[Photo from tourismvancouver.com]

Budget Travel named Vancouver one of the top budget destinations in 2009, and with good reason. The city is glamming itself up for the 2010 Winter Olympics, airfare dropped nearly 25 percent in the beginning of 2009 and for international visitors, the exchange rate is looking pretty good. Plus, a slew of Vancouver attractions are either free or nearly free, making specific aspects of the city more accessible, whether it's diversity, personality, style or scenery.

This Vancouver budget itinerary can be done in one day or over several. Either way, by the end of it, you'll get a decent cross-section of Vancouver at its best - and most affordable.

MORNING

Granville Island

Grab breakfast and coffee at Granville Island's famous Public Market, one of Vancouver's most popular places to satisfy foodies. The choices are seemingly endless: Fraser Valley strawberries, cured deli meats, the finest brewed coffee and loads more, all for reasonable market prices. Grab a spot overlooking quiet False Creek and enjoy the fresh morning air.

After breakfast, you can really dive into the Granville Island experience. Browse art stores such as Circle Craft Co-Op, a non-profit that features some 200 of Vancouver's most talented artists. Kids will love the Kids Market, filled with toys and crafts of all sorts, and as the street performers come out of the woodwork, it's hard not to catch a strain of that bohemian spirit.