The Best Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

August long weekend indicates the arrival of summer’s last true month, reliably electrifying our seasonal bucket lists with a new jolt of urgency. The lazy days won’t last forever—it’s time to take advantage of summer’s glory before it flat-lines into fall (Nurse, more ice cream, stat). To help you make the most of this August Long, we suggest six ways to treat yourself extra nicely, and make summery memories to sustain you all winter long.

Dine Out

A post-work dinner out on the Friday of a long weekend is one of the better ways to transition into a celebratory state of mind—plus, trying out a new spot is always fun. We love Ancora for its waterfront glory (the patio is lovely and the inside is sun-streamed and crisp white) and its phenomenally refreshing Glacier, a seafood tower of sashimi, oysters, Peruvian-marinated mussels, and more, all heaping on chipped ice. For flash-fried zucchini blossoms and hand-rolled pasta, Kingsway’s charming Osteria Savio Volpe is a must, but for a fun, quick bite of witty contemporary cuisine, Latab is the place to be.

Drink Up

It’s said that people in Vancouver rarely invite each other over. Break the mold and host cocktail hour at yours, with inspiration taken from local celebrity bartender Lauren Mote’s tequila cocktails (the pineapple-spiked Latin Dahlia is a must-make).

Take In a Little Culture

Definitely carve out time to spend at the beach, but if you’re feeling burnt and sand-chaffed and in need of respite, the Museum of Vancouver is currently hosting a fascinating exhibit entitled All Together Now, which explores the private collections of Vancouverites—from Chinese food menus to glass eyes, vintage prosthetics to heirloom seeds. If you prefer to socialize while soaking up local culture, head to West Vancouver’s celebrated Harmony Arts Festival, where you can listen to live music, dine on the pier, watch movies under the stars, and (on August 4) catch a live reading by award-winning novelist Joseph Boyden. July 29–31 marks the official 2016 Pride Weekend, with a parade, a festival along Sunset Beach, and street parties celebrating equality and diversity throughout the weekend.

Sweet Treats

Long weekends call for ice cream, so try one of Vancouver’s five best spots for a scoop (Brown Paper Packages’ ice cream sandwiches are highly recommended). Or, sate your sweet tooth with a trip to Canada’s first Ladurée boutique, where dainties flown straight from Paris are available to go or as part of high tea. If you haven’t journeyed to East Van’s Beta5 chocolatiers, do so—they run ice cream social parties on Saturdays and make seasonal cream puffs to die for.

Explore B.C.

If a staying in the city isn’t in your cards, who could blame you? There are countless wonders to discover not too far from Vancouver proper—like these five luxury destinations. Craving an escape but don’t have anything planned? Pop over to Bowen Island for a day trip complete with a stop at Italian cashmere company Artigiani Milanesi, or even jump into the car for an impromptu road trip to the South Okanagan, where vineyards welcome walk-in tasters and cherry season is in full swing.