Couples’ Trip: Long Weekend in Vancouver & Whistler, Canada

Vancouver is a great location for a summertime long-weekend couples’ trip: It has a relaxed feel, yet there’s something for all interests. It is a great destination for foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and explorers. In fact, planning a trip here is a walk in the park, literally!

I can’t recommend Stanley Park enough. Spend an afternoon and go into the evening walking or biking along the waterfront into the park. There, you can play the pitch and putt golf course and take it as seriously as you want. Afterwards, walk to the Stanley Park Brewpub for a drink or to Stanley’s Bar & Grill for a lovely al fresco dinner with great food and huge portions!

Take the Aquabus from one of several stops along False Creek. Get off at Granville Island to walk the stalls of the food hall, try an artisanal sake flight, and listen to live music outside as you are transfixed by the city skyline. Watch artists create their masterpieces in their studios right next to their shops. Hop back on the Aquabus to the Olympic Village stop for more great views and restaurant and bar offerings, and to watch dragon boat teams practice. 

View of False Creek from the Aquabus

Use the SeaBus to head to North Vancouver for an afternoon. It offers more great views of the city from across the harbor. Be sure to stop by Earnest Ice Cream, where a line will likely greet you out the door on a warm day, but their unique flavors are worth it! The Lonsdale Quay market and food hall in North Vancouver is also a great choice for a drink or bite to eat at its eclectic offerings.

Hungry for adventure? I can help you book a scenic seaplane ride over Vancouver and North Vancouver. This 30-minute journey is a great way to see the beauty of this region and the size of Stanley Park, and it is a unique experience to splashdown for landing.

Take a day or overnight trip to Whistler. We rented a car and drove directly there, where we walked around the village for a bit. Check out Earl’s Kitchen and Bar for a tasty, hearty brunch. Whistler was home to several of the sports at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and you can feel like an Olympian, too! I can help you reserve tickets for the Olympics Sliding Centre experience. During the summer, you walk the bobsled track through several turns before hopping into Rolling Thunder, the bobsleigh with wheels. Our time was 51 seconds, and it felt like a good rollercoaster ride.

Whistler Village

Vancouver Sliding Centre bobsled track

On the way back home, we stopped at the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish, which offered fantastic views of Howe Sound and the surrounding mountain peaks. There were several well-marked hiking trails with gorgeous overlooks. Ready for dinner, we headed back down to The Broken Seal in Squamish for a lovely meal on the patio overlooking the water—great food and a unique fusion menu!

Sea-to-Sky Gondola suspension bridge

View of Howe Sound from the top of the Sea-to-Sky Gondola

View from our dinner at The Broken Seal in Squamish, BC

Where to stay

The Waterfront is in a very walkable location, convenient to everything. We stayed at the EXchange, which was on Howe Street. The rooms were gorgeous and the staff were so friendly, making it a lovely stay in this renovated building that was once the original Vancouver Stock Exchange. And, you can’t beat the location with fantastic restaurants, high-end shopping, and the harbor all a short walk away. Very convenient if you are staying here before embarking on a cruise.

Elevator lobby shows the history of the EXchange Hotel

King room at the EXchange Hotel

Our friends stayed at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel in Coal Harbour, which was closer to the waterfront and Stanley Park with some pocket views of the harbor, but it is a little farther away from the cruise terminal. On a prior visit, we stayed at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, which was a large hotel complex with lovely rooms, also in a convenient location to walk to the Yaletown neighborhood.

Airport transportation

The city’s train system, called the SkyTrain, is a great option to save money if you are staying at a hotel near one of the train stations in the city center. No tickets are needed; just use tap-and-pay on your credit card or digital wallet. Vancouver’s public transit is very clean, efficient, and easy to navigate, though the stops are somewhat limited. Our hotel, EXchange Hotel Vancouver, was only a six-minute walk from the Waterfront Station, so this was a great way to quickly get from the airport to the city center (about a 25-minute ride). Alternatively, rideshare is available; on a prior visit, we had arranged for a car service pickup due to a late flight arrival.

Walking or city bikes

Vancouver is a very pedestrian-friendly city. You can make an entire day out of walking along the waterfront into and exploring Stanley Park. There are also several city bike or scooter rental options and well-marked bike lanes. Biking the Seawall at Stanley Park offers fantastic views of the water and Lions Gate Bridge.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Canada page.