The sunny weather only lasts for a few months in Vancouver and I love staying in the city in the summer time. Instead of paying for a flight and hotel nights, splurge on a summer staycation in Vancouver and do activities that you might not normally do! I’ve done these staycation guides before for the holidays, but here’s my first edition for the summer time! I’m also GIVING AWAY two tickets to one of the activities so make sure you read through to the end!
Playland Nights
If the reason you are avoiding Playland is because of the kids, then you need to check out Playland Nights! For 6 Saturdays in the summer, Playland is open from 7pm until Midnight only for adults 19 and older! Not only will there be no screaming kids, the whole area will be licensed so you can enjoy beer, wine or cocktails EVERYWHERE! I went last year and had such a great time. If you go right at the start, there are no lines to any of the rides. Then, we took it slower and grabbed beers and popcorn while we strolled through the grounds. To add to the adult atmosphere, there is a guest DJ. You can buy your tickets online for $31 or at the door for $34. The last 2 remaining weekends are July 20th and 27th.
Diner en Blanc
One of the most glam and hard to get into events of Vancouver is the annual Dinner en Blanc. It’s just a one night experience but you’ll likely have to buy a new dress, picnic basket, chairs, tablecloths, and other one time use items. Since it’s such a splurge experience, I’ve included this as a summer staycation option! It’s held at a secret location that you only find out on the day of! But two years ago, it was held at the Concord Pacific Plaza near Rogers Arena. To get a sense of the event, you can watch this video featuring last year’s event! To register for a spot, follow this link! It costs $52 per person and it does not include dinner. It’s definitely a pricey event but if you’ve never been, you need to experience the magic!
YVR Observation Deck for the Fireworks
The annual Celebration of Lights fireworks shows are a big deal! The three nights bring huge crowds to downtown and people often set up camp on the beach for an entire day to get the best spots. To elevate your experience, why not splurge for tickets to the YVR Observation Deck. I had the chance of doing this last year and check out all the reasons why it’s worth it! My favorite parts are that you can drink in your seat, have your own bathroom, AND can show up 30 minutes before the fireworks and still get the best seats. This year, the shows are on July 28, August 1, and August 4th. The tickets are $49 and can be purchased online!
Activities on Top of Grouse Mountain
I’ve always gone to Grouse Mountain for the grouse grind. Although I’ll take a walk around the top, often I’ll just take the gondola down immediately. I couldn’t believe how many additional activities there are on top of the mountain! Some of the more extreme activities include Paragliding, ziplines, and helicopter tours! Being able to paraglide Vancouver would be such a special experience and perfect to splurge on for a summer staycation in Vancouver! It costs $199 and includes 10-20 minutes of actual gliding as well as 20 other minutes of instructions. For a more affordable special experience, I’d love to try the Skyride Surf Adventures. On top of the Gondola, there is a balcony type of space where you can stand in the open air! It costs an additional $25 on top of your normal gondola ticket but I think it would be so much cooler to be outside!
Stay at Douglas, Eat at Victor
One of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in Vancouver was for the Douglas and JW Marriott within the Parq complex. This entertainment center is the perfect place to go for an entire weekend of fun! I had the chance to stay at the Douglas and it was a very comfy stay with high end amenities. I’ve also tried both Honey Salt, Victor, BC Kitchen, and Mrkt East and my favorite is Victor! I found the menu there to be innovative and they had wonderful steak at a reasonable price! Between the Douglas and the Victor is also a beautiful rooftop garden where you can enjoy the sunshine! This is the most expensive option out of all the ideas but would be a very romantic weekend. It’ll probably even feel like a full on vacation!
I hope this gave you some ideas for staying in Vancouver this summer! I find that I usually splurge a little more when I’m on vacation but sometimes forget to do so in my own city. So why not play tourist and have a Summer Staycation in Vancouver!
Giveaway
I am giving away two tickets to the last Playland Nights this summer on July 27th! A winner will be selected on July 25th! Please enter through this rafflecopter form below. Good luck!