A "Bleisure" Trip to British Columbia – the Perfect Excuse for 4 Days in Vancouver

After a long day of work and an afternoon flight to Vancouver, you’ll surely be ready to settle in to your new surroundings. Luckily, the trip from Vancouver International Airport to the central business district is easy. If your employer is sponsoring all of your travel expenses, splurge on a private transfer via Rolzo. Or, if you’re footing the bill for certain of your travel expenses, don’t hesitate to take the convenient (and much less expensive) Canada Line train directly from the airport to the downtown Waterfront stop. Plan to swing by Breka Bakery and Café before making your way to your hotel. This 24-hour café serves up high energy all night along with some of the best chocolate eclairs and tea lattes I’ve tasted. Once your late-night sweet tooth is sated, check-in and tuck into bed to prepare for the day of work ahead.

On your way into the morning’s meetings, stop by Koffie for a quick breakfast. The laidback vibe paired with a pour over coffee and “breakfast on brioche” breakfast sandwich will kickstart your workday. If at lunchtime you’re still in downtown and looking for a bite, check out Cardero’s for stunning views of the Vancouver skyline. Ask for server extraordinaire, Tony, and if the occasion allows, toast your colleagues with a mezcal Negroni.

Once the business of the day is complete, the real fun begins! Make your way to Cordova Street’s Waterfront station to board the Seabus. This ferry has been a Vancouver staple since the 1970s and will shuttle you across the bay to the shores of hip North Vancouver. If you’re lucky enough to make the trip with daylight to spare, you’ll be graced with pristine views of Grouse Mountain as you cruise. The Lonsdale Quay will welcome you to the North Shore. Pop into this quickly growing public market for a glass of British Columbia’s best wine from Artisan Wine Shop, which you can enjoy as you wander the market and stop into Favourite Gifts to browse handcrafted goods from local artisans. You can also explore one of the region’s best museums: MONOVA and the Polygon Gallery, both of which are open until 5:00pm daily and 8:00pm on Thursdays. MONOVA is a mixed media experience focusing on the history of the region, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between British Columbia’s Indigenous peoples and Vancouver’s early settlers, while Polygon Gallery is a gutsy art museum with the largest non-profit photography collection in Western Canada. If you’ve worked up an appetite, walk along the docks to JOEY Shipyards for dinner. JOEY is a Canada-based restaurant group, and its North Vancouver location boasts unmatched views of the Vancouver skyline. Sip on a glass of their complimentary bubbly and grab a seat on the firepit adorned patio to watch the sunset and snack on their lobster and prawn sushi tacos. When you’ve had your fill, catch the Seabus back downtown at any time before 1:20am.

Begin your second full day in Vancouver – and hopefully your last day with work responsibilities – with a business brunch at Tractor Foods. This chic downtown eatery will fill you up with a Farmhouse Breakfast Bowl or Thai Veggie Hot Bowl to fuel your through the afternoon. After the last note is taken and your laptop is shut, head east along the waterfront and find yourself in Chinatown. Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the largest in North America, fueled largely by the exodus of many Chinese immigrants to the area during the construction of the North American Railroad in the 1850s. This neighborhood’s most recognizable attractions are the Chinatown Millennium Gate and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, but its most popular attraction is the food! Dim Sum has become a British Columbian pastime, and you can’t go wrong with Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. That being said, Anh and Chi and Phenom Pehn are some of Chinatown’s most recognizable restaurants for a reason. Indulge in the DIY Street-Side Platter at the former or the BBQ lemongrass chicken at the latter and prepare for your mind to be blown. End your evening with a nightcap at apothecary inspired The Keefer Bar, where the Skeleton Kiss is the star of the show.

With your business behind you, you’ve earned the leisure portion of your “bleisure” trip! Today, you’ll take on the West End of Vancouver, beginning with Gastown. Gastown, with its cobblestone streets and heritage buildings, is the oldest neighborhood in Vancouver. Stroll by the easily recognizable Gastown Steam Clock and step into the cozy chaos of used bookshops like MacLeod’s Books and The Paper Hound, before making your way to Nelson the Seagull for the city’s best baked goods and breads. Fill up on poached eggs with tomato smash or peanut butter and jam, both served over scrumptious sourdough — you have a LOT of steps ahead of you.

While you digest, head towards Stanley Park, the largest urban park in North America (yes, this park is even larger than Manhattan’s Central Park!). The entire park is lined with a nearly nine kilometer “seawall” that allows walkers, joggers, rollerbladers and bikers to traverse the entire perimeter of the park without any motorized traffic. So rent a bike from Freedom Bikes Rentals or lace up your trainers and get a move on! During your journey along the seawall, you’ll likely be distracted by the stunning vistas of the Vancouver skyline and snowcapped Coast Mountains, but don’t forget to make time for a stop at Totem Park, the Vancouver Aquarium or the sandy shores of Third Beach.

As you reach the end of the Stanley Park portion of the seawall at English Bay, you’ll travel back through the West End via Robson Street — if your feet are feeling tired from all that walking or cycling, don’t worry, you can easily catch an Uber or even the number 50 bus for a quick break! At the mid-portion of ritzy Robson Street (between Cardero and Granville Street), you’ll find Vancouver’s preeminent shopping district. Make time – and room in your suitcase -- for shopping at the flagship stores for favorite British Columbia brands like Aritzia, Herschel and Lululemon. Then close out your day at the Bacaro bar in the luxe Fairmont Pacific Ridge. This intimate bistro pairs a standout wine list with delicious Venetian-inspired chicchetti. After a day like this, it’s no doubt you’ll sleep well tonight.

Your last day of “bleisure” in British Columbia has arrived, but there is still so much to see and do. If you’re staying near Canada Place, hop on the 9:00am shuttle to arrive at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park before the crowds. The Capilano Suspension Bridge, located across the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver, is the most popular tourist attraction in British Columbia, and for good reason. The 450-foot bridge and associated Cliff Walk wind along Douglas Fir-covered cliffs, illuminated ponds and rushing waterfalls that are sure to take your breath away. If, like me, you have a fear of heights, know that, although the suspension bridge has a little sway, it is entirely stable and repeatedly reinforced to make you feel as safe as possible!

Plan to spend between 2–3 hours in the park before returning to Canada Place via the shuttle (the transportation cost is included with the price of entry to the park). From here, grab an Uber or the number 50 bus to Granville Island, a charming and artsy community along False Creek. The Granville Island Public Market is incredible both for its dining options and for its stellar people watching. With over 50 merchant stalls, it’s impossible to try everything, but you won’t be disappointed if you stop by Granville Island Tea Company for a chai matcha latte, Hobbs Pickles for horseradish pickles, La Bise Bakery for sensational canales and Siegel’s Bagels for the best rosemary salt bagel of your life. If you’re looking for a last-minute but tasty souvenir, Canadian maple pecans from The Nut Merchant are sure to please your tastebuds or those of your friends and family back home.

When you’re starting to feel like you can’t taste another sample, it’ll be time to pick up your luggage and return to Vancouver International Airport by way of Rolzo or the Canada Line train. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be planning your trip — “bleisure” or otherwise -- back to British Columbia before your flight’s boarding is complete!