vancouver: day trips.

Steveston is accessible by both bus (take the Canada Line to Richmond/Brighouse and then take the 407 bus to Gilbert) and bike from Vancouver. If you can, definitely bike. The Canada Line bike/pedestrian bridge over the Fraser River is worth it (mostly for the smooth biking and industrial views it offers). Steveston itself, is the site of a historic village centred around it's salmon cannery. It is now a picturesque suburb with a lovely wharf. The also have the good frozen yoghurt: You know the kind where they press frozen fruit through a bar of youghurty-frozen goodness? If you want to go full BC, pick blackberry or blueberry, or if like me you prefer the prairie berries (say that out loud, it rhymes!), try raspberry. Just don't miss it.




Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast is just a bus (from downtown catch the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express), a ferry and another bus (the number 1 bus from the ferry terminal) from downtown Vancouver, but it feels very far from city life. When we went there, we even considered starting a commune! When you get off the ferry you can forgo the second bus and walk down the very quiet highway into town. Highly recommended once you get there? Smitty's Oyster House, where the seafood is fresh and so is the serving staff's 'tude.

I haven't actually been to Bowen Island yet, but I hear it's a great day trip. It also doesn't require that you catch the ferry in Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen (the two regular ferry ports, which are a ways out of Vancouver, especially for car-less people): You can catch a water taxi to Bowen from Granville Island.

Part I of my guide to Vancouver and part II.