Off The Beaten Path: Vancouver's Best Kept Secrets

Every city has its secret places that the locals love and the tourists rarely see. Here is a guide to some to the best and most beautiful places to visit in Vancouver that give visitors a deeper look into its life and culture.

1. Vancouver Art Gallery

Art Gallery, Museum

Vancouver Art Gallery

The fifth largest art gallery in Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery is dedicated to sharing works of art by Canadian artists with the public. The museum holds over 10,000 works in its permanent collection with an abundant number for regional artists. The museum has been expanded several times since its conception in order to incorporate more works and space for the many traveling exhibits that pass through its halls. It is open to the public from 10am to 5pm daily.
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7, Canada +1 604-662-4700

2. Yaletown Brewing Company

Bar, Pub

Yaletown Brewing Company

A lively tavern-style bar, Yaletown Brewing Company has been the vision of a true neighborhood pub since its opening in 1994. The brewery features rotating taps of its house brews and holds weekly batch testings of the new brews. Guests can sit down, relax with a group of friends, and get a taste of the flavors of Vancouver. Open Sunday to Wednesday 11:30am to 12am, Thursday 11:30am-1am, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 3am.
Yaletown Brewery, 1111 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T9, Canada

3. Lighthouse Park

Forest, Park

Lighthouse Park

Covering approximately 190 acres in West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park is a gorgeous get away from the city. This temperate rainforests is the home of many trees that are over 500 years old and stand 200 feet tall. Visitors to the park can explore the many trails that wind their way through the forest or visit the one hundred year old Point Atkinson lighthouse, a National Historic Site of Canada.
Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1K5, Canada

4. Savary Island Pie Company

Bakery

Savary Island Pie Company

The sweet aroma of delicious fresh baked pies fills this place and makes mouths water for a crisp bite topped with vanilla ice cream. Savary Island Pie Company passionately creates various different pies each day, from apple to strawberry rhubarb, in addition to their selection of bread and ginger beer. The bakery has been named in Vancouver Magazine’s list of ‘10 Best Desserts,’ making this an ideal stop to experience some of the flavors of the city. Open 6am to 7pm daily.
Savary Island Pie Company, 1533 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7V 1H9, Canada

Granville Bridge

There are many beautiful parks and places in Vancouver that offer awe-inspiring views of the city’s landscape, but none of those spots compare to the view from the Granville Bridge. The bridge is comprised of three individual bridges built from 1889 to 1954, and includes an area for pedestrians and bikers for cross safely. It crosses over False Creek and Granville Island, and is a great detour to take after or before a trip to the Granville Island Public Market.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.