We recommend this book for its section on Vancouver, which is also a great starting point for an Alaskan cruise: Fodor's The Complete Guide to Alaska Cruises (Full-color)

Foods

• Miku Vancouver
  Considered one of the top sushi destinations in the world, Miku is delicious and has a great atmosphere. It’s also helpful that our USD goes further so the food isn’t as expensive. James enjoyed the 42CAD sampler plate with a variety of sushi to try. Located right beside the cruise ship terminal.

• Cactus Club
  Cactus Club Cafe is a chain of popular premium-casual dining restaurants with multiple locations, including one near Canada Place (and the Olympic cauldron). James found the chicken sandwich absolutely delicious! 

• Tap & Barrel
  A chain of large pub-style restaurants, with a location near the Convention Centre / Canada Place with some great water views of Coal Harbour. Enjoyed this food, too. 

Sights

Stanley Park

A 1,000-acre wilderness park, only blocks from the downtown section of a major city, is a rare treasure. Vancouverites use it, protect it, and love it with such zeal that when it was proposed that the 120-year-old Hollow Tree be axed because of safety concerns, citizens al-lied, raised funds, and literally engineered its salvation.

Stanley Park is, perhaps, the single most prized possession of Vancouverites, who make use of it fervently to cycle, walk, jog, Rollerblade, play cricket and tennis, and enjoy outdoor art shows and theater performances alongside attractions such as the renowned aquarium.

When a storm swept across the park's shores in December 2006, it destroyed close to 10,000 trees as well as parts of the perimeter seawall. Locals contributed thousands of dollars to the cleanup and replanting effort in addition to the monies set aside by local authorities. The storm's silver lining was that it cleared some deadwood areas, making room for the reintroduction of many of the park's original species of trees.

See more about the totem poles in the park.

Stanley Park Seawall

Vancouver's seawall path inducts a 9 km (5½-mile) paved shoreline section within Stanley Park. It’s one of several car-free zones in the park and it is popular with walkers and cyclists. 

Gastown Steam Clock

An underground steam system, which also heats many local buildings, supplies the world’s first steam clock – possibly Vancouver's most photographed attraction. On the quarter hour, a steam whistle rings out the Westminster chimes, and on the hour a huge cloud of steam spews from the apparatus.  The ingenious design, based on an 1875 mechanism, was built in 1977 by Ray Saunders of Landmark Clocks to commemorate the community effort that saved Gastown from demolition. Fun fact: yes, the clock does use steam power, but three electric motors help it run, too.

• The shops around here are great for souvenirs. 

• Looking for a T-shirt? Check the label to find ones made in Canada. 

Vancouver 2010 Olympics Cauldron

During Vancouver’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2010 there were two Olympic torch cauldrons in the city, including this one by the Convention Centre. It looked epic when lit for the Games. 

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Swaying 230 feet above the Capilano River, the bridge is Vancouver’s oldest continuously running attraction and the quintessential rainforest experience. Cross the very sturdy bridge to explore canopy walkways through and above the forest floor as well as easy trails with informative signs referencing the region’s ecology and habitat.  Although it’s located halfway up Grouse Mountain, the bridge is easily accessible: a free shuttle runs every half-hour from Canada Place, making the 20-minute trip there very doable. (Watch James' Instagram Reel)

More tips can be found on vancouversbestplaces.com.