After a long sweltering summer nothing feels better than the refreshing changes of fall. From crisp cool mornings, to the changing leaves and seasonal treats, fall is one of the year’s most incredible seasons.
We’ve outlined just 10 of the best things to do in Vancouver to celebrate the season. From curling up with a good cup of coffee, to visiting an international film festival, this list has you covered.
10. Treat Yourself to Afternoon Tea
For the very pinnacle of elegant dining you can’t beat a true afternoon tea. With Canada’s history as a British subject, it’s no surprise that Vancouver is a great spot to find an authentic English Afternoon Tea experience. Expect multi-tiered trays loaded with pastries, scones and finger sandwiches with plenty of clotted cream and jams to go along with it. And of course, cups and cups of perfectly brewed tea. Some of the best are found at the Neverland Tea Salon and TWG Tea Salon but they are by no means the only in the city. Vancouver is teeming with tea services in cafes, salons and hotel restaurants.
9. Walk the Seawall at Stanley Park
Autumn is the season of change and there’s no better way to see this than by spending time outdoors. Stanley Park is a great place to soak it in. The park’s forests morph into a mosaic of reds, orange and yellows each year, and the crisp breezes off the ocean are a refreshing reminder of the seasons. Walking along the seawall provides great views as well as some of the best walking paths in the city.
Stanley Park, Vancouver
8. The Vancouver International Film Festival
One of the largest film festivals in North America, the Vancouver International Film Festival is a major event in the city. The festival runs for two weeks in late September and early October and provides a first look at the most anticipated films in international cinema. Film enthusiasts as well as anyone looking to add a little cinema to their season should add a few screenings to their Vancouver trip.
7. Taste of Yaletown
Every October the Taste of Yaletown takes over some of Vancouver’s most popular restaurants. Not only does the food festival present unique cuisines and tasting menus, it also provides an environment and space to create connections with chefs, restauranteurs and other festival-goers. The food tour comes in differently priced packages, with each one offering a meal carefully curated by Yaletown’s best restaurants.
Taste of Yaletown, Vancouver
6. Hiking in the North Shore Mountains
Fall is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors before the bone-chilling temperatures and heavy snow of winter arrives. Getting in a last hike in the North Shore Mountains is a yearly autumn tradition in Vancouver. The mountains are only a twenty to thirty minute drive from the city center, and are a fantastic place to take in the views as well as crisp mountain air. The Lions are a famous peak in the range and on every must-do Vancouver bucket list.
North Shore Mountains, Vancouver
5. Brunch at Vancouver’s Best Cafes
It should come as no surprise that a city as immersed in vibrant cuisines as Vancouver should host some of the best brunches on the continent. From pulled pork pancakes, Moroccan stews, to classic chicken and waffles; brunch in Vancouver is an experience that can’t be missed.
Stop by some of the city’s favorites like the Jam Cafe for their famous red velvet pancakes, Jules Bistro for classic French cuisine of the Red Wagon Cafe for all-day brunch and classic Canadian breakfast fare.
4. Vancouver Apple Festival
One of the city’s most beloved festivals, the Vancouver Apple Festival features over sixty different kids of apples, include some very rare and unusual varieties. Included with the festival is an apple tasting that provides samples from five dozen different BC grown varieties. Along with the traditional festival food and drink are also apple trees and seedlings for sale in case you want to start your own backyard orchard.
3. Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery
To add a bit of culture to your fall itinerary, spend an afternoon at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The art museum is the largest in Western Canada and has one of the best collections of Canadian Art in the world. In addition to the permanent collection, the Art Gallery offers periodic special exhibits on topics as varied as contemporary painting to modern fashion.
Vancouver Art Gallery
2. Granville Island Market
With the weather turning for the colder, there’s few things that will lift your spirits like the perfect bowl of soup. And for handcrafted soups, the best place in the city is the Granville Island Market‘s The Stock Market. But the market has more than soups. Handicrafts, art, live-music and of course great food are all part of the Granville Island Market experience.
Granville Island Market, Vancouver
1. Vancouver Christmas Market
The last week of November is the start of the Vancouver Christmas Market. This traditional German Christmas Market is one of the city’s favorite yearly events and features over eighty vendors selling sweets, treats and Christmas wares. Regional specialties such as mulled wine, pretzels and Viennese pastries are especially popular. This yuletide event is perfect for singles, couples and families and offers the perfect bridge from fall to winter.
Fall is the perfect season to explore all that Vancouver has to offer. Book your next trip through Expedia and visit one of Canada’s most beautiful cities.
