If just one day, just stay in downtown. Best shopping areas include Robson, Alberni/Burrard, Pacific Center, the whole Gastown area, Main street between King Edward to Broadway and West Broadway between Burrard and McDonald. Be sure to check out roden grey, lark, eugene choo, gravity pope, leone. Spend the rest of the afternoon (if sunny) wandering Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. Head to Yaletown for drinks in the evening.
I personally love Salade de Fruits & Le Faux Bourgeois for cheap french food. Or head up the Cannery if you're coming before the end of March, as they are closing soon and they have been pretty good. Kirin in Richmond is amongst the best for Chinese food - skip the one in downtown, it's terrible. If you have more money and time I'd go to Fraiche - great location, food and service, and West Vancouver is one of the prettiest (and wealthiest) municipalities in Canada imo.
Parking: Pacific Center if it's a weekend. There are a couple of places in downtown where there is near-ample free parking, but you can't stay longer than 2 hours there (and it's strictly enforced). If it's a weekday it's probably a better idea to park near a Canada Line terminal and just ride the train down - $2.75 a pop (however this would make getting to Stanley Park quite difficult).
