Spring is in bloom, which means it's the perfect chance to jump into our 10 Spring Things to Do in Vancouver list. It's the best of Vancouver in the springtime: colourful events like the Vancouver International Children's Festival, where puppets and storytellers spark creativity and imagination; blossoming rhododendrons at Vancouver gardens; pristine, ultra-green parks and lots of wildlife; not to mention that each day brings us closer and closer to incredible Vancouver alfresco dining opportunities. The options are endless, but we've narrowed them down to 10 must-do activities.

1. Enjoy Vancouver Spring Events
Spring in Vancouver is action oriented, and so are its spring events. The 37th BMO Vancouver Marathon has Vancouver abuzz with energy as thousands of participants take to the streets for the full and half marathons, plus a McDonald's Kids MaraFun program. Also a great event for the kids is the Vancouver International Children's Festival, which features enough storytelling, puppetry and music to make their imaginations really go wild. For more spring events in Vancouver, check our events calendar.

2. Discover Granville Island
Spring on Granville Island is hard to beat. Grab lunch at the famous Public Market, watch the scene at False Creek or enjoy one of the many street performers. The kids will like the bountiful array of shops, especially the imaginative Kids Market, chock full of toys and handcrafts.

3. Visit Vancouver's Gardens
What better way to enjoy spring in Vancouver than at one of our gardens? Think spring crocuses, rhododendrons and camellias in overflowing abundance at the VanDusen Botanical Garden. The UBC Botanical Garden also showcases nature's pageantry with flowers such as Purple Haze and Vancouver Jade. Meanwhile, at Vancouver Island's Butchart Gardens, the orchids of the Spring Prelude indoor display show have been the talk of the town. And you won't want to miss the peak rhododendron season at the Ted & Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden at Stanley Park.

4. Ski and Golf in the Same Day
Ah, that classic, rare and completely awesome spring combination: skiing and golfing in the same day. Catch the best of spring skiing at Whistler Blackcomb Resort (closing days predicted for June 14 for Whistler and May 18 for Blackcomb, depending on snowpack). After a half day on the slopes, hit the links at Fraserview Golf Course, voted Canada's most popular public course, or try another one of Vancouver's many other golf courses.

5. Stanley Park
Speaking of Stanley Park, the rhododendron garden isn't the only thing blooming in the park. Pack a picnic lunch, rent a bike and head along the famous 8.8 km (5.5 mi) Seawall. If you want a more hands-on experience, join the Stanley Park Ecology Society for volunteer projects or one of their educational workshops.

6. Soak Up the Exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery
What's spring without spring showers? Yes, Vancouver does get its fair share of rain, but it's the perfect excuse to explore the Vancouver Art Gallery. If you do need something to do on a rainy day, check out the Western Landscapes exhibition (until May 18), which features visionary works by Ann Kipling and E.J. Hughes. You might also want to stop by the "Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art" exhibition, brought to you in conjunction with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

7. Enjoy Vancouver's Wildlife
Head to Vancouver Island, probably one of the best places to see the majesty of nature. The island is located on the Pacific Flyway, an aerial highway for migrating birds. You might spot a number of animals native to the island: bears, cougars, deer, elk and many others.

8. Whale Watching Tours
May is the start of whale-watching season, one of Vancouver's most popular pastimes. Get out on the water and witness migrating whales by booking a ticket on one of many tour boat companies, many of which offer engaging narratives.

9. Greater Vancouver Zoo
Springtime means spring babies at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Many of the animals that live at the zoo are giving birth and starting families, so it's a great opportunity to join them in celebrating spring. As an added bonus, take the Safari Express mini train and then catch the Lion and Tiger Feeding to get up close and personal with these big cats.

10. Alfresco Dining
Now that the weather is warming up, patios everywhere are beginning to open up. Establishments such as Il Giardino are popular haunts, while waterfront dining - Boathouse Restaurant English Bay, Cannery Seafood House and the Seawall Bar & Grill at the Westin Bayshore for example - are scenic locations to dine.