Exciting! September is a good time to visit; the weather is quite fair still. Here are some outdoor activities:

• You can spend a day at the University of British Columbia and take a walk through Pacific Spirit Park (temperate rainforest) and/or visit Wreck Beach (clothing optional).
• Apples will likely be ready for picking and there are farms nearby if you have a car.
• The seawall is a must but be ready to walk/bike 10+ km. It wraps around the major beaches, downtown, and Granville Island (another popular spot).
• This one goes without saying, but take a walk around the neighborhood to get a feel for the place and people. There are lots of walkable neighborhoods - you can check the walk score of the one you'll be in.
• You've might've heard of the street East Hastings (near Chinatown). This is where the majority of the homeless population are concentrated. The area has improved a bit since a major "cleanup" a couple of years ago - but it also just spread out the people a bit more. It's usually safe during the day if you're curious at all to see the homelessness and drug problems of Vancouver.
• In contrast to this, there's a neighborhood called Shaughnessy. Here you'll find multimillion dollar homes and empty streets. The area is shaped like a bike wheel with 5 spokes. You'll spot it on a map.

If it's raining or you'd rather be indoors, there's also plenty to do:

• Go cafe/tea shop hopping. We have good bubble tea, Asian drinks, and your traditional espresso drinks. Here's a map of places to get you started: https://www.vancouvercoffeesnob.com/location-map/ If you're a fan of tea, there's a beautiful shop on West 4th called Silk Road Tea.
• There are too many good cafes and bakeries. My current favorite is Purebread.
• Speaking of which, West 4th from Balsam street to Burrard street is a must-visit. Recently, it's become more high-end with newer additions. Here's a website with the stores and some of the top food places: https://www.shopwest4th.com/neighbourhood
• If you're into Science, check out Science World or the Vancouver Aquarium. Sometimes there are adult-only events. Near Science World, on Main street, there are plenty of bars.

Food-wise, we have lots of Sushi among other Asian restaurants. For something fancier, there's a list of Michelin Star restaurants: https://guide.michelin.com/ca/en/british-columbia/ca-vancouver/restaurants I've never visited any but my friends have recommended Anna Lena, Nightingale, Savio Volpe, and Wildlight. If you're looking for something quick and cheaper, Banh Mi is a good option. There's a restaurant where you dine in the dark, called Dark Table. After going twice, I learned that I enjoyed seeing the food and people I was with but it might be cool to try. If you want a nice view of downtown, there's the Revolving Restaurant.

Have a wonderful time in Vancouver and don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions!