If you've never been to Vancouver, it should be on your radar. The beautiful Canadian city is filled with gorgeous marinas, luxury shopping destinations, fine dining to rival the best foodie destinations, cultural attractions, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
With the most diverse population in Canada and relatively mild weather, the city has immense appeal. Pacific Northwest neighbors in the Seattle area should consider driving up to Vancouver for a weekend, but be mindful of the possibility of running into traffic jams that could take the excitement out of your trip. A short flight from Sea-Tac airport is likely a better option.
Vancouver has hosted many international events and conferences over the years, and as the city prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there's little doubt that upgrades and new developments are being built at a feverish pace.
While we have little interest in soccer fields and other similar facilities that may be related to the tournament (not that we have anything against soccer), one development that hasn't escaped our attention is Oakridge Park.
But before going into more detail about why you should be excited about Oakridge Park, a little more on what Vancouver offers visitors today. First of all, anyone who enjoys cruising in a yacht will appreciate the numerous marinas in the city along False Creek (interesting name) and the Vancouver Harbour. If you're like me and the sight of water and yachts leaves you smiling like you just closed a million-dollar deal, Vancouver is the city for you.
Anyone familiar with Miami will easily draw parallels between this part of Vancouver and the Magic City's Biscayne Bay between South Beach and the Brickell area. However, don't expect year-round tropical weather. That's one advantage Miami has over Vancouver.
On the other hand, you'll have a hard time finding a school of orcas swimming by anywhere in the Miami area. The BC area in general has many spots for whale watching, but you need to be mindful of the best period for this activity (May to October).
While you're by the water, be sure to visit Granville Island and its famous public market, and landmarks like Science World, the Museum of Vancouver, and the iconic Canada Place convention center and ferry terminal.
When it's time for luxury shopping, options include the 'Luxury Zone' on Alberni Street, where you'll find boutiques of brands like Jimmy Choo, JLC, Tiffany & Co, Balenciaga, and Prada. Another location for luxury retail therapy is interior design and luxury goods specialist 'Secret Location' in Gastown. It perfectly complements the historic charm of the city's oldest neighborhood.
On the culinary front, you have great options like Alouette Bistro for delightful French cuisine with a BC twist or Blue Water Cafe for fresh seafood. To make things more interesting, you have new entrants, Dine Tai Fung, Saijo Kushiyaki & Handroll, and Italian restaurant Folietta coming to town.
For something more in tune with nature, the 1,000-acre Stanley Park offers a train ride through its forest. Walking along the waterfront is a popular activity at the park, but if you're in no mood to burn calories, horse-drawn carriages are available too.
Queen Elizabeth Park is another green space worth exploring. The park's arboretum, with 1,500 exotic trees is the main draw, but if you're a bird lover, don't skip the Bloedel Conservatory, where you'll find over 100 exotic birds and tropical plants in three climate zones. If you're traveling with children, you'll all enjoy the Dancing Waters fountain next to the conservatory.
.webp)
The park is within walking distance of Oakridge Park, Vancouver's new multipurpose urban development. Oakridge Park will include luxury residences, world-class shopping, and what is shaping up to be award-winning outdoor spaces.
While all that sounds exciting, what's likely to catch the attention of tourists more than anything else is the long list of global luxury brands set to open boutiques at the development.
These include jewelry heavyweights Tiffany & Co and Bulgari, haute horology bigwig Rolex, and LVMH fashion brand Louis Vuitton, just to name a few. In summary, 300 luxury brands will be represented at the new development's 650,000 square feet retail space when it opens in the Fall of 2025.
There's also an effort to promote music. The facility will have six live music venues (both indoor & outdoor) to illustrate the builder's belief that music goes further than entertainment and contributes to wellness. The facilities are expected to rival what you'll find in top cultural centers in the world.
If you’re familiar with the city of Montreal, you may have been to (or heard of) the Time Out Market. It’s a culinary space featuring famous local chefs, restaurateurs, mixology experts, and retail stores. Oakridge Park will host the second Time Out Market in Canada. It will occupy 51,000 sq ft of space in the development, and like its Montreal sibling, it will feature the city’s best culinary and cultural experiences. With the variety of eateries featuring cuisine was different countries, the market will highlight Vancouver's status as one of the most multicultural cities on the planet.
Property developers Westbank & QuadReal envision making Oakridge Park Vancouver's new cultural hub, emphasizing delightful food, music, fashion, and inspiring green spaces while being laser-focused on sustainability.
The sustainability effort is evident in the heat recovery system and the low-carbon electric boilers that help the development produce 72% less Greenhouse Gas emissions than a similar project using conventional methods.
If you're looking for a city for a second home, Vancouver should be considered, and you may want to talk to your realtor about Oakridge Park. We'll have more on this exciting development closer to its opening date.
