A two hour hike uphill and back will take you to the top of the chief with great views of the Howe Sound. Or.. you can take the Sea to Sky gondola up to the next peak over for the same views, but without having to hike, and the added bonus of a bar at the top

Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour are the three local mountains at the other side of the water that you can see from downtown. All three have great day hikes with views over the water and city. Cypress is best for sea views but requires a car to get to, Grouse has the best city views, a bus and gondola to take you from downtown to the top, and more amenities on top including two grizzly bears (in an enclosure.. chill). Also worth a visit while on the other side of the bridge is the Capilano salmon hatchery and Lighthouse park.

Deep Cove is a little town a 40 minute bus ride away from downtown Vancouver. Besides great donuts, this small town offers a nice walk to a viewpoint, and right at the water Deep cove kayak offers paddle boards and kayaks for rent. You can do a two hour back and forth paddle to a little island in front of the town, or go for a two day overnight camp/kayak trip all the way to the waterfalls at the end of the inlet. Especially on weekend days, make sure to call ahead for a reservation!

The Sea to Sky highway that takes you to Whistler (with Squamish en route) is an amazing drive. There is a really good bar on the Squamish river that is one of the best spots in the world to view Eagles. The Watershed Grill is a good stop on the way to Whistler, a place for a well deserved pint after climbing the Chief or a less deserved drink after riding the sea to sky gondola. Make sure to stop at Shannon falls on the way. In Whistler you can take a gondola to Whistler peak, or simply chill in the village or surrounding lakes

Another all time favorite is packing a bag o’ cans, inflate your floaty, and jump in one of the many BC rivers. Hopefully there are no waterfalls on your way and there is someone to pick you up at the end…