This weekend is Father’s Day as well as the first day of summer, so we thought we would share some ideas on how to spend your day together in a distinctly Vancouver way! Whether your Pops is a backwoodsman, a beer aficionado, or someone who just likes to relax, this incredible city has so many options for great day plans with Dad.

Car Free Day on Main

Of Vancouver’s street parties, Car Free Day on Main is one of our favourites. Shops South of Broadway set up booths on the street, and there is live music. Car Free Day really has something fun for everyone to enjoy. With meat tastings, micro-breweries, and lots of shopping options, you can stroll around with Dad while enjoying this great street party.

BBQ at Spanish Banks

Break out the hibachi, buy some salmon, tasty drinks, and pack up a picnic for the beach! Spanish Banks has picnic tables, BBQ pits, white sand beaches, and spectacular views of Downtown Vancouver to enjoy while basking in the sun all day. This is great way to spend some quality time together as a family while enjoying the splendor of Vancouver’s natural beauty.  

Sea to Sky Gondola

Hike the Chief, then take the Gondola back down

If you’re up for something more challenging, the new Sea to Sky Gondola goes from the top of the famous ‘Chief’ cliff face in Squamish, down to the bottom of the mountain. The hike up the back of the Chief is rigorous, but well worth the effort to enjoy breath-taking views of Vancouver and the surrounding mountains. When you’ve had your fill of the views, you can simply hop on the Gondola, and be down the mountain in a matter of minutes. This would be a Father’s Day activity to remember.

Craft Beer Bike Tour

For the beer-loving Dad, Vancouver is chock full of amazing microbreweries taht offer tasting tours. For a family of adults, a bike tour of a few Vancouver microbreweries is a unique way to spend an afternoon, and gives you a great sense of Vancouver’s independent brewery culture. Set up as a beer tasting tour, the guides make sure to keep you safe and satisfied as you visit Main Street brewery, Bomber Brewing, and a mystery location. They offer lots of food, and do not permit the consumption of additional alcohol on the tour to make sure that you’re riding safely. You can also plan your own brewery bike tour! There are many many micro-breweries in Vancouver, but here are a few highlights from East Vancouver, Vancouver’s micro-brewery hub:

Powell St. Brewing

Parallel 49

33 Acres

Brassneck Brewery

Have a Happy Father’s Day everyone, and be sure to remember your sunscreen regardless of where you spend your Sunday.

School’s almost out for summer, and we know you’ve been distracted by all this sunny, summer weather we’ve been having in Vancouver. So we’ve compiled a westside short-list of all the fab day camps available.

1. PedalHeads have swimming lesson and bike day trip combination camps at Jericho Beach Park all summer long! This camp gets kids outside for fun in the sun, and they’ll learn the basics of cycling and swimming safety. Kids are taken on rides all over Vancouver with experienced guides who focus on safe, educational fun. For parents who are avid cyclists, your kids can learn the fundamentals of bike safety during the week so that you can enjoy time together on your weekends off! Great for kids ages 4-9.

2. UBC has an amazing assortment of adventure camps to choose from. Kids can be windsurfing one week, and Zip-lining the next week. These day camps are a great way to expose your kids to a variety of outdoor activities, and appeal to their inner adventurer. Designed for children of all ages, camps with individual themes run on a week long cycle. You can choose a combination of activities to offer your kids some variety in their summer fun.

3. Pear Tree Education offers full-day camps for kids with activities such as TV broadcasting workshops, educational beach trips for the budding marine biologist, and cooking camps for aspiring chefs. The variety will keep your kids engaged, and allow them to try many new things before the summer is out. Programs are available for kids 5-14.

4. Arts Umbrella are a fantastic organization who have been educating kids in the arts in Vancouver since 1979. They offer camps for visual artists, thespians, and writers, empowering your child to trust their creative impulses. Camps are taught by experienced artists from around Vancouver, and give kids a chance to learn through experimentation with their own creativity. Your burgeoning artist will come out of this camp inspired and full of imagination! There are programs available for youngsters 3-19 years of age.

(Photo: Pear Tree Education)

Falling supply and strong demand continue to push house prices to record price levels across the city.

On Vancouver's Westside we are definitely in a Seller’s Market as homes are selling at a record pace. Price levels and demand vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. The areas with the strongest demand and price increases appear to be in those areas connected to specific school catchments. Many of the homes being sold are receiving multiple offers and sale prices considerably over the asking price.

Virtually every home we have sold in 2015 has attracted multiple offers. For homeowners, these conditions are ideal when selling.  For the buyers however, it's a tough go. Many are going from home to home trying to figure out how they can win the bidding process.  We are now seeing seminars for buyers to teach the tools required.

We have been selling homes for 22 years on Vancouver's Westside. Whether you are looking to buy or sell we are always available to provide you with great information and advice. Call us today, 604-657-7936, we are here to help!