I was fortunately to spend three years of my mid-20s living in beautiful Vancouver, BC! It was definitely an adventure and I have many takeaways on what makes this city so incredible. Check out these top 5 reasons to visit or move to Vancouver, BC.

#1 – The Outdoors

Even if you are not a stereotypical “outdoorsy” person, I promise you will slowly adapt to liking (if not loving) the nature and beauty of this city and find many ways to take advantage of it. Everyone is the city appears to be ready to go on a hike at the drop of a hat, as athleisure wear still seems to be the city uniform. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise as Vancouver is the birthplace of Lululemon! If you move to Vancouver, enjoying the outdoors can be as extreme as summiting a mountain or as casual as happy hour outside on a patio.

Some of my favorite Vancouver outdoor activities:

• The Grouse Grind
• Paddleboarding – If you like paddleboarding, check out the 5 Best Places to SUP in Vancouver, BC
• Walk the seawall
• Ski one of the three local mountains

#2 – The Diversity

Another reason to visit or move to Vancouver is the diversity. You will meet people from all walks of life here. There is a large community of expats. The diversity is even evident depending on the neighborhood. For instance, Chinatown is a booming community constantly holding various events to celebrate the Chinese and Asian community in the city. Don’t miss their incredible parade for Chinese New Year each year! Fun fact: Vancouver has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world!

#3 – The Food Scene

The food in Vancouver is…out of this world. I suppose the better phrase is Vancouver food is from around the wold. If you visit or move to Vancouver, be prepared to have a very happy and full stomach. As mentioned above, Vancouver is very diverse. As a result, the food scene is magnificent. Expect plenty of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, (you get the point) cuisine options.

Check out the 10 Best Restaurants in Gastown. This list alone gives such a great impression on how diverse the food options are – and this is just one, small neighborhood!

#4 – Unique Neighborhoods

I love how unique the neighborhoods in Vancouver are. When you visit Vancouver, you will immediately experience how simply walking a couple blocks will give a change of scenery and vibes. For instance, feel like you’re going back in time by walking the cobblestone streets of the Gastown neighborhood or feel posh walking down the large brick buildings lining the main streets in Yaletown (which were formerly enormous Warehouses).

Interested in a breakdown of the different neighborhoods? Check out My Honest Guide to Vancouver, BC Neighborhoods.

#5 – Accessibility

The downtown core of Vancouver is extremely walkable. Walking from the West End (the most western neighborhood bordering Stanley Park) to Gastown (central Vancouver’s eastern neighborhood) only takes 30-40 minutes. The seawall, a walking and biking path, provides access along the border of the city on the water.

If you want to explore outside of the downtown core and into nearby cities such as Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, etc. then it may be best to take the Skytrain. The Skytrain is essentially Vancouver’s above-ground metra. Click here for more information on the Skytrain schedule and routes.

Check out more Vancouver-related content here:

• How to Find Your Dream Apartment to Rent in Vancouver, BC
• 10 Best Restaurants in Gastown, Vancouver
• 10 Best Restaurants in Yaletown, Vancouver