The first summer farmers' market in Vancouver happened this weekend, bolstered by summer-like temperatures and blue skies. The Trout Lake Farmers' Market is close to Commercial Drive and Trout Lake Beach, but becomes its own attraction for the weekly gathering of farmers, local producers, and craftspeople.

If you're heading to a farmers' market, try to arrive on-foot, by bicycle, or on transit as there is generally little parking in the market neighborhoods.

Farmers' markets are one of the varied shopping markets in the city, which range from public markets that are open daily to night markets in Richmond and holiday craft markets.

Start Dates for Local Farmers' Markets

• Lonsdale Quay: Saturdays, started May 5
  Where: 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
• Ambleside: Sundays, started May 6
  Where: On Bellevue Avenue between 13th and 14th streets, West Vancouver
• Trout Lake: Saturdays, started May 12
  Where: John Hendry Park, near E. 13th Avenue at Lakewood Drive
• Kitsilano: Sundays, starting May 20
  Where: Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St.
• West End: Saturdays, starting June 2
  Where: Comox Street, between Thurlow and Bute streets
• Main Street: Wednesdays (3-7pm), starting June 6
  Where: Near the Main Street SkyTrain Station
• Granville Island: Thursdays, starting early June
  Where: Triangle Square, Granville Island
• Kerrisdale: Saturdays, starting July 7
  Where: On E. Boulevard from W. 37th Avenue to W. 41st

The BC Spot Prawn Festival was a busy, one-day-only event on Sat. May 5. But it wasn't so much about the one-day festival as the reason for the season: the opening of the spot prawn fisheries.

Now through late June you can head down to the False Creek's Fisherman's Wharf near Granville Island to buy prawns directly from fishing boats. Or, you can sample the delicate, well-loved crustacean at a Vancouver restaurant.

Spot prawns are a favorite ingredient in Pacific Northwest cuisine. Eateries like C Restaurant, Yew at the Four Seasons, and Tojo's all have special spot prawn dishes on their menus during the spring fishing season.

For a quick seafood lunch throughout the year, Go Fish is located directly across from the fishing boat wharf.

More Vancouver Seafood

• Top Pacific Northwest Cuisine Restaurants
• What is Pacific Northwest Cuisine?

photos © Chloë Ernst

Vancouver's spring cherry blossoms are a fantastic reason to visit, simply because it's hard to be disappointed. Anytime during March and April you can catch trees blossoming somewhere in Vancouver.

On Sat. April 28 the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival officially ended with its Bike the Blossoms ride through streets. The final trees are flowering, but there are a few spots to catch the last of the Vancouver cherry blossoms:

• West Side: Dunbar Street between W. 17th Avenue and King Edward Avenue
• West Side: W. 16th Avenue between Trafalgar and Arbutus streets
• False Creek: National Avenue between Quebec and Main streets
• Chinatown: Union Street from Jackson to Gore
• East Vancouver: Vernon Drive at E. Hastings St.
• East Vancouver: Charles Street from Salsbury to Lakewood
• East Vancouver: Templeton Drive from E. 1st to E. 4th
• East Vancouver: Prince Albert Street, south of E. Broadway
• East Vancouver: E. 19th Avenue between Glen Drive and Dumfries Street

Photo © Chloë Ernst

"Just imagine mountains and glaciers," I said to an out-of-town visitor as we stood at the Tantalus Lookout on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. There was no view. Instead gray clouds hid the scenic mountain range. Highway 99 to Whistler is one of the Canada's prettiest driving routes -- on a nice-weather day.

But when it rains, there are still fantastic places to stop. Just think water:

Porteau Cove
46 km (29 miles) from downtown Vancouver
You may catch glimpses of the mountains here, but otherwise you'll see divers heading out to the sunken ships in the scuba-diving park.

Shannon Falls
61 km (38 miles) from downtown Vancouver
See the 335-meter (1,099-foot) waterfall -- the third-highest in BC.

Stawamus Chief
63 km (39 miles) from downtown Vancouver
When the sun catches the water-drenched granite, the rock face of the Stawamus Chief shines.

Alice Lake
75 km (47 miles) from downtown Vancouver
This is a family-favorite park for swimming and camping. You can enjoy the walking trails and lake views in any weather.

Brandywine Falls
105 km (65 miles) from downtown Vancouver
It's much lower than Shannon Falls, but I prefer the views of the 70-meter (230-foot) Brandywine Falls. The lookout has a vantage down onto the spout-like waterfall. A nearby lookout positions you for photos of Daisy Lake.

Photos © Chloë Ernst