Staycations are a perfect getaway from the daily grind when you’re too busy with work to even bother packing.
The good news is that Vancouver is no short of hidden gems and leisure pursuits to enhance your inner soul. A staycation in Vancouver lets you look back into the city you reside in, recharge your energy and beat boredom without boarding the plane.
In this article, you’ll unveil 5 artsy accommodations and activities to pamper yourself and get new inspiration.
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1. Fairmont Pacific Rim
The idea of spending a few nights at a five-star hotel near where we live barely comes to mind. Most of the time, these top-notch hotels and resorts are catered to out-of-towners on a business trip or leisure travelers who are not on a shoestring. Therefore, we tend to overlook the benefits that an upscale hotel in town has to offer.
Vancouver is no short of high-end accommodation. However, our top pick goes to Fairmont Pacific Rim since it was amongst the world’s first hotels to receive the Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® by Forbes Travel Guide. This recognition comes in handy because safety and cleanliness should always be the first things you consider when picking a decent place to sleep in.
The wide range of entertainment events and health-related services are the next biggest hooks! Let’s say you have two weekend days to unwind and recharge! Instead of commuting further afield in a car, all you need to do is take a short walk to Fairmont, sunbathe at its sun-flooded pool and cabana, lounge back at the Oakridge patio and relax at the live acoustic at the lobby at night.
For fitness lovers, take your workout up a notch by attending an outdoor tent or boot camp class with a private instructor! For those getting caught up at work for the whole week, have your back cracked or loosen your tired muscles with a 90-minute Deep Tissue massage at Willow Stream Bar.
Other than this, bookaholics and art lovers cannot overlook the TASCHEN library! Do you want to make an exclusive appointment for an expert hands-on guide to pick your favorite book? Spend a whole lazy afternoon by a sunny window and follow King Tut on His Journey into the Underworld through the white smooth offset pages!
One of the coolest events we just discovered at Fairmont Pacific Rim is Jazz Wednesdays at the Lobby Lounge. Every Wednesday from 18:00 to 22:00, reserve a seat at the Lobby Lounge to sway with your favorite artists while munching on tasty light bites.
P.S. don’t forget a trip to Botanist downstairs! Whether it is for brunch or for a stellar cocktail.
Address: 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9.
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2. Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Just a two-minute walk away down the street of W. Cordova, Fairmont Waterfront Hotel is the next top call for your Vancouver staycation. Many of you are knocked sideways by a busy schedule and idle planes grounded within closed borders.
However, the good news is that SKY Is the Limit now teams up with Fairmont Waterfront Hotel to get you back in the air again! In-house guests can check-in at the hotel for an hour-long flight with a SKY helicopter.
This is a private charter flight soaring above the beautiful backcountry of British Columbia to satisfy the travel pampering you crave. Book a deluxe room with a harbor view or a sunny patio where you can work by an incredible view at a laptop-friendly workplace!
Now those in the mood for picking up the untold stories from the First Nation, sign up for one of the Talaysay Tours with the hotel! You’ll follow a local Indigenous guide and cultural ambassador around Stanley Park. It’s a perfect chance for culture-vultures who wish to upgrade their knowledge about the history and lore of the land you’re growing up in.
At the end of the day, we all dream of a lazy evening soaking in a heated pool, unwind with a spa treatment or energize ourselves on a treadmill. Check out Fairmont Waterfront Hotel’s Health Club and claim your spot in advance!
Address: 900 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5.
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3. O Canada House Bed & Breakfast
If the modern touches of a fancy hotel are not what you’re looking for, then why not rest your back and sip on some tea in a Victorian setting? O Canada House Bed & Breakfast is one of our favorite places in the heart of Vancouver to give you a fresh point of view.
Spending a day or two living like a real Victorian is a unique way to freshen up your staycation in Vancouver! This boutique manor is tucked behind a thriving steel gate on a busy street of Barclay. While you can still keep up with the happenings in this shopping and entertainment neighborhood, the noise and bustle are completely canceled once you step into this historical building.
O Canada House Bed & Breakfast won the prestigious “City of Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour” award. This B&B adds a lot of history to your stay. Spend the sunny afternoon in the soothing back garden. Keep up with the host while listening to the story of Ewing Buchan and his first English versions of Canada’s National Anthem in the early 20th century.
Aside from the stories of the old days, what impressed us is the enchanting vintage furnishings and décor. However, there’s no shortage of modern day’s comfort. Everything you experience at this classic property is hotel-standard. We love the way there’s a shared kitchen where you can cook up your dinner while munching on some homemade biscuits and cakes!
Address: 1114 Barclay Street, Vancouver, Canada V6E 1H1.
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4. West End Guest House
Another heritage coming to life around the same era with O Canada House is West End Guest House. West End is a meticulous suite with a lovely balance between traditional furnishings and modern amenities.
The house has its torch on the shared lounge deeply soaked in the classic Parisian style. There are seven bedrooms to choose from. Each of them is named separately and promotes an exceptional style.
Every morning, your gourmet breakfast is waiting to give you a fresh start by changing the menu day by day. West End is a perfect reminiscence of a little Paris. As you wake up in the morning and roll up the curtain, the mild sunlight is flushed into your room through the glass window and spacious balcony. Each room has a stunning view opening out to the lush garden on the outside.
West End is truly the cream of the crop if you’re seeking a quaint and peaceful getaway for a short staycation in Vancouver!
Address: 1362 Haro St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1G2.
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5. Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Speaking of heritage hotels and accommodations, Rosewood Hotel Georgia should not be overlooked! Unlike the modern Fairmont chain in Vancouver, Rosewood Hotel Georgia has a deep touch of history due to a long-standing establishment since the 1920s.
If the Fairmont is all about luxurious and high-end amenities, Rosewood Georgia brings you back to the glories of the grandeur 20th century. Every corner of the interior is meticulously curated to respect the history of the buildings.
Out of all the finest hotels in Vancouver, Rosewood Georgia takes the lead as our favorite boutique hotel when it comes to dining out. Its awarded patio, Lounging at Reflections: The Garden Terrace is a sweet mashup of fine dining and outdoor serenity. Enjoy this vibrant energy with a plate of pan-seared black cod and a sip of De Casta Rosado!
A short four-minute walk down the street of W. Georgia from Rosewood Hotel Georgia is TELUS Garden. Pop into its lobby around noontime on Monday to enjoy emerging artists leaving their souls wandering on the keys. The Fazioli piano itself is a timeless masterpiece with its Douglas Fir wood finish giving a nod to the natural design element of the TELUS building.
Address: 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7.
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More Accommodations in Vancouver
5 Coolest Things to Do in Vancouver to Inspire Your Wanderlust
1. Dine out at The Wicklow
Take your significant other on a date night and head out to The Wicklow to enjoy an authentic Irish experience in Vancouver! Opening out to an exceptional angle of the harbor, Wicklow pub offers an exciting view of the Science World museum through an airy patio.
Choose from an extensive menu of comfort food to pair with some strawberry beer on tap. There’s nothing better than some Mexi-fries or chickpea fritters and pulled pork poutine in the mild weather of autumn!
Address: 610 Stamps Landing, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3Z1.
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2. Climb the Secret Cambie Tree
Tucked away amongst the century-old trees somewhere in Cambie Corridor, the Cambie secret climbing tree has been taking the locals by storm. Sneaking through the threshold of its branches to the top for a rewarding view over a quiet residential area is a great chance to work your core and hang out.
However, the most fun part for us is the journey of finding the exact tree itself. The status and location of the tree are kept secret by beholden locals who have a big love and care for nature.
Climbing the Cambie tree suits all fitness levels since the solid branches sit close-knit with one another to give you an easy climb. The impressive vista over the Vancouver skyline and the distant North Shore Mountains are waiting at the end of your journey!
3. Put Your Tarp Down for a Picnic at Crab Park
Sandwiched between a concrete jungle and a busy working port, Crab Park is more on a lesser-known side when it comes to Vancouver’s best natural parks. Running from a grassy knoll to a little pier perched out into Burrard Inlet, Crab Park is a quiet outdoor recreational area to take your pooch out for a walk or throw a picnic with friends.
You can also take your kids out on the playground, watch them play on the swings while enjoying the busy actions on the port. Once in a while, seaplanes and helicopters land and take off, giving the waterfront a vibrant scene to beat loneliness on a staycation.
Address: 101 E Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A 4K3.
4. Ride the Aquabus to False Creek
Staycation in Vancouver doesn’t get you halted at dining out or sleeping in! We want you to get a day pass ticket with Aquabus and ride this colorful vessel to re-explore the thriving beauty of False Creek!
The benefit of a day pass lets you enjoy unlimited travel with Aquabus within a day. The boat is accessible for wheelchair and bike, allowing you to enjoy the little voyage with friends and family without any hassle. Save one day for outdoor leisure, grab lunch on Granville Island and snap some shots of the sea lions to inspire your staycation!
Address: 230 – 1333 Johnston Street, Vancouver.
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5. Hike the Prospect Point Trail
Getting tired of the repetitiveness and meaningless motion on the treadmills at the gym? Then why not get on a hike, reconnect with nature and work your core with a scenic view!
Prospect Point Trail is one of the top hikes in Vancouver since it fits all fitness levels with an average elevation gain of around 60 meters. You can enter the hike from any gateway around Stanley Park.
Each of the paths on the trail has a scenic beauty on its own and all of them take you to a spectacular vantage point at the end of the trail – the Prospect Point Lookout. This is one of our favorite places when it comes to Vancouver’s most beautiful viewpoints. This fence-enclosed lookout blows you away with a majestic view over the Lions Gate Bridge jutting out from the green forest.
Address: 5601 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2.
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That’s a wrap for our planning guide to Vancouver staycation ideas! The best thing about a staycation is that you can always plan it out every week without stressful packing or paying for expensive tickets. If you’re looking for more ideas to spice up your staycation, consult our top ten hidden gems in Vancouver to inspire your next getaway!