▪ SkyTrain stops: Yaletown-Roundhouse, Olympic Village (Canada); Stadium-Chinatown, Main Street-Science World (Expo)
▪ Bus lines: 3, 6, 19, 23, 50, 84
▪ Ferries: Aquabus, False Creek
FALSE CREEK WALK
TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.6 miles (4.25 kilometers)
TOTAL WALKING TIME: 1.5 hours
On this excursion, which includes a combination of walking and ferry-hopping, you’ll start and end in Yaletown. In between, you’ll explore the Olympic Village, the emerging arts district known as “The Flats,” and the False Creek waterfront. Stop along the way to sample some craft beer.
1 Start your stroll with coffee and pastries at Yaletown’s Small Victory Bakery. When you’re ready to wander, exit the bakery, turning left on Homer Street, and take an immediate left onto Helmcken Street. Follow Helmcken two blocks down the hill, and turn right onto Mainland Street, checking out the neighborhood’s restored warehouse buildings. In one block, at Davie Street, turn left to walk south toward the waterfront.
2 In two blocks, at the corner of Davie and Pacific Boulevard, stop for a quick look at the Engine 374 Pavilion to see the locomotive that pulled the first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in 1887. Continue south on Davie Street one more block to False Creek and the Aquabus ferry dock, where colorful ferries shuttle across False Creek, which British naval officer and explorer George Henry Richards is credited with naming. In 1859, Richards traveled up what he thought was a creek in search of coal deposits but discovered that this “False Creek” was actually an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Board the ferry headed east to The Village.
3 When you get off the ferry, explore the cluster of contemporary buildings in front of you: the Olympic Village, also known as the Village at False Creek. The neighborhood’s buildings, which housed athletes during the 2010 Olympic Games, have been converted into condominiums, and the district has several brewpubs, cafés, public art pieces, and a community center.
4 If you’re ready for a break, nab a patio seat at Tap & Barrel, where they’ve got a long list of B.C. beer and wines on tap and great views of the city skyline.
5 From the Olympic Village, you’ll detour away from the water to explore an emerging arts district called The Flats. Walk south through the plaza on Salt Street, past the massive sculptures The Birds, and continue two blocks to West 1st Avenue. Turn left onto 1st, and go three blocks east, crossing Main Street. Look for the Winsor Gallery on your right; stop and see what’s on view in this contemporary art gallery.
6 Leaving the gallery, turn right to continue east on 1st Avenue. In two blocks, when 1st comes to a T at Thornton Street, turn left to check out two more art spaces, Equinox Gallery and Monte Clark Gallery, both in the same brightly painted building among the warehouses at the foot of Thornton.
7 Retrace your steps up Thornton Street, turning right onto 1st Avenue, then taking the next left onto Scotia Street. Cross busy 2nd Avenue, then continue south up the hill on Scotia for three blocks, turning right onto 5th Avenue. Follow 5th one block west to Main Street, turn left onto Main, and you’ll find your next stop, Brassneck Brewery, where you can do a tasting of their small-batch beer.
8 Turn left out of the brewery onto Main and walk two blocks south. At 8th Avenue, turn right, walk two more blocks, and you’ll see 33 Acres Brewing on your right. Stop for another beer tasting and a snack, too. To get back to the ferry, turn right onto 8th Avenue and take the first right onto Manitoba Street. Follow Manitoba 10 blocks north, back to the Olympic Village. Pause to take photos of the city skyline and Science World’s dome before boarding the Aquabus to return to the Yaletown docks.
Granville Island Map 4
This former industrial district, across False Creek from downtown, is one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions. Technically a peninsula, the 38-acre island is home to more than 300 businesses, including art galleries and theaters, as well as the popular Granville Island Public Market. A few industrial elements remain, including Ocean Concrete, whose brightly painted cement trucks chug around the island.
The island and the Public Market get packed with visitors in the afternoons and on weekends, especially on sunny summer days. Take a ferry from downtown, cycle, or walk onto the island, rather than driving, if you can.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ Granville Island Public Market (click here)
▪ Railspur Alley (click here)
TOP ARTS AND CULTURE
▪ Eagle Spirit Gallery (click here)
▪ Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery (click here)
▪ Vancouver Theatre Sports League (click here)
TOP SHOPS
▪ The Umbrella Shop (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ Bus lines: 50
▪ Ferries: Aquabus, False Creek Ferries
Kitsilano and UBC Map 5
Kitsilano has a great beach, several museums in waterfront Vanier Park, and lots of shops and restaurants, particularly along West 4th Avenue, between Burrard and Balsam Streets.
On the city’s far west side, surrounded by forests and sea, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is worth visiting for its stellar Museum of Anthropology, and for several gardens and smaller museums. Also on campus are a modern concert hall and the only working farm within the city of Vancouver.
Point Grey, between the university and Kitsilano, is a leafy residential area with family-friendly sandy beaches along its northern shore. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver’s largest park, is also located here.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ Museum of Vancouver (click here)
▪ Museum of Anthropology (click here)
▪ Nitobe Japanese Garden (click here)
TOP RESTAURANTS
▪ Maenam (click here)
▪ Chocolate Arts (click here)
TOP ARTS AND CULTURE
▪ Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (click here)
TOP SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
▪ Kitsilano Beach (click here)
▪ Kitsilano Pool (click here)
▪ Jericho Beach (click here)
▪ Pacific Spirit Regional Park (click here)
TOP SHOPS
▪ Kidsbooks (click here)
▪ Les Amis du Fromage (click here)
▪ Wanderlust (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ Bus lines: 2, 4, 7 (Kitsilano); 4, 14, 84, 99 (UBC and Point Grey)
▪ Ferries: Aquabus, False Creek Ferries
Cambie Corridor Map 6
Cambie Street runs between downtown Vancouver and the Fraser River, bisecting the city’s east and west sides. The notable VanDusen Botanical Garden is located off Cambie, and to the west, the South Granville district boasts high-end art galleries.
To the east, browse funky Main Street for its vintage clothing shops, independent fashion boutiques, and locavore restaurants. You can always discover something new in this fast-changing neighborhood.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ VanDusen Botanical Garden (click here)
TOP RESTAURANTS
▪ West (click here)
▪ The Acorn (click here)
TOP ARTS AND CULTURE
▪ Bau-Xi Gallery (click here)
▪ Douglas Reynolds Gallery (click here)
TOP SHOPS
▪ Barefoot Contessa (click here)
▪ Front and Company (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ SkyTrain lines: Canada Line
▪ SkyTrain stops: Broadway-City Hall, King Edward
▪ Bus lines: 3, 9, 10, 15, 17, 99
Commercial Drive Map 7
Funky Commercial Drive runs north-south through the city’s East Side. Once the heart of Vancouver’s Italian community, the neighborhood is now home to a diverse collection of residents. Along The Drive, you’ll find pubs, cafés, and a multicultural mix of casual places to eat.
The up-and-coming East Village district is along East Hastings St
reet, between Victoria Drive and Renfrew Street. Nearby, Powell Street is the center of Vancouver’s booming craft brewery scene.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ Parallel 49 Brewing Company (click here)
▪ Odd Society Spirits (click here)
TOP RESTAURANTS
▪ The Pie Shoppe (click here)
TOP NIGHTLIFE
▪ Storm Crow Tavern (click here)
TOP ARTS AND CULTURE
▪ Vancouver East Cultural Centre (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ SkyTrain lines: Expo Line, Millennium Line
▪ SkyTrain stops: Commercial-Broadway (Expo, Millennium); VCC-Clark (Millennium)
▪ Bus lines: 4, 7, 14, 16, 20, 135
Richmond Map 8
Vancouver is now considered the most Asian metropolis outside Asia. Many of its Asian residents have settled in Richmond, a city of more than 200,000 on Vancouver’s southern boundaries, where more than half the population is of Asian descent, with most from China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.
Richmond has several multicultural attractions to explore, including two popular night markets and some of the best Chinese restaurants in North America. The city’s waterfront Steveston Village was important in the region’s fishing history and still houses a bustling fish market and numerous seafood restaurants. It’s also a departure point for whale-watching cruises.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ Richmond Night Market (click here)
TOP RESTAURANTS
▪ Bamboo Grove (click here)
▪ New Spicy Chili Restaurant (click here)
▪ Hao’s Lamb Restaurant (click here)
▪ Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ SkyTrain lines: Canada Line (Richmond-Brighouse branch)
▪ SkyTrain stops: Aberdeen, Lansdowne, Richmond-Brighouse
The North Shore Map 9
Ready to get outdoors? Across the Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains provide the backdrop for the waterfront cities of North Vancouver and West Vancouver. In any season, you can find plenty of adventures here, whether you’re swinging across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, exploring the rainforest in Lighthouse Park, or kayaking in Deep Cove. Visit Grouse Mountain to learn about local wildlife, climb “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” or head down the ski trails. Several other peaks offer hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing—all a short trip from the city center.
TOP SIGHTS
▪ Grouse Mountain (click here)
▪ Capilano Suspension Bridge (click here)
TOP SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
▪ Deep Cove Kayaks (click here)
▪ The Grouse Grind (click here)
▪ Lighthouse Park (click here)
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
▪ Ferries: SeaBus
▪ Bus lines: 228, 229, 230, 236, 241, 246, 250, 257
SIGHTS
Highlights
Downtown and the West End
Gastown and Chinatown
Yaletown and False Creek
Granville Island
Kitsilano
UBC and Point Grey
Cambie Corridor
Commercial Drive
Richmond
The North Shore
How to enjoy Vancouver: Wander through the rainforest. Explore diverse cultures. Pair museum visits with hiking or kayaking, and check out the booming craft beer scene.
Explore the outdoors in Stanley Park downtown, in blooming botanical gardens, and at the North Shore peaks. For art and food, there’s Granville Island, home to galleries, breweries and distilleries, and the lively Public Market.
For cultural explorations, visit the stellar Museum of Anthropology and the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, which illuminate the region’s aboriginal traditions. Dive deep into the city’s Asian culture at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden or the Richmond Night Market.
There’s plenty for kids, too: a family-friendly science center, aquarium, and hands-on museums, ferries and gondolas, and forested trails. On Granville Island, youngsters even have their own Kids Market.
Gastown Steam Clock
Vancouver is compact enough that you can head for the North Shore, the University of British Columbia, Richmond, or other neighborhoods on the region’s extensive public transit system. You can walk or cycle through this green, waterfront city, too.
HIGHLIGHTS
S MOST RENOWNED ABORIGINAL ART: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is dedicated to the life and work of notable aboriginal artist Bill Reid (click here).
S MOST ZEN URBAN ESCAPE: Tour Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first authentic Ming Dynasty garden outside China (click here).
S BEST MUSEUM FOR KIDS: Take the youngsters to Science World, inside a geodesic dome on the banks of False Creek (click here).
S MOST PHOTOGENIC FOOD DESTINATION: You’ll have plenty of fodder for your Instagram feed at the Granville Island Public Market (click here).
S BEST HIDDEN ART SPOT: Find your way to narrow Railspur Alley, where you can chat with artists at work in their studios (click here).
S BEST WAY TO TIME TRAVEL: The hands-on Museum of Vancouver takes you through the city’s past (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO EXPLORE ABORIGINAL CULTURE: The Museum of Anthropology houses one of the world’s top collections of First Peoples’ art, including massive cedar canoes, elaborate carvings, and towering totem poles (click here).
S QUICKEST TRIP TO JAPAN: Stroll among the flowers, waterfalls, and koi ponds in the serene Nitobe Japanese Garden (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS: Among the 250,000 plants at the peaceful VanDusen Botanical Garden, the city seems far away (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO START (OR END) A CRAFT BEER CRAWL: Parallel 49 Brewing Company is both a tasting hall and a spirited neighborhood gathering place (click here).
S BEST SPOT TO SAMPLE LOCAL SPIRITS: Odd Society Spirits makes small-batch vodka, gin, and a “moonshine” whiskey that you can sip in their fun and funky lounge (click here).
S LARGEST NIGHT MARKET: The lively Richmond Night Market sells everything from kebabs and bubble tea to cell phone cases. It’s also an amazing Asian food adventure (click here).
S TOP MOUNTAIN ESCAPE: For zip-lining, paragliding, skiing, and snowboarding, head for Grouse Mountain (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO SWING OVER A GORGE: The Capilano Suspension Bridge sways high above the Capilano River (click here).
Downtown and the West End Map 1
Canada Place
Among Vancouver’s most famous downtown landmarks is Canada Place, its billowing white sails recalling a ship ready to set off to sea. Canada Place does have a seafaring function; the building, with its five 90-foot (27-meter) white sails made of Teflon-coated fiberglass, houses the city’s cruise ship terminal. Also inside are the east wing of the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, and several tourist attractions.
Canada Place
The coolest reason to visit Canada Place is FlyOver Canada (604/620-8455, www.flyovercanada.com; 10am-9pm daily, adults $27, seniors, students, and ages 13-18 $21, ages 12 and under $17), a multimedia simulated flight ride that has you swoop and soar across the country, flying over Arctic peaks, past Toronto’s CN Tower, and across the Canadian Rockies. You even feel the spray as you hover above Niagara Falls, and at one point, the northern lights spread out around you. The FlyOver Canada experience lasts about 30 minutes; the flight itself is just eight minutes long. Tickets are discounted if you buy them online in advance.
While you’re at Canada Place, follow the Canadian Trail, a walkway along the building’s west promenade. Check out interpretive panels about Canada’s ten provinces and three territories while enjoying the views of Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore mountains. You’ll frequently see massive cruise ships at the docks from spring through fall.
MAP 1
: 999 Canada Pl., 604/665-9000, www.canadaplace.ca
Olympic Cauldron
When Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the candelabra-like Olympic Cauldron burned brightly. The 33-foot-tall (10-meter) landmark, comprising four diagonal columns leaning together, stands next to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s west building, near the Coal Harbour waterfront downtown—although it’s now lit only for special events.
MAP 1: Jack Poole Plaza, foot of Thurlow St.
The Seawall
Snaking along the waterfront on both sides of the downtown peninsula, extending around Stanley Park, through the West End and Yaletown, and along False Creek to Granville Island, Kitsilano Beach, and beyond, the Seawall is Vancouver’s most popular walking, running, and cycling path. The first sections of the Seawall were built in Stanley Park, beginning in 1917. Now, this 17.5-mile (28-kilometer) pathway, officially called the Seaside Greenway, may be the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.
The Seawall follows the waterfront in downtown Vancouver.
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