If you have recently moved to Vancouver and are coming up on your first winter there, or you are visiting friends or relatives in the city for a winter holiday celebration, you may be wondering what to expect.
While it will obviously be cold, how cold? And what is there to do? Do you have to stay bundled up inside? Or are there some outdoor winter activities to enjoy? Here is your full guide to what Vancouver is like in the winter:
Weather
While Vancouver does have a 4-season climate, based on its location, the weather in Vancouver is actually very mild compared to other Canadian cities. So while you may be expecting sub-zero temperatures in the winter, the average winter temperatures in Vancouver are actually in the low forties (fahrenheit).
This can be great for making plans outdoors, as well as for people traveling from a colder climate to enjoy the milder winter weather in Vancouver. However, the winters in Vancouver are very wet. While it only snows a few days out of there year, the majority of days from November through March have some type of precipitation in Vancouver, which can move your plans indoors.
Winter Activities: Outdoors
If you enjoy outdoor winter recreation, Vancouver winters are perfect for that. Within a 30 minute drive of the city, you can reach Grouse Mountain, Seymour Mountain, or Cypress Mountain for skiing. There are also several outdoor skating rinks set up throughout the city, for those who enjoy ice skating.
You can also visit the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, and with fewer tourists in the winter months, this could be a magical experience. If you like to hike, you might also like to take up snowshoeing in Vancouver in winter. You can enjoy being outdoors, even if there is snow on the ground. Snow tubing is another way to spend a nice winter day outside in Vancouver.
Winter Activities: Indoors
If you prefer to stay indoors during the winter, or there is some rain or snow on a day you planned an outdoor activity, there is still plenty of fun to be had in Vancouver in winter indoors! There are many indoor skating rinks throughout the city, so you can enjoy ice skating in a climate-controlled area. dizymail.
You can also participate in one of Canada’s favorite pastimes, and catch a hockey game. You can see the Vancouver Canucks play at the Rogers Arena.
If you love museums, wandering a museum in the winter is also a great way to spend a rainy Vancouver day. You can check out some of the city’s top museums, like Science World.
If you love food, you can also try a few new restaurants on wintery days in the city. You can even take a dedicated food tour of the city.
If all of these winter options sound great to you, you may be looking at homes for sale in Vancouver so you can enjoy this Winter Wonderland every single year.