Cool Things to do in Vancouver

With the warm days of summer just around the corner, this is the perfect time of year to start planning some day hikes in the Coast Mountains. I make an effort to get out and do a solid hike every week throughout the year.

Vancouver is known in Canada for all the outdoor adventures you can possibly imagine. I've lived there, gave birth there, and ventured out every day with a child in tow to discover something new and awesome to do.

Visit Canada'a largest aquarium, the Vancouver Aquarium, which houses more than 70,000 animals in 116,000 sq. ft. of facility space. Opened daily, the aquarium charges an admission but profits go toward supporting its mission to conserve aquatic life. Free public parking is adjacent to the Aquarium. Translink Bus and Skytrain public transit operates year-round.

It's a rare toasty day in Vancouver and the locals have turned the word languid into a live art performance. Even the grizzlies on Grouse Mountain - in name and in nature - can barely stifle their yawns. And who can blame them?

Who do you call when you're looking for some great local insight on Vancouver's under-the-radar hot spots? Miss 604, of course. Rebecca Bollwitt is a Vancouver native and author of the popular Vancouver blog at www.miss604.com. She was kind enough to let us in on a few of her favourite hidden gems in the Vancouver area.

I love off-the-grid dining! Far too often we forget about restaurants not located within the downtown core or popular neighbourhoods. Often we don't bother to look outside our own bubble. We wait . . .

Vancouverites have such an affinity for the water and there's so many ways to get close and enjoy our rivers, lakes, coastal inlets and bays. Boardwalk promenades are ideal locations for leisurely strolls, watching activity on our waterways, soaking up some sunshine, and purchasing fresh-caught local seafood.

Take Paws is a showcase for people having fun with their pets, and sharing YOUR pet travel experiences may be the nudge someone else needs to pack up and hit the road with their own best friend! So, when our good friend, Jodi Chick, offered to give us an insider's look at Vancouver , we couldn't wait to see what she'd ...