Don’t let the cooler temps and the start of the rainy season keep you from visiting Vancouver in the fall. With the beautiful changing colors of the trees to the majestic mountains to the sparkling beach, Vancouver is perhaps its most vibrant during the fall season. We’ve gathered a list of activities that you and your family are sure to enjoy in the fall in Vancouver.
Visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden
This beautiful outdoor garden is located in the heart of Vancouver. It spans over 55 acres and has over 7500 different plant species from around the world. We suggest going on a nice day – but be sure to pack layers! Stroll through the garden to find the perfect photo op or find your way through the hedge maze. There are also classes that are offered on art, gardening, photography, and ecology throughout the year, so make sure you check their website for more info prior to planning your trip. There’s also two dining options at the garden – the Garden Cafe or Shaughnessy Restaurant. The Garden Cafe offers beverages, pastries, light snacks, and sandwiches, and also holds an afternoon tea! (It’s also heated for those colder days). Shaughnessy Restaurant is a casual restaurant with a soothing ambiance and picturesque views.
Planning on taking your trip to Vancouver towards the end of November? Make sure you check out the Festival of Lights event that starts on November 25, where 15 acres of the garden is transformed by over one million lights! Check out more information on their website here.
Watch Some Salmon!
Ever heard of salmon running? Also known as migration, salmon running is when the fish swim from the ocean to the rivers on their way upstream to birthing grounds. There are various spots you can experience Salmon running in Vancouver, such as Little Campbell Hatchery, Tynehead Hatchery, Hoy Creek Fish Hatchery, or the Capilano River Hatchery. Check out this article for more places you can enjoy salmon running.
And if you are looking to make this outing into a full day excursion, we suggest heading to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, one of Vancouver’s most popular tourist attractions (the Capilano River Hatchery is nearby). The views are incredible, and the park offers a treetops adventure, suspension bridge, and a cliff walk – all perfect for taking in some pretty spectacular views.
Explore the Classical Chinese Garden
Looking to explore a little more outdoors? Check out the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden! It’s one of the first classical Chinese gardens to be made outside of China. It was modeled after the Ming Dynasty scholars’ garden homes, and visitors get to enjoy seeing objects that would typically be found in a Chinese scholar’s home. This garden truly shines in the fall, where the changing colors of the leaves make for a gorgeous backdrop for the many sculptures and water features located throughout the park. If you are visiting on a Thursday or Friday, make sure you sign up to partake in one of the mid-day tea ceremonies. This November will also kick off the opening of a new artist in residence at the garden, Jiangang Su. The opening party is on November 15! Check out their website for more info.
Walk the Stanley Park Seawall
Last but certainly not least, make sure you carve out some time to walk the Stanley Park Seawall during your trip to Vancouver. We’ve mentioned this attraction in previous blog posts because there’s so much to do here! Either enjoy being active by running, biking, or walking along the seawall, or take your time to stroll and check out the various monuments, shops, and dining locations nearby at the park. Make sure to bring a windbreaker or a jacket as it can get windy. You’ll be sure to be blown away by some of the incredible views you are sure to see while there. Make sure to add Vancouver’s most beloved park to your Vancouver travel itinerary!
What’s great about these activities too is that they are each just a short distance away from Sunset Inn & Suites!
