Popular places that locals like to usually spend their weekends are:
- Commercial Drive - Lots of unique shops & restaurants, antiques, vintage stuff
- Main Street - Tons of restaurants
- Kitsilano Beach, Spanish Banks, Jericho Beach
- Steveston in Richmond - Charming fishing village lined to restaurants and shops. (try Pajo's Fish & Chips, it's the best!)
I actually wrote an iPhone app called Vancouver 2010 City Walks, that provides self-guided tours to great neighborhoods like this. If you own an iPhone, I encourage you to check it out - http://www.2010citywalks.com.