Downtown Vancouver gives you glimpses of the vast waterways, lush forests, and dramatic mountains. Don't resist the urge to go and explore. Start with Vancouver’s Seawall or rush straight to the challenging climbs of Grouse Grind. The Destination Vancouver website provides you with a useful list of hiking ideas like Capilano Canyon, Pacific Spirit Park, Stawamus Chief, and Lighthouse Park. You can also join any of the well-reviewed hiking tours that take care of transportation and meals.

Strandpromenaden is a promenade that was built in 1912. Ever since, it's been a popular walking area for both visitors and locals. Regardless of the weather, people can be seen walking from Kallbadhuset, in the north, all the way to Apelviken in the south. The promenade also welcomes joggers and cyclists looking to enjoy the fresh sea air. After a stroll or a sporting activity, visitors have the option to relax on the beach or indulge in coffee and snacks at a nearby café.

The Fremont Street Experience is a highly successful attempt to draw the millions of visitors back to the downtown area. The domed-canopy 90 feet (27,5 meters) above the street was constructed along five city blocks, lined with some of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas. Every evening from sundown to midnight, the canopy becomes a giant screen showing high resolution images accompanied by concert-quality sound. At the top of each hour, visitors pour into the streets, looking skyward in anticipation of one of the six different shows lasting six to nine minutes.

An easy 2-hour trail beginning in La Islita and exploring the tunnels and gorges of Bornos dam, this path is known as the "Angostura", bordering the valleys and lake.