Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). You can read my full disclosure policy here.
When it comes to Vancouver, I feel like I have blinders on. I only truly miss it when I’m away from it for a really long time and even then I miss the people and the great food found in the city. Once I’m back and the novelty wears off, Vancouver just becomes a place where I live. I know so many people who would love to come to Vancouver. What isn’t there to love?
Mountains
Beaches
Delicious diverse food
Oh boy drooool
Interesting festivals
Gorgeous parks
Many who are intrigued by the mountains and the beach plus the melting pot of cultures and delicious foods. Yet, sometimes I feel like I take this city for granted. I always find it so intriguing to see tourist wandering the streets, or people making plans as to what to see and do in the city I call home.
In order to combat all this indifference to Vancouver and its surrounding areas, I’m going to set out and thoroughly explore it all. So announcing my newest adventure:
The summer of Vancouver! (#summerofyvr)
I’ll be dedicating my time to Vancouver and its surrounding areas. From the mountains to the beaches and from the food to the quirky neighbourhoods, I’m going to explore this city. I’ll be rediscovering what this great city has to offer, playing tourist, revisiting favourite haunts and hopefully discovering something new and cool.
Whenever people ask me for recommendations on Vancouver, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been turning to friends who know the city better. Hopefully by the end of this summer I can better answer that question!
There is plenty to do this summer and here’s a brief teaser: from the night market… 
…to exploring a former fishing village… 
…to kayaking… 
…to checking out local breweries and wineries… 
…to exploring this city like a tourist.
Will you come along with me?
Do you feel like you take where you live for granted? Have you played tourist in your own city before? What do you want to know about Vancouver? What questions do you have about Vancouver?
If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome! Stay on top of my adventures on Facebook and follow me on Twitter & Instagram.
I love playing tourist in my own city! We can’t always be traveling to faraway destinations, so it’s good to explore where you live – sometimes you can find the coolest places! I’m looking forward to your future posts about Vancouver, a place I’ve always wanted to see!
Nice work. I never quite got to Vancouver although I’ve been to Canada twice. I certainly wanted to but it just didnt work out with my itinerary. It looks great in your pics!
Thanks Andrew! Fair enough – I think most people head to the East coast. Vancouver is so far out in the middle of no where. On the east at least there are a few cities you can visit.
Vancouver looks like a beautiful place! Playing tourist in my home city is something I have always wanted to do. Sometimes we miss more of our own city than the places we travel to!
Great idea! It’s always nice to read posts written by people who are familiar with the area. Like you are getting the inside scoop.
Camping on Vancouver, albeit usually wet, is really fun, too!
Haha so true! I’ve thankfully have only had dry camping experiences, except for one time when I went wilderness camping with my school sans tent. It was just me and my group with a tarp. Needless to say, that was no fun. Fingers cross my next camping experiences are dry as well!
Sounds like a great plan, happy to read along as you explore more of Vancouver:) Ethan and I were just saying the same thing about San Francisco and northern California. Been here almost 5 years and seen so little of it that is possible!
YES!! I will follow along! I’m Canadian (from Toronto) and have never been to Vancouver but have always imagined it as the “nice” part of Canada. The part that didn’t suffer a Canadian winter and was filled with diverse landscapes and a somewhat Californian vibe.
I can totally understand that sometimes you are incapable of looking at the place where you live with eyes of a tourist or giving much thought to how special it is. I think it is a great exercise to stay-cation every now and then and take renewed interest in your own city. Actually, having a blog is great for that too!
Angie from reasons to dress, fashion, real mom street style & life as a North American mom in Italy.
I’m hoping this summer I’ll be able to appreciate all the things Vancouver has to offer. You’re right in saying that we have a much milder winter, but all I seem to do is complain about the rain! I hope you get a chance to come over for a visit one day 🙂
Really looking forward to you exploring Vancouver, Adelina. “Backyard” blogging is where I’ve found the best recommendations and hidden spots of cities. Once I’m back in the States, I will be planning a West Coast trip, which will have to include Vancouver. I’ve seen and heard so many wonderful things about the city and it seems perfect for a food lover!
Yes! There are so many amazing places to eat in the city. Vancouver is definitely a foodie city. Let me know when you’re around and we’ll go eating 🙂
I’m really looking forward to reading more about summer in Vancouver. I’ve heard amazing things about the city, but sadly never visited it myself (yet!) and even though I love winter, I think the best time to travel is definitely summer.
Yup! The best time in Vancouver is definitely the summer. I hope you get a chance to come visit one day 🙂
Yes I’ll come along for the ride, I’d love to visit Vancouver!
We’ll be in Vancouver the first week of August. I’m looking forward to seeing the city and all it has to offer. My kids are especially excited about seeing the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Have you been? If you’re available maybe we can meet up.
Ohh! Awesome! Yes, I’ll be around! Let me know if you want to meet up.
I’ve been to Capilano, but it’s been a really long time since I last went – it’s very high up! It’ll be really busy as well. You could also consider the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge. It’s free, but considerably smaller.
Erm, I don’t know. I think it’s normal to take where you live for granted. We all do it. I think it’s great to write about where you live though, I think blogging makes you notice your surroundings more, hey? Looking for inspiration everywhere, all the time. I look forward to reading more about Vancouver, the mountains and the beach are in close proximity? Amazing!
Thanks Sammi! I’m really jealous of where you are in the world. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side right?
My sis lived in Seattle for 3 years and I never made it to Vancouver with her – d’oh! Looks lovely, though!
Also, joined the linkup but not sure I did it right, as it’s my first time trying…
Ohhh you’ve should have come up! It’s so close together. Seattle is a good weekend getaway for us here.
Re: linkup – I see you put the badge on your site, but I don’t think you added it to the link up. You will need to go and click on the blue “add your link” button at the end of the post and then fill in your details. Here is this week’s link up. Holler if you get stuck!
We’ve lived in Vancouver for over 20 years now. We adore travelling, but the more we travel, the more we love returning home to Vancouver. This summer, we’re so grateful we get to stay put (at least for a couple of months). Like you, we’ll be tourists in our own city. We’ll go stand-up paddleboarding at Deep Cove, bicycle around Stanley Park, hike to Whyte Lake for a swim, check out untried Gastown restaurants, take in the free, outdoor classical VSO concert at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby… Ah, it’s gonna be a great summer…
There are so many fabulous things to do in Vancouver in the summer! You just need to get out there and explore, but sometimes when at home, it can be too easy to be lazy about it. I hope you get to do all your listed adventures and more this summer!
Out of all the main cities in Canada, I’m definitely most interested in Vancouver. I’m excited to follow along with you this summer as you re-discover it! I definitely take LA for granted. I don’t really understand the draw of LA for tourists.. I feel like most of the really popular places are just too touristy or boring, heh. I’ve lived there for almost 10 years, and I really only go to a handful of places on a constant basis. If I ever do settle back into LA again, I’ll hope to explore it more too.
Honestly, I don’t understand the draw of LA for tourists either (sorry!). It just seems like a big city with a beach, but maybe that means I should go and explore it for myself.
What a great idea Adelina! I agree, we sometimes take our city for granted.
I’m looking forward to seeing what adventures you get up to here.There is so much to do.
Definitely! Lots of opportunities for adventure. We should do something when you’re up for it 🙂
Who needs to get on a plane and travel when you’ve got all that at your doorsteps!!
It can be so easy to forget what is in your backyard!
…I’m sure you’ll have loads of fun rediscovering this place–it really does look so lovely and eclectic (perfect for an indie kid like me), :-)!!…
Wow Adelina, that is a very different view of Vancouver than I had! Unfortunately I visited in the winter time and during the few days I was there, it rained every single one of them. But I have to admit that Vancouver looks like a great place to explore during the summer. It’s quite interesting to be a tourist in your own town after being away for a while. I had the same experience with Berlin, and I can’t wait to see and read more of your Vancouver recommendations… 🙂
Vancouver in the rain sucks. I hate Vancouver weather for 75% of the year because all it seems to do is rain and rain, with a side of rain. The summer is definitely the best time to be here, but even then, you guessed it, it rains.
Looks very inviting! I was just thinking about this today as we walked along the Thames for the first time totally blown away next to people looking elsewhere on their way to work. Looking forward to all your Vancouver adventures. Bron
Vancouver looks so beautiful and diverse … looking forward to reading your travels in Vancouver.
I’ve never been to Canada and would love to go to Vancouver as have heard so much about how great it is! Looking forward to following your adventures! I’m constantly playing tourist in my own home (London) even though I’ve been here for over 10 years but there’s always something new to discover or something old that I’ve not got round to seeing!
You live in a great city! I would love to be in London and playing tourist 🙂 There is so much to see and do!