One Day (and gluten and dairy free!) in Vancouver, Canada
I’d been wanting to visit Vancouver, Canada for quite some time. Most of my family lives on the East coast, in Toronto, but I had a feeling this little city in the PNW would tug at my heart strings, and I was right. We decided to visit in the spring, which felt like the perfect season. The air was crisp, but not too cold, perfect for outdoor exploring. Although there is tons to see and do, we felt like we got a lot done in just one day with the help of a rental car. Here is our guide:
Breakfast
If the art on the walls doesn’t make you fall in love, the cuisine sure will have you saying, ‘Oh, Canada’ by the first bite. Most of the food is, or can easily be made gluten-free or vegan.
Coffee
We stumbled upon this coffee shop/restaurant serendipitously. As in, we needed a caffeine fix and did not have a Starbucks nearby. Great location, with delicious coffee and dairy-free milk options. It's no wonder they got a 9.8 rating on VancouverCoffeeSnob. P.S. We didn't get to eat here, but apparently they do have Gluten Free and Vegan options.
Lunch
This place has two locations and was so good, that we ate here twice in just 24 hours. Vegan and GF options EVERYTHING. I’m drooling over the thought of it right now.
Dinner/Drinks
This little spot is adorable, and the husband and wife opened it because of their love of cider. During the day, it serves as a cafe and twice a week in turns into BC’s first and only cider house, offering some awesome tapas pairings.
Juice
When it’s time to detox all of that poutine you’ve eaten, there is this awesome spot with some yummy fresh and organic juice options.
What to Do
This is the must-do activity when visiting Vancouver for the first time. The park is smaller than I imagined, but is still super cool with a nice long walk passing through beautiful views at all angles. It cost 42.95 (CAD) to enter the park, but prices vary for certain age groups, students and families. Don’t forget to grab your ‘I made it across world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge’ certificate upon leaving the park.
I instantly realized why this is ranked as the ‘top park in the entire world’ by TripAdvisor… It is absolutely breathtaking. We rented city bikes nearby from Spoke’s Bicycle Rentals at $20 CAD for two hours. We found this to be just enough time to bike around and explore the entire park, and some other less trafficked areas (we may or may not have gotten lost). The area in and around the park is relatively flat, so the activity doesn’t feel very strenuous. If you’re not into biking, you can walk instead, or rollerblade (is that still a thing?).
Shopping
We love shopping in Canada because of their great fashion. Here are some of our favorites…
A cute little boutique offering men’s and women’s clothing, as well as accessories.
Men’s and Women’s fashion, with a barber on the side to offer some clean cuts. You won’t regret shopping here.
Awesome men’s clothing, inspired by South Korean fashion and designed/manufactured by the owner.
Another great men’s fashion-forward clothing store. You’ll be ready for the runway after shopping here.
I can’t leave a city, without first visiting a local record store. This is Vancouver’s oldest… Bought us some Grimes, since she’s from the area, and all.
Gorgeous locally made swimsuits and outdoor and beauty accessories. I spent more than a minute in here.
An adorable metaphysical boutique with lovely décor, books and accessories.
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Christina P. Kantzavelos
Licensed Psychotherapist, Content Writer, Humanitarian, Travel Blogger.
