You are new in town and want to have a special night out with the one you love. But where can you go? There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from, but the ones I am mentioning here tend to have a spectacular view of some kind and will take you to the main parks in town. Since couples are so different, I am going to divide this list into three parts: restaurants, outdoor activities and indoor activities.

Restaurants:

a. Seasons in the Park – Restaurant in Van Dusen Gardens by 33rd & Cambie. Late Spring or Summer is the best time to go: https://www.vancouverdine.com/seasoi

b. Teahouse in Stanley Park – Dine between the ocean and Stanley Park in the conservatory, the drawing room, the tea room or outside in the gardens: https://www.vancouverdine.com/teahouse/

c. The Sandbar – Enjoy fresh seafood and traditional fare while enjoying a view of the ocean: https://www.vancouverdine.com/sandbar/

d. Carderos – Incredible waterfront dining, fresh seafood, tasty wok dishes. on the Coal Harbour Quay: https://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/

e. Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant – Stunning Continental award-winning fine dining
at 553 feet (167m) with an unobstructed panoramic, one-of-a-kind view of Vancouver, the coastal mountains and the ocean: https://www.topofvancouver.com/

Outdoor Activities:

a. Riding a bike in Stanley Park – Cycling in Vancouver is a popular past-time. When the sun comes out, so do cyclists and that’s especially true in Stanley Park. This is one of the safer places to cycle in thanks to a vast network of cycle paths. The seawall is a 28km pedestrian and bike-only path that goes from Canada Place to the far-side of the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Pacific Spirit Park. Suitable for all skill levels – https://cyclevancouver.com/

b. Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours – If you’re tired of cycling, step aboard one of the horse-drawn vehicles and meander in comfort through the natural beauty of Stanley Park, Vancouver’s thousand acre wonderland. The tour highlights Deadman’s Island, Vancouver’s Harbour, Lions Gate Bridge, a Coastal Red Cedar Forest, and more. Carriages are protected from the rain and lap blankets are available when required: https://www.stanleypark.com/Schedules%20&%20Rates_Group%20Rates.html

c. Grouse Grind (only available between May and September) – The Grouse Grind® is a 2.5-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, commonly referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”. If you are hiking up the Grouse Grind, purchase a Download Ticket for your Skyride trip down the mountain. Downhill hiking is not permitted. Since it is a date, you can try out some of the restaurants while you are there: https://www.grousemountain.com/grousegrind

d. Greenheart Treewalk – Located in the heart of UBC Botanical Garden, the 310 metre-long tree top canopy walkway hangs from huge Douglas firs, cedars and grand firs, many of which are over 100 years old. Reaching a height of nearly 20 metres above the forest floor, the walkway will give you a bird’s eye view of Vancouver’s magnificent coastal temperate rainforest. The Greenheart TreeWalk is a canopy walkway, an aerial trail system that allows people to journey through the upper parts of the forest. Its structure enables visitors to explore the flora and fauna that thrives in this lofty environment.: https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/visit/greenheart-treewalk/

e. Queen Elizabeth Park – There is a gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, an arboretum with its collection of exotic and native trees, sculptures, and diverse recreational offerings such as tennis, lawn bowling and pitch & putt. Bloedel Conservatory is a domed lush paradise located in Queen Elizabeth Park atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. More than 100 exotic birds, and 500 exotic plants and flowers thrive within its temperature-controlled environment. https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/bloedel-conservatory.aspx

Indoor Activities

a. Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver – Modern multiplex cinema chain screening the latest Hollywood films, plus new independent releases. Get popcorn, coffee, ice-cream and burgers: https://www.cineplex.com/theatre/scotiabank-theatre-vancouver

b. Rollerskating – Make arrangements with your date, and dress to impress. Hit the selfie station, groove to our DJs’ magic, and skate the night away with us at Rollerland, our incredible 20,000 square foot rollerskate palace! FREE rental rollerskates are included with every ticket, or bring your own. (Sizes kids 10 to adult men’s 14): https://www.pne.ca/event/rollerskating-all-ages/2023-04-08/

c. The Hive Climbing Gym – It can be difficult to find someone to be your belay partner, especially if you are new to rope climbing, and your date has never had a chance to learn yet either. To help connect find someone, Hive Heights will be hosting Belay Buddy nights on Fridays! This event is meant to help you start platonic belaytionships with other climbers. To participate, you can book a climbing session at Heights on a Friday night between 6:00PM-9:00PM. Indoor climbing is a great way to learn more about yourself or your partner: https://hiveclimbing.com/

d. Hillcrest Swimming Pool – Hillcrest Aquatic Centre – located near Queen Elizabeth Park – has both an indoor and outdoor pool. It is our largest aquatic facility and is part of Hillcrest Centre, a legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/hillcrest-aquatic-centre.aspx

e. Cafe au Clay Pottery Studio – For beginner classes and workshops, you’ll get all the materials you need to make a finished product. For other more advanced classes, you will need to provide your own clay and tools because everyone has different preferences. We’ll let you know in the workshop or class description: https://cafeauclay.com/