The Good and Bad of Vancouver in the fall

Those thinking about traveling to Vancouver usually think "summer, summer, summer."  Yes, summer is warm and my favorite time to visit Vancouver.  But Vancouver is one of those places where you can have a great time regardless of the weather.   The often-overlooked fall season is no exception.

Vancouver in the fall can be cool and damp, cold and damp or freezing and damp.  Did I mention Vancouver can be damp in the fall? The forecast for the next several days calls for either mostly cloudy or rainy weather with highs around 10°C and lows at 5°C (which is around 55°F down to around 37°F in fahrenheit).

Still, Vancouver in the fall has much more positives than negatives.

The good: 

• beautiful foliage
• less tourists
• more hockey
• outdoor activities, like hiking or biking in Stanley park, are more comfortable
• lots of indoor activities like museums (such as the UBC Museum of Anthropology) and shopping
• markets like Granville Island's offer a new set of culinary smells and tastes
• lots bargain prices for airfare, car rentals and hotels
• Dim sum in Chinatown is great all year round
• the beaches are usually empty

The bad:

• often chilly, rainy, cloudy, dreary
• cold at night
• too cold for the beach

Verdict:

• Compared to other destinations, Vancouver might just be the best choice for fall travel.