Fall activities in Vancouver – 5 things you should do

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My British friends will likely mock me mercilessly for using the word fall instead of autumn, but that’s OK. Having lived in Canada for the best part of 10 years, it’s a 50/50 chance which word is going to come out of my mouth when I talk about my favorite season. Plus there are way more puns when using “fall”, which is worth it alone. There are lots of fall activities in Vancouver I love to do. Fall, autumn, whatever you want to call it, it’s my favorite time of year.

Winter usually has a little snowfall here in Vancouver, but mostly just means cold, rainy, dark days. When we do get snow, the severely uncoordinated part of me just prays I don’t fall down too much. Spring, with all the beautiful flowers and the start of the longer days after that cold winter? It’s pretty nice, I’m not going to lie. And who doesn’t love summer with it’s long days and great weather? Endless options for outdoor activities. But for me, fall is the best. While Vancouver doesn’t get the showy splendor of autumnal colors that you would see in Eastern Canada, it’s still pretty spectacular. I’m going to share a few things I like to do in Vancouver during the season to help you fall for Autumn. I swear that’s the only one!

Visit a pumpkin patch

I don’t know if it was just that there were no pumpkin patches where I grew up, but I really didn’t know they were a thing until I moved to Canada. In the UK we didn’t really have pumpkins around Hallowe’en until recent years. They were always pretty expensive, and I remember my poor dad hollowing out a turnip as a poor man’s jack-o’-lantern. The only pumpkin patch I knew about was the one in the Peanuts comics that Charlie Brown went to in search of the Great Pumpkin.

But the pumpkin patch is real, and it’s a fun activity. There are a couple just outside of Vancouver which are easy to get to if you have a car. We always go to Country Farms in Richmond. My friends took me there for the first time the year I got here and now it’s our October tradition. They still recount every year the childlike look of glee on my face when I first saw the field with pumpkins as far as the eye can see.

We take the tractor ride to the field, with someone playing a banjo or a fiddle. Wandering around the muddy field, I usually over-analyze every pumpkin to decide if it’s “the one”. Then just select your pumpkin and off you go. The day ends with some mini donuts, hot chocolate, and a visit to the farm shop to stock up on fall veggies. Then we go home to carve our designs while watching scary movies. It’s messy but fun, and only once has one of us smashed a pumpkin in anger over messing up the design. You know who you are!

Spend time in Stanley Park

Stanley Park is beautiful at any time of year. There’s so much to do here other than just walking around, but that’s a good start when the all colors are out. You can walk around the seawall in Stanley Park and it’ll take you about an hour and a half to two hours. At this time of year the colors of the leaves are fantastic.

Even on a day when it’s kind of raining a bit (true Vancouver style) you’ll still have an amazing time in this park. There are a lot of view points as you stroll around the seawall, and plenty of trails within the park that can get you lost for hours.

Even if you don’t feel like walking, you can rent a bike like I do and get around the seawall in less than an hour. Again, lots of places to stop along the way and get some great photos. You can even rent a bike if you don’t have your own. I use the Mobi bike share program. Of all the fall activities in Vancouver, spending the day in Stanley Park is one of the best.

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont hotel Vancouver

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Since starting my job in travel I’ve become a bit of a hotel snob. My friends and family will tell you that where I used to love a good hostel, I now feel at home in the nice hotels. I mean I get good discounts in the travel industry so why wouldn’t I? But my favourite hotel chain is the Fairmont. They have some of the most historic, beautiful properties in Canada including the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver here in my own city.

Afternoon tea, although a very British tradition, has started to take off in Canada. Especially in the older, more traditional hotels or the more expensive ones. The Fairmont in Vancouver takes it one step further and has themed afternoon tea! In the past I have seen a “Games” afternoon tea. It featuring “Go Fish” sandwiches, a “Chess-nut” tart and a battenburg cake resembling a checkers board. There was a Brothers Grimm fairytales themed afternoon and a Canada 150 themed one. The one I went to was a Mad Hatter’s tea party.

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Although not cheap, it’s one of the most fun fall activities in Vancouver, perfect for the colder months. It takes place in the private dining room of the Notch 8 restaurant which has antique looking furniture. The Alice In Wonderland-inspired afternoon tea itself was delightful and used the theme well. There were mini bagel sandwiches, playing card cookies, giant flower chocolate lollipops and cake-pops. Not to mention the amazing freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam. Fitting with the theme at the end we were given a “shrinking potion” saying DRINK ME:

Get tickets to see the Vancouver Canucks

While the Sedins may no longer be playing for Vancouver, there are still plenty of Canucks to cheer for. Being a Vancouver Canucks fan is not always easy, but I always have fun going to the games. It’s a great atmosphere and seeing a live sporting event is always way more fun than watching it on TV. Rogers arena, where the Canucks play, is downtown so I usually walk there.

Tickets aren’t always the cheapest, but depending on the game I’ve gotten a ticket for about $50 in the upper bowl. I try to go to at least one game a season. An evening of hockey is great for the colder fall evenings. Plus it’s Canada, so if you’re visiting you really do have to go see the nation’s favourite sport while you’re here. At $8 a beer though, you probably want to go somewhere for drinks and dinner before you arrive.

Visit a Vancouver Farmers market

Vancouver is big on it’s farmers markets, which mostly start in May. By the time you get to fall there are lots of colourful pumpkins, squash, and other local produce. Usually the markets have local food vendors and bakeries too, as well as locally made crafts. I like the West End market on Saturdays, but all the different markets are listed on the website here.  
Most markets run until the end of October, but there are some winter ones too like the one at Nat Bailey stadium just out of downtown.

Then there’s Granville Island which is open year round. If you’re looking for some great food and local crafts that’s the place to go. Personally my favorite is Steveston farmers market. A little further out of Vancouver but it’s a cute little fishing village and a nice way to spend the day. The market in the summer is great but there’s also a slightly smaller winter market (indoors) during the winter. It’s located in the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.

The best fall activities in Vancouver

Whatever time of year you decide to come to Vancouver I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time. The city is beautiful in the snow, wind, rain or sunshine. But our fall season is where we shine. While the rest of Canada is gearing up for the first bit of snow, Vancouver is still enjoying outdoor markets, bike rides through the city, and outdoor events. Every year I add new fall activities to my list of fun things to do in Vancouver and I’m already looking forward to finding some new ones.

If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, leave a comment or share using the social media links below. What’s your favorite fall activity? Have you visited Vancouver at this time of year?

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