Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the major ports for Alaskan cruises and cruisetours (cruise-plus-land tours). So if you’re planning a Northbound or Southbound cruise to Alaska, it’s likely you will either embark or disembark in Vancouver. There’s so much to see and do in Vancouver, that we recommend you extend your stay in the large port city by one or two days before or after your cruise/cruisetour to take it all in.
CruiseExperts.com has chosen 5 of our favorite places to visit in Vancouver. This is the second blog in our series of “The Best of Vancouver.” You may also want to read: “The Best of Vancouver: The Top 5 Places to Eat”.
Our Top 5 Things to Do in Vancouver
1. Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in Canada, with over 1,000 forested acres, surrounded by water with panoramic views. You’ll be able to see it from your cruise ship as you pass under Lions Gate Bridge when entering or leaving the Vancouver Harbour. There’s a lot to do in Stanley Park, including a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, where you can check out the polar bear exhibit, or take one of the many trails throughout the park. The Vancouver Seawall trail borders the park along the water which makes it hands-down the favorite trail for walking, running and biking.
2. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has one long suspension bridge that hangs 3,200 feet above the raging Capilano River. If you’re an adrenline-junkie–this is a must-do. This bridge is part of a series of suspension bridges and glass-bottomed platforms that are connected by cantilevered walkways suspended from the granite cliff face called the 
Cliffwalk. If you’d prefer something a little less dramatic, there are still plenty of walkways on the ground as well as shops and activities at the main center.
3. Grouse Mountain is the peak overlooking Vancouver and is considered a “rugged summer theme park.” Plan for a full-day of activities because there are so many things to do at the top of the mountain. To get to the top. you can either hike “The Grouse Grind” (aka “The Stairmaster from Hell”) for free or for a fee ride the gondola to the top. Once you reach the peak, you can watch the free lumberjack or bird shows, visit the Grizzly bear exhibit, take the zip line tour, or go to the top of the wind turbine to the viewing platform for the best view of Vancouver. And when you’re ready to head back down, everyone takes the gondola ride—it’s required–there is a charge for the return decent. Grouse Mountain is just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
4. Granville Island Public Market is the place to find great food and shopping. The market is a restored industrial area, now a haven for foodies and shoppers. You’ll enjoy the lively music from the street entertainers who represent the diverse cultures of Vancouver. Granville Island is just across False Creek from downtown Vancouver. You can catch the ferry which will drop you off at the public market.
5. If you’re a gambler or love the horse races, then head over to Hastings Racecourse. They have live horse racing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Friday nights. And during the weekdays, simulcast racing is on the big screen. They also have a full-casino with over 600 slot machines and restaurants. It’s just a 15-minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal and a wonderful way to experience Vancouver’s most embraced local activity.
Call a CruiseExperts.com agent today and get started planning your Alaskan cruise for 2014. We can help with all your arrangements for spending extra time in Vancouver as well. Call 1-888-804-CRUIse(2784) or visit our website at www.CruiseExperts.com.
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Photo Credits
Thank you Jared Crawford for your great pictures from Vancouver–Stanley Park, the Granville Public Market and the Olympic Village.