Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in North Vancouver

"Take the bus from the café directly to Stanley Park for a bike ride (or walk) along the famous Seawall. I’m a huge fan of large city parks and Stanley Park is no exception. There’s so much to do inside the park itself that you could easily spend an entire day here. Don’t miss the First Nations totem poles, the Hollow Tree, Brockton Point Lighthouse, and the breathtaking views from Prospect Point."

"North of Vancouver's CBD is Stanley Park, a vast area of green that's almost an island. As well as fun outdoor activities and beautiful scenery, the park offers an opportunity to understand the First Nations people, the original inhabitants of Vancouver."

"A little further east is Chinatown, the third largest in North America, and home to the tranquil, four-seasons Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Yaletown is also on the downtown peninsula and is a former warehouse district that has since been transformed into a chic residential area. Shopping is a big attraction, but so is the people watching – order a coffee and sit on the sea wall to watch the locals. The West End is a beachside neighbourhood at the foot of Stanley Park, and home to the city’s LGBT community – definitely worth a wander, or head down to English Bay Beach to take a paddle boarding lesson."

"If you want to explore some of the best places to see in Vancouver, then make sure to visit Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. This beautiful and almost otherworldly garden is the first of its kind outside of China, allowing the people of Vancouver a chance to more fully explore Chinese culture. Built between 1985-1986, the Chinese Garden takes its inspiration from scholars’ gardens of the Ming Dynasty, with both Chinese and Canadian workers helping to create the space."

"One of the last relatively unchanged areas of dune and wetland along the Kapiti Coast, this undulating 650-hectare beachside park offers swimming, walking, cycling and picnicking opportunities, as well as a tram museum and horse riding outfit. There are three entrances: off Wellington Rd in Paekakariki, at MacKay's Crossing on SH1, and off the Esplanade in Raumati to the north."

"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."

"Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver’s highest point, clocking in at 410ft (125m) above sea level. Thanks to its central location, the park has some of the best views of the city’s impressive skyline, with a stunning backdrop of the North Vancouver mountains. The park is a popular picnic spot, with plenty of green space to relax with family or friends."

"Located within Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium is a popular local attraction. As a non-profit organization, the aquarium is “dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through education, research and direct action.” Some of the animals include dolphins, sea otters, penguins, reef sharks, rays (which you can touch) and sealions."

"Robson Square is one of the landmark public plazas and civic centres in Vancouver. Home to Vancouver’s provincial court, Robson Square is also the location of the only outdoor ice-skating rink in downtown Vancouver!. Covered by a steel and glass dome, the ice rink becomes a skating rink in the winter season."

"This one’s a small space, but, hey, it’s an island without the crowds you’d find on Granville Island. Watch the boat traffic navigate the Fraser River, forage on wild blackberries when in season and stroll the path just north of the park where you might encounter horses or, at the very least, um,...evidence of them. A good alternative for the similar views is the dog-friendly Fraser River Park."

"If you are looking forward to knowing about the maritime history of Vancouver then you should pay a visit to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Canada. It is one of the oldest history museums in Vancouver and you must go through its collection. Vancouver Maritime Museum has galleries of model ships that are made of paper and cardboard."

"Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/marianne_h/3579842317/sizes/o/. In 1944, the RCMP St Roch was in its prime and has since become a famous vessel in Canada. Its last sail found itself mooring in Vancouver, where it is now permanently on display at the Vancouver Maritime Museum."

"Boats, boats, and more boats: The Vancouver Maritime Museum is Canada's premier Pacific Coast maritime museum and home to the fully restored St. Roch, a 1928 schooner that traversed the Northwest Passage and circumnavigated North America."

"The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about native peoples of the world, including British Columbia’s Northcoast Indians who are known as First Nations. Founded in 1949, the museum houses 38,000 ethnological items and more than 500,000 archaeological objects. Wonderful examples of huge totem poles, used by Northcoast natives to tell stories, can be found here as well as implements used by all indigenous peoples in their daily lives."

"The Museum of Anthropology is home to the world’s largest collection of works by acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid, including his famous cedar sculpture, The Raven and the First Men. The museum allows you to explore traditional and contemporary art from Northwest Coast First Nations and other cultures across the world, including magnificent carvings, weavings and contemporary art. Explore the Museum’s Multiversity Galleries where more than 10,000 objects from across the globe are on show."

"But with courses going online and very few students staying in residence, there’s never been a quieter time to stroll the grounds of this world-class university. Parking is even easier with the main competition reduced to sun worshippers heading to Wreck Beach. There are more squirrels than students traversing the grassy areas off the principal pedestrian arteries, East Mall, Main Mall and West Mall so it’s safe to wander without feeling too old."

"Often referred to as the 'Venice Beach of Vancouver', Kitsilano Beach Park is the city’s hub for summer action. Known to locals as Kits Beach, this scenic strip of sand is ideal for aquaphiles, with the longest swimming pool in Canada, a gradual-entry outdoor saltwater pool that runs for 137m beside the ocean. It's heated, and there are slides for smaller tots."

"Posing with lovely new friends at Elan Fine Art in front of Landon Mackenzie’s “Mirror Square” painting. A post shared by ELAN FINE ART (@elanfineart) on Nov 27, 2017 at 1:14pm PST. Elan Fine Art displays historical and contemporary art of quality for art enthusiasts living across Metro Vancouver."

"Located on Carrall Street, it straddles the borders of both Gastown and Chinatown. It was established in 1986 and is…”more"

"A post shared by Mijune Pak (@mijunepak) on Aug 9, 2019 at 8:11pm PDT. Named after the location of New York’s very first Chinese convenience store, Mott 32 is a celebration of Hong Kong culture. The food is contemporary yet still gives homage to traditional Cantonese and Sichuan cooking."

"This North Van spot is best known for their awesome lunch buffet. $12 gets you a selection of AYCE Indian food with unlimited naan bread, listing it as a top contender in both cheap eats, and AYCE prices. Address: 116 15th Street E, North VancouverPhone: 604-986-7555"

"We make a wide variety of European and local favourites, from breads and buns to delicious cheescakes. We specialize in Polish,"

"The cool part about Faubourg's almond croissant is the almond paste appears baked right in unlike most of the entrants which have the croissant sliced open to have the almond paste lathered on. The top layer in this almond croissant was sparse, and though the rise was great, the shell thinned out quickly leading to little flakiness. For $5, this looked pretty small and left a lot to be desired relative to other places on this list."

"Le Mont Blanc” is one of the pastries available at Faubourg, the scrumptious French bakery. It’s a spin on a classic, featuring chestnut mousse paired with a cassis gelée and sweet meringue, set over a sable breton. Address: Locations in Downtown, Kerrisdale, and West Vancouver (check website for details)Instagram: @faubourgbakery"

"From triple chocolate decadence to passion fruit mousse, this bakery/cafe is a must-try for those wishing to be whisked away to Paris, right here in Vancouver."