Vancouver in 5 days

Summer is the only season when the Sea-to-Sky lakes are reliably snow-free and the ferry deck is a pleasure. May, June and October are quieter and still good for the city days, but check trail conditions before counting on day 4.

Downtown or the West End puts the seawall, Gastown, the aquarium and the SeaBus within walking distance. The Canada Line from the airport lands you there in about 25 minutes, and you can skip a car until day 4.

The West End is the best mix of quiet streets and seawall access. Coal Harbour is closest to the SeaBus and floatplane terminal for the North Shore and Victoria days. Yaletown is handy for False Creek and Granville Island. If you add a night, Victoria’s Inner Harbour or Whistler Village make natural sixth-day bases.

The hardest things to get are the BC Parks day-use passes for Joffre Lakes and Garibaldi, released only a couple of days ahead, and summer ferry reservations for drivers. Sort those before anything else, then book the paid attractions.

Lynn Canyon Park has a free suspension bridge in real rainforest; Capilano is bigger, more polished and paid. Many visitors do one, not both. The seawall, the beaches, Granville Island’s market and Quarry Rock cost nothing at all.

The Grouse Grind is steep and relentless and not a family hike. With children, ride the Grouse Mountain Skyride instead, or spend the North Shore day at Lynn Canyon. The aquarium and the False Creek mini-ferries are reliable wins.

The Sea-to-Sky day is only as good as the view. Check the forecast on day 1 and move it to the clearest day of the week; the city days work fine in the rain.

Granville Island Public Market is the easiest good lunch in the city, and Chinatown and Gastown have a deep bench of places for dinner. For day trips, pack food: options at trailheads are limited.