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Whether you're an accidental tourist or a
seasoned traveller, your Vancouver visit isn't complete without a stop at these
top attractions.
Even by North American standards, Vancouver is a young city.
We have a few prized heritage sites, but glassy condo towers, fresh as unwrapped
sticks of gum, predominate over bricks and marble. Maybe this is why
Vancouverites like to show off the mountains and forests to visiting guests, and
also why we're eager to take them to performances by our creative luminaries:
we're determined to instil awe by whatever means necessary. Fortunately there's
more than enough local substance to impress.
1.
Stanley Park
 Over 400 hectares of mixed evergreen
forest and open green spaces are bounded by the 8.8-km seawall, an essential
experience beloved by local runners, in-line skaters and first-date couples.
Circumnavigation by bicycle is allowed as well, but be sure to ride it counterclockwise—the path is narrow, and going against the flow could result in
an unexpected swim. Along the way you’ll be treated to occasional sculptures,
totem poles, plenty of seabirds, close-ups of the Lions Gate Bridge and, if your
timing is right, an ice cream sandwich at the Second Beach concession.
Stanley Park: Downtown Vancouver, 604-257-8400.
2.
Vancouver English Bay
Bring a blanket and lounge on the grass with your book, or
walk the seawall path and see how many dog varieties you can name.
English Bay Beach Park and the calm, warm waters of the bay lead into the
Georgia Strait and Pacific Ocean. The warm climate and large sandy beaches, palm
tree lined streets are loved by both residents and tourists.
Its main thoroughfares, Denman and Davie Streets, are lively, vibrant and
decidedly upbeat. They cut through an area that manages to be one of the most
densely populated districts in Canada, and yet, there's a certain calming
presence about the place - it's easy to find yourself strolling along one of its
quiet, tree-lined streets following the fragrance of the sea down to its
expansive beach or sipping a cappuccino as you watch the world go by.
English Bay: Denman St. at
Davie St.3.
Capilano
Suspension Bridge
The World Famous
Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver,
British Columbia's most popular tourist attractions. The reason is simple, there
are so many things to see and do! Just minutes from the bustle of
downtown Vancouver, Capilano
Suspension Bridge offers a unique mix of adventure, history and culture making
this Vancouver tourist attraction a complete British Columbia experience and an
essential on your list of things to do in Vancouver, BC.
Conveniently located 10 minutes from downtown Vancouver through
Stanley Park over Lions Gate
Bridge and north 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) on Capilano Road.
4.
Vancouver
Yaletown
Yaletown
is in the heart of Vancouver and within walking distance
to most of the hotels in
downtown Vancouver.
Today's Yaletown covers a much wider area than before its rebirth, and is now
considered to be the area bounded on the North by Georgia Street, to the West by
Richards Street, to the South by False Creek and to the East by Cambie Street.
Originally Vancouver's garment district, Yaletown still retains its links
through its fashionable boutiques and local designers. Now added to this mix
are: high-end restaurants, microbreweries, high tech companies, home
furnishings, galleries, BMW's Mini Cooper showroom, &
Opus Hotel Vancouver a contemporary
boutique inn.
5.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
The Chinese characters inscribed on the plaque near the entrance to the Dr. Sun
Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden are translated as “Yi Yuan” or “Garden of
Ease.” This authentic re-creation of a Ming-dynasty-era (1368-1644) scholar’s
garden was the first to be built outside its cultural homeland. Its prevailing
tranquility evokes another time and place, making it a magnet for poets,
painters and residents of the surrounding Chinatown district. It was built in
the mid-’80s by 52 master artisans from Suzhou who eschewed the use of nails,
screws and power tools in favour of 15th-century methods. The result is a
sanctuary laden with Taoist symbolism and intricate landscaping, as well as a
venue for ongoing cultural events like painting exhibitions, classical music
performances and traditional seasonal festivals.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen
Classical Chinese Garden: 578 Carrall St., Chinatown, 604-662-3207.
6.
Vancouver
Kitsilano
Kits Beach, as it’s known to locals, is densely populated
in summer with distractingly attractive volleyball players, Frisbee flingers and
sunbathers. There’s also a giant heated saltwater pool (137 metres) where you
can swim a mile in only 11 laps.
Kitsilano
Beach and Pool: 2305 Cornwall Ave., Kitsilano, 604-731-0011.
 7.
Grouse
Grind North Vancouver
The Grouse Grind, often referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”, is a 2.9km
hike straight up the face of Grouse Mountain. The trail gains 2,800 feet of
elevation making it a great workout for even the fittest of athletes. $5 gets
you a ride down :)
Grouse Mountain: 6400
Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, 604-984-0661.
8.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Swimming with the sharks at lunchtime might be familiar to
anyone corporate, but the Vancouver Aquarium’s blacktip reef sharks perform a
much more elegant and entertaining version. Vancouver
Aquarium: Stanley Park, 604-659-3400.
9.
Granville Island Vancouver
If Stanley Park is Vancouver’s wild heart, Granville Island is a large chunk of
its soul. The public market is an excellent place to spend a couple of hours
seeking out local gourmet items before treating yourself to the best food-court
meal around. Just don’t linger too long watching the seagulls: the market and
many of the Island’s galleries and stores close every day at 7 p.m.
Granville Island:
Under the Granville Bridge, 604-666-5784.
10.
Robson Street Vancouver
Robson is Vancouver's most famous shopping street set in the heart of
downtown Vancouver. In the
three block stretch between Burrard and Jervis you will find a commercial mecca
which includes premier fashions stores, fine dining, services and all the
amenities a tourist or local might need.
Robson–goers may spend their day people watching and sipping coffee on an
outdoor patio; they may start off
shopping at unique boutique
stores before being pampered at a day spa a then relaxing at a
hotel.
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