Vancouver

A reader recently suggested that, given my frequent travels to different cities, I could attract "a million more views" by turning my blog into a travel guide, showcasing the must-see spots and activities in each destination.

Vancouver is an incredible destination for adventurous travelers. Known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse culture, and mouth-watering cuisine, I just had to return to explore all the wonders this city has to offer. I was fortunate to visit Vancouver in 2017, but I was so focused on playing basketball at Kitsilano Beach Park and the University of British Columbia Student Recreation Centre that I missed out on much of what the city had to offer. This time, I’m determined to dive deeper into Vancouver and truly experience all of it.

TLDR Itinerary For A One Day Trip in Vancouver (map)

• 9:00am - Stanley Park 

• 12:30pm - Chinatown

• 2:30pm - Gastown

• 3:00pm - Granville Island

• 6:00pm - Kitsilano Island

Similar to Austin's Uber Scooters, Denver's Lyft Scooters, Chicago's Divvy Bikes, and Montreal's BIXI bikes, I hopped on Vancouver's Mobi Bikes to explore the city's top tourist destination: Stanley Park. Renting a bike is a must to fully experience the park’s outer trail, offering incredible views of the city skyline, numerous beaches, a rather peculiar swimming pool by the beach that costs money to enter but was completely empty, playgrounds, and of course, a basketball court. 

If you're wondering, I did consider traditional bike rentals versus the pay-by-the-minute Mobi Bikes, but we ultimately chose Mobi Bikes for the convenience of being able to drop them off almost anywhere anytime. The total cost for one bike for 1 hour and 14 minutes of riding around Stanley Park was $23.89 CAD.

After a nice morning stroll in Stanley Park, I made my way across downtown to Chinatown and Gastown. After the morning exercise, I was starting to feel a bit hungry, so I decided it was time to experience some of Vancouver’s finest cuisine. Who better to consult than ChatGPT? It suggested I satisfy my appetite with a Japadog.

It’s recommended to visit both Chinatown and Gastown in one trip, as they are so close to each other that you can easily walk between them. On your way between these tourist destinations, you'll pass by the Woodward's Building, where you’ll find an elegant, well-maintained basketball court right in the middle of a quaint shopping mall.

Once in Gastown, be sure to check out the Gastown Steam Clock, which is frequently mentioned in tourist blogs (just as I am here…). However, I must warn you—it might not live up to the hype, as I’m not really sure of the significance of it. Plus it is small.

After exploring Gastown and Chinatown, I suggest heading south to Granville Island, where you can enjoy a wide array of food options. On your way from Chinatown to Granville Island, you’ll pass by two spectacular parks: Coopers Park and David Lam Park. 

Coopers Park features a basketball court that offers a unique experience, playing in an urban park space under a highway.

David Lam Park boasts a lovely beach water view and includes two tennis courts and two basketball courts. I’d bet this area becomes quite popular in the evening, as there are numerous activities to enjoy here.

Once you’re at Granville Island, be sure to visit the public market to get all your food fixings before heading to the Granville Island Basketball Court. There, you'll experience a mix of emotions, as the basketball hoops are situated on a tennis/pickleball court. While there isn’t a full basketball court available, you’ll still have the chance to shoot some hoops.

Travel Tip: Consider biking or using public transportation to get to Granville Island, as driving can be a nightmare. The roads are often crowded, and parking is expensive. If you must drive, park just outside the island, find some paid street parking, and then walk in. 

To wrap up your day, head over to Kitsilano Beach, one of Vancouver’s finest. Be sure to catch the sunset while enjoying a relaxing picnic on the sand. The beach offers opportunities for volleyball and, of course, basketball.

Conclusion 

Vancouver is an incredible city, and I highly recommend exploring it for at least three days to fully experience all it has to offer. However, if you only have one day, follow the itinerary above to see the most popular areas and make the most of your visit!

Travel Tip

If you’re driving from Seattle to Vancouver for a day trip, I recommend arriving at the border check before 9 a.m. In the evening, it doesn’t matter as much as Global Entry can be a game-changer.

Although it’s not widely advertised, when crossing from Canada into the USA, you'll find two lines—one for all cars and one for the Nexus program. The line for all cars can be miles long, leading to lengthy waits. However, if every passenger in your vehicle has Global Entry, you can use the Nexus line and breeze through the border with virtually no wait.

Mini-Series III

For this month, I’m going to do something a bit different.  

Usually, I focus on playing pickup basketball at a single court, but my blog’s analytics have shown me something interesting: my most popular post by far is about Austin. What sets the Austin post apart is that I explored various courts throughout the city, giving readers a comprehensive look into different courts. It seems that people stumbling on my blog are interested in discovering a range of pickup basketball court options.

With that in mind, I’m excited to launch a three-part mini-series featuring multiple basketball courts in three different cities: Montreal, Seattle, and Vancouver. 

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The basketball courts I visited in Vancouver (map)

• Stanley Park - Ceperley Park Playground

• Woodward's Building

• Coopers Park Basketball Court

• David Lam Park Basketball Courts

• Granville Island Basketball Court

• Kitsilano Beach Basketball Courts

• The University of British Columbia