One-week itinerary in Vancouver

After settling into our accommodation, we strolled through the West End towards Stanley Park. A bus dropped us off quickly and we were off to explore. An urban park of over 400 hectares, it offers a glimpse of Canadian flora and fauna, a change of scenery in contrast to the urban jungle.

The area is full of charming little snack bars and restaurants, so all we have to do is choose a quiet spot for lunch, almost right in the middle of nature. You can also have a picnic on a peaceful patch of grass.

With the Vancouver Aquarium, recreational facilities, numerous trails and First Nation totem poles, there's a lot to see - whether you're walking or cycling! We then took the Seawall, an 8km-long cornice that surrounds the park and offers a magnificent view of the bay, to finish the day at English Bay beach. Don't hesitate to return during your stay, especially if you're staying nearby!

There's no better way to start our day on the theme of the First Nations than at the Museum of Anthropology on the west side of the city, on the campus of the University of British Columbia. It takes about 3 hours to visit the whole place, but don't hesitate to take advantage of your visit to tour the campus. As well as the campus itself, the botanical gardens and the Nitobe Memorial Garden are well worth a visit.

In the afternoon, return to Downtown and visit the Bill Reid Gallery and Hill's Native Art Gallery, where you can buy works and objects created by Native American artists. To round off the day in style, we recommend the Salmon n' Bannock in the Fairview district, with its Native American specialities.

That morning, we set off early for Capilano Park to avoid the mass of tourists (especially on the famous suspension bridge) and make the most of this absolutely fantastic place. We allowed 3 hours to take our time. Lynn Canyon park is a free and less crowded alternative. Located a little further east, it's still easy to get to. Its suspension bridge is smaller, but the walks are magnificent.

Once we'd cleared our heads after a morning in nature, we spent the afternoon in the city centre. We returned to Vancouver to climb the Vancouver Lookout, where a unique panorama of the city awaited us. We then strolled through the historic Gastown district, followed by Chinatown - one of the largest in North America. From unique shops to interesting architecture, getting lost in this district is anything but a waste of time.

Finally, we couldn't resist the idea of going back up to the top of Vancouver Lookout to admire the evening lights - we didn't have to pay again as the ticket is valid for the day!

There's nothing better in the morning than to start the day with a small local market, as we're used to doing in the French provinces. The island of Granville and its huge market are a must! This commercial port is the ideal place to come and find small caterers and their cuisines from all over the world, as well as fresh fish and meat.

If you'd like to take a trip out to sea to see whales and orcas, departures are usually from this island. Beware of touristy shops and restaurants; for food, we recommend Sandbar Seafood.

We continue the day in the direction of the VanDusen Botanical Garden, by far the best garden in Vancouver, which should fill us with wonder for 2 hours for around $10 per adult. From exotic species to endangered endemic plants, we learn more about local and world flora. We finish the afternoon in the Kitsilano district, renowned for its beach and swimming pool. Various sports facilities are available to the public, including beach volleyball courts.

First and foremost: plan this outing for a day with good weather, so you can enjoy the view from the top of Grouse Mountain! Then there are two options: a cable car ride or a walk. Most people opt for the SkyRide, despite its very high price of $56 for adults and $29 for children (which includes a shuttle bus from downtown Vancouver). For sports enthusiasts who opt for the Grouse Grind Trail hike, public transport is convenient to the starting point. It's not an easy climb, however, with 800m of ascent over the 2.5km route.

Afterwards, a variety of activities are available on site (outside the summer months, there may be less choice), such as zip-lines and lumberjack shows. You can also climb to the summit and admire the two resident grizzly bears or birds of prey. In winter: skiing, tobogganing and other snow activities are available.

Further north and east than Capilano and Lynn Canyon Park, the journey is still quite reasonable (30 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus). Deep Cove is perfect for kayaking or paddling away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A number of walking trails are available, including one leading to Quarry Rock for a view overlooking the village, or in Mount Seymour Provincial Park with 14 listed walks. The latter is also a winter destination for a variety of snow activities. These places are ideal for a full day out, so we pack a few sandwiches and lose ourselves in the heights and forests for the day.

After such an effort, comfort is just what you need. So we headed for the city centre to end our stay in style at one of the city's gourmet restaurants. It was at the Five Sail Restaurant that we ate our last meal in British Columbia's largest city, facing the sea.