West Vancouver Vacation Rentals

West Vancouver is a central jumping-off point for easily exploring the North Shore and the city of Vancouver. Accommodations in "West Van" range from cozy bed and breakfasts to beach houses. Some vacation homes will welcome your pet, while others boast amenities such as balconies or terraces with Burrard Inlet views. They're often well equipped, with a fireplace, swimming pool, and laundry facilities. Your kids will love running around in the yard as you prepare dinner on your outdoor barbecue.

Finding West Vancouver's Hidden Cuisine Gems

Whatever type of food you’re craving, you’ll find it in West Vancouver. Opportunities for eating out here range from fine dining experiences to local coffee shops exuding West Coast flair. Dig into the delicious risotto at the Truffle House & Cafe, classic pasta at Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano, and Sicilian calamari at Trattoria Park Royal. You’ll find scrumptious seafood at the Salmon House and the Olive & Anchor.

The Teahouse in nearby Stanley Park is a popular choice for its sunset views and use of locally sourced ingredients. Dining outdoors at the Cactus Club is a quintessential West Vancouver restaurant experience, where specialties from renowned Chef Rob Feenie include flatbread with goat cheese, feta, and caramelized onions, and his signature Feenie Burger made with juicy certified Angus beef.

Visiting Heritage Properties Brings the Area's History Alive

West Vancouver's heritage properties include the charming Ferry Building Gallery along Burrard Inlet, the West Vancouver Art Museum in the historic Gertrude Lawson House, and the modern West Coast Sykes House known for its spiral helix roof and exposed beams. West Vancouver is also home to the 1941 Binning House and picturesque 1912 Point Atkinson Lighthouse.

West Vancouver currently displays more than 100 works throughout the municipality, where favourites include a colourful cedar-carved Haida-style totem pole and a smiling bronze statue of a Pacific harbour seal. Make sure to bring your camera!

Family Fun With Some Educational Opportunities

Your kids are sure to enjoy the skatepark, concession stand, and supervised swimming beach at popular Ambleside Park, while John Lawson Park is perfect for a family picnic. You can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from North Shore Kayaks, or grab a boat for a few hours from Sewell's Marina.

The Spoken Treasures Tour in Stanley Park, arranged by Talaysay Tours, offers an educational experience led by First Nations guides. Learn about Indigenous culture, including the story behind Stanley Park's world-famous totem poles.

Sharing a Brew with West Vancouver Locals

Once you’ve shopped ’til you dropped at Park Royal Shopping Centre, the first covered shopping mall in Canada, you can enjoy a brew at the classic Squarerigger Pub or soak up the laidback vibes and patio views at the Village Taphouse. Finch & Barley hosts live DJs most weekends, and there’s karaoke at Two Lions Public House. You’ll find a selection of craft beer at the Raven Pub and Sailor Hagar’s Brew Pub.

Explore the Outdoors Through Wildlife and Adventure Activities

West Vancouver offers a par-3 course at Ambleside and mountain views at the 9-hole Gleneagles golf course. There’s an ice rink with regular public skating sessions 9km from the trails at Lighthouse Park, or only 2km from the Capilano Pacific Trail. Sea Dragon Charters offers Howe Sound boat tours, kayaking, snorkelling, and amazingly clear Pacific Coast scuba diving.

West Vancouver is 1.5 hours from snowshoeing and skiing at Cypress Mountain. Seasonally, you can also take a day trip from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to Vancouver Island to watch humpback whales. The 137-metre-long Capilano Suspension bridge provides a stunning view of the Capilano River and Capilano Canyon from 70 metres above. The 11-hectare park is also home to Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walkway set along the sheer rock slopes – it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Fun Annual Events Showcasing the Area's Many Cultures

Bringing a mix of film, music, art, and literature, the Harmony Arts Festival takes place each August. Canada Day celebrations on July 1st offer kids activities and exciting fireworks displays. The multicultural Bridge Festival at the end of May includes performances, parades, and a variety of world cuisines. July brings Summer Family Fun Fest, where the Ride and Slide Play Zone is a favourite.

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