These are not particularly off the beaten path but worth doing because they are good or have a spectacular view. Bridges on Granville Island outside patio is still open. Walk around the island before. The Teahouse in Stanley Park. Walk the sea walk before. Salmon House on the hill. Vij’s an excellent Indian vegetarian place.
There are hundreds of good restaurants in Vancouver. Ranging from street carts to fine dining. Ethnic of all varieties. Depends on what you are looking for.
Things to do. Walk Robson Street, walk the Sea Wall around Stanley Park spend an afternoon at Granville Island. Take the Sea Bus to North Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay. The Art Gallery. Take sky train out to New Westminster market. Take the Gondola up to the top of Grouse (or climb the Grouse grind if you are really fit). Lots of trails and climbs nearby.
Vancouver Victoria is done quickest by helicopter or float plane harbour to harbour. You can take a passenger ferry harbour to harbour as well. This is a new service so have never done it. The trip is very scenic but if the weather is bad a small ferry is NOT a good idea in good weather I would suggest this is worth doing rather than flying.
The car ferry is a four hour trip downtown to downtown (1:40 on the actual ferry). Very scenic but a bit hard to do if you are walking. Possible and inexpensive but long.
Bucharts Gardens is worth doing. Tourists everywhere but pretty spectacular. Walk the inner harbour, kayak the gorge, visit the museum, a round of golf, tea at the Empress. Go out to Willows Beach and Cattle Point for a walk. Dinner at Oak Bay marina. Really out of the way but dinner or lunch at Point no Point resort or Sooke Harbour House is something off the beaten path. Lunch at Blue’s Bayou on the water in Brentwood. Again lots of options for restaurants in Victoria depends on what you are looking for
Great diving in Vancouver and Victoria. Giant Pacific Octopus, wolf eels sea lions!
