I second the suggestion of Granville Island. There's two breweries worth checking out, and an area that sorta resembles a flea market that you should save your appetite for. Bakeries, cheese/charcuterie shops, noodle stands, Indian, etc.
Richmond may well be the dim sum capital of North America, and I highly recommend it if you have a car, a decent sense of direction, and the patience for the drive. Get the address for Sun Sui Wah and go there.
If you're in to pot culture, you'll want to check out Vansterdam. The headquarters for the BC Marijuana Party is located just east of Gastown, not too far from Steamworks, the best brewery in town. There's now a smoking lounge in back. BYOMJ and $5.00 cover charge.
Stanley Park is really cool, and the Blodel Conservatory is a nice place to go when it's raining.