!
I would stay in Vancouver! Friends and I tend to go to a lot of events there and staying at a new hotel would be nice!
I would love to have a night away at the Radisson Toronto Harbourfront! Thank you so much for the chance!
Would like to stay in Vancouver.
I would choose Vancouver. It has a lot to offer tourists who stay there .
I would love to visit Ottawa and stay at the Radisson Parliament Hill.
Montreal is my favorite Canadian city.
Vancouver to catch a NHL game!
I would love to stay at the Radisson Admiral and spend the weekend exploring Toronto nightlife!
My destination would be Ottawa – Radisson Ottawa Parliament Hill – so I could have a long-overdue visit with my grandparents & go for a tour of the parliament buildings!
I would love to stay in Vancouver and explore all the city has to offer!
I would love to explore on the east coast somewhere!! Our country is such a beautiful place!
I would love to visit Vancouver and the airport hotel looks perfect!
I would like to visit Quebec and stay at Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament Hil
I’d go to Ottawa! We haven’t been there since our honeymoon and would love to go back!
I have never visited Canada, but Vancouver sounds like it’d be fun. I live in the PNW so it wouldn’t be a bad road trip, either. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would like to visit Vancouver – I liked on Facebook. T
I would use it in Winnipeg as a little staycation.
We’d love to stay at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport!
I’d love to see the Northern Lights one day!!!
I wonder what it’s like in the territories! I want to see ever species of bear Canada has to offer!
Any hotel would do!
would love to visit toronto and vlog the experience on my channel!
I would like to stay at the Radisson Hotel Toronto Airport.
Vancouver would be great
I’d love to visit Vancouver to run the Vancouver Marathon!
Vancouver would be my choice…my wife has never been there, but I have and it is great!
I would choose Vancouver.
I would love to visit both the west and east coast! Both are on my bucket list, so who knows!
I would love to visit British Columbia so Vancouver sounds like the perfect spot for the start of a fabulous vacation.
I would spend the day and night in vancouver bc. perhaps i would see a live musical at the queen elizabeth or take in a concert at the rogers centre. would be very nice to spend the evening at the grand radisson hotel to finish off a fun day in style after perusing this big beautiful city!
We would stay and explore SASKATOON, the beautiful city of bridges! The Radisson is so close to the riverbank and all that Saskatoon has to offer.
I’d choose either Vancouver or Victoria-both great cities.
I would love to explore Nova Scotia. So the Radisson in Halifax would be awesome!
Thanks for such great article, we are in process of choosing our next Canadian winter getaway and this article was of great help !
Would love to stay in Radisson Quebec city
I would like to stay in Toronto city center
I would love to explore Vancouver Canada!
i’d love to explore Toronto and stay at the Radisson Admiral Hotel
I would love to stay in Vancouver. That would be nice.
I would love to go to Orlando.
We would use it in Toronto. We have both just lost our jobs and had to start new ones ,and a night out would be great. Thank you for the chance
I would do a staycation in Vancouver
LOVE Vancouver – would most definitely make the most of a trip there!
I like you on Facebook as Elena Istomina. I would stay at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport
i would like to go to toronto and stay at Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto-Harbourfront
This would be great, we have missed out on so much
This would be so special, we hardly ever do anything
This would be awesome
have beere again anytien to a Raddissonhotelin the past, it was great, would gothere again anytime
I would choose Niagara Falls.
I would love to visit Toronto and stay at the RADISSON ADMIRAL HOTEL TORONTO-HARBOURFRONT.
I’d love to stay in the Radisson in Toronto 🙂
I would love to visit Niagara Falls!! 🙂 Canada is so beautiful and I would love to have the chance to enjoy my beautiful country!
I would like to stay at Radisson Hotel Toronto East and see a MLB game.
I would love to visit the Halifax, Nova Scotia Radisson Suites. It looks like it is situated perfectly for sight seeing, has a great pool and even wonderful harbour views. I’d enjoy meeting some of family here and enjoying the facilities. Thank you!
I would love to visit Ottawa as it looks like a beautiful city and we have family there. Radisson Ottawa it is 🙂
OMG, I would choose Niagara FAlls. Beautiful . Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂 Pick me.
I would like to visit Vancouver!
I would want to travel to either Ottawa or Montreal to explore the cities.
I want to visit Toronto so badly!
I would like to see Vancouver 🙂
Vancouver staycation is a real sweet treat! Overnight in Radisson Hotel. Love the sea to sky drive and visiting Whistler resort.
I would use it to explore Jasper!!
I would love to see Montreal and eat tasty french food!
I would stay at the Radisson in Ottawa.
I would love to visit Ontario and see Niagra Falls!
I would stay in Vancouver! Love to explore 🙂
We would take the kids to an adventure in their own city!! Why not spend the evening swimming and dining with the family! Right here in London, Ontario 🙂
There’s no prettier place than Vancouver, so I would choose that! 🙂
I would go to Ottawa and stay in the Radisson Parliament Hill.
I would use this to explore Vancouver! Looks like a beautiful city.
I would love to go to Toronto to visit my best friend!
stay in van., entry pls
I would love to explore Vancouver, but I would also love a one night stay at the Radisson Hotel Saskatoon.
I would definitely choose the Radisson downtown Toronto. Last time my boyfriend and I were downtown we stayed there last minute and ended up having such an amazing experience. The stay was such a pleasant one we sent a thank you e-mail to Radisson head office gushing about the outstanding customer service. We loved and it and have been wanting to go back ever since!
I would stay in Vancouver and enjoy it’s new bike share too
oops can you also add I would stay at the Radisson thank you
Spend lots of time downtown Toronto in the summer (Ontario Place Concerts) so I would like to stay at the Radisson in Toronto
Would love to get back to Quebec city. I went there in grade 7 on a school trip and have many fond memories of the place, the history there is amazing.
I would choose Vancouver so that my husband and I could visit our nieces and nephew there. We haven’t seen them since last Easter and miss them very much.
would love to see the west coast
I would love to stay at the Radisson in Vancouver! It would be so easy to go on an epic momventure and take in the whole city! ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
I’d love to stay in Calgary, and visit the mountains!!
I want to visit Vancouver!
I’d visit somewhere in BC! Anywhere! Beautiful province.
I’d probably take the kids to Ottawa even though we are only about an hour away, an overnight stay could make it a family adventure weekend
Radisson Admiral Toronto Harbourfront
In Calgary to see my cousin – Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Calgary Airport
Vancouver is such a beautiful city. It would be great to stay there!
Vancouver – Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Vancouver, BC
I would love to stay at The Radisson in Whistler!
I would love to stay in South or North Carolina.
I like you on FB as Tracie Michelle Cooper. I would love to stay at the Radisson Hotel and Suites Fallsview Ontario. The views look amazing!
I would love to explore Toronto!
I would love to explore Toronto! So much to see and do there!
I would love to explore either Toronto or Niagara Falls. One can never get tired of experiencing the beauty of their own country !
I’d like to stay in Duluth, MN at the Harborview Radisson this fall.
I would love to explore Vancouver!
I would love to stay in Niagara Falls and stay at the RADISSON HOTEL & SUITES FALLSVIEW, ON.
I’d love to visit Quebec City!
Would love to win this voucher! 🙂
I would like to visit Vancouver and Kayak!
Saskatoon! The pool, hot tub and waterslide there are a lot of fun!
Vancouver is close and is beckoning. Vancouver pretty please, with mountains, and ocean views on top!
I would love to stay at the Radisson in Vancouver! ( pluchinskyi@gmail.com)
I would pick Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Kenosha, WI.
I would like Madison, WI.
Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview, ON with my family to see Niagara falls
Awesome! Would love to win!