10 Awesome Fall Activities In Vancouver, BC

Granville Island

Let’s talk food. There’s nothing we enjoy more than working on our winter body, and Granville Island’s Public Market is a foodie mecca. From fresh, local produce to artisanal BC goods and specialty foods, you’ll find it all here. Benton Brothers Fine Cheese is a must-visit because, well, cheese…and Lee’s Donuts is a local icon. After your appetite is satiated, take a wander through Granville Island’s lanes to discover some boutique makers, crafters, and retailers. We always find Granville Island Broom Company intriguing, and we love a poke around the stationery and gifts at Paper-Ya. Make your next stop Granville Island Brewing. They offer daily tours and tastings for $12 + tax, as well as occasional events and pop-ups.

 

 

VanDusen Botanical Garden

If fall foliage is your jam then the VanDusen Botanical Garden is for you. You’ll enjoy incredible autumnal colours from the likes of heathers, Hydrangeas, and Crocuses. Self-guided tours at the VanDusen are plotted out by volunteers nearly every month for visitors to enjoy at their leisure. You’ll enjoy highlights such as the Elizabethan Maze, Scottish Shelter, and Korean Pavillion. Ornithologists will also enjoy the VanDusen thanks to the abundance of birdlife such as robins, swallows, and sparrows (to name a few). Once a month, the Garden offers a Guided Bird Walk with Jeremy Gordon, which is free for Members or included in the Garden admission fee. If you’re looking for relaxing fall activities in Vancouver, make VanDusen top of your list! Check out the online Bloom Calendar for insight into what to expect specific to the timing of your visit.

 

Flyover Vancouver

If you’re familiar with the Pacific Northwest, then you’ll know that we can be partial to a bit of rain. With that in mind, you’ll want to consider some indoor fall activities in Vancouver. Flyover Canada is an immersive “flying” experience, which utilizes state-of-the-art technology to reveal some of Canada’s most awe-inspiring sights as you have never seen them before. As if that wasn’t fun and exciting enough, in the fall they transition to a Halloween theme! With “HowlOver” Canada, you’ll begin the experience in a haunted house before journeying from coast to coast to coast alongside broomstick-toting witches who cackle at landmarks such as Gros Morne National Park, Niagara Falls, and Mount Assiniboine. It’s buckets of fun for the whole family!

 

 

Grouse Mountain

Less than 15km from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is an all-season destination inviting visitors to explore “Vancouver’s Back Yard”. Some activities are weather dependent. For thrill-seekers, the Mountain Ziplines and Mountain Ropes Adventure™ offer a unique perspective of the Mountain, combining adrenaline-pumping thrills with exploration of British Columbia’s old-growth forest. The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife is home to resident Grizzly bears, Grinder and Coola, and features daily Ranger Talks by wildlife experts, as well as interpretive sessions with owl ambassadors. Visitors can also enjoy the best views in Vancouver from 5 awe-inspiring lookout locations: Peak of Vancouver Lookout, Georgia Strait Lookout, Wilderness Lookout, Cascade Mountains Lookout and Grizzly Lookout.

 

 

Stanley Park/Seawall

One of our favourite fall activities in Vancouver doesn’t actually cost a penny! The Stanley Park Seawall makes up part of the 28 km Seaside Greenway - an uninterrupted pathway that extends from the Vancouver Convention Centre to Spanish Banks Park. The Seawall is synonymous with Vancouver. It skirts around Stanley Park, guiding pedestrians and cyclists along the Burrard Inlet, beneath the mighty Lion’s Gate Bridge, and around into English Bay. Sights along the route include Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (seaplane terminal), the Girl In A Wetsuit sculpture, and Siwash Rock. The Seawall is perfect for cycling, too, and you can travel as far as Jerochio Park in Kitsilano and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. A great way to keep active and experience the city!

 

 

A Canucks Game

Early October marks the start of the NHL season, and Rogers Arena is where you’ll catch all the action in Vancouver. If you’re looking for quintessentially Canadian fall activities in Vancouver then you’ll love a Canucks hockey game. The atmosphere is electric (even moreso, we’re sure, after a pandemic hiatus!), and we love watching the action with a hot dog and a beer. Check the Canucks website for games schedules and ticketing.

 

 

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver and has welcomed visitors since 1889. Today, guests enjoy a squirrel’s eye view of West Coast rainforest from a series of viewing platforms and 7 suspension bridges. There’s also a cantilevered ‘Cliff Walk’ and historical ‘Story Centre’ to explore. History and nature talks are also available, and provide guests with an introduction to the ecology of the West Coast rainforest, flora and fauna found in our ecosystem, and climatic characteristics that make the West Coast a unique environment. One highlight for us is the Kia’Palano, which provides a glimpse into indigenous culture and their ties to the land. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is situated upon the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and the word Kia’palano means “beautiful river” in the Skwxwú7mesh language.

 

 

Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says “Fall” like a visit to a pumpkin patch. Although you’d be hard-pressed to find one in the city, you’ll find options a short drive out towards Richmond. Southland’s Heritage Farm is just off SW Marine Drive and admission is typically $7 per person, which includes 1 pumpkin each. Kids under 2 are free. Another great option is Richmond Country Farms. There you can ride out to the Pumpkin Patch on a tractor-drawn wagon with entertainer—the kids will love it!

 

 

Vancouver International Film Festival

2021 marks the 40th anniversary of Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). It typically runs around the first week of October and features hundreds of feature films, shorts, talks and conferences from some of the best cinema and creative voices from around the globe. VIFF is available to enjoy online and in-person, and they’re doing everything they can to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all. It's great to be back to their normal schedule of entertainment following a couple of turbulent pandemic years.

 

 

Awesome Fall Activities In Vancouver—Travelling From Further Afield?

Planning a trip to Vancouver? Remember to check out the Sandman Hotels Deals page before booking!