Dear Travelblog,
Hope this finds you fit and well and packing mentally for your next excursion! It's
not that far away really, very exciting. I hope you enjoy these short ideas about
Vancouver.
Thinking of Vancouver made me realise how fortunate we were to spend every Sunday
in this lovely city for all those months. Weren't we just the lucky ones.
First Impressions
Our first memory was the airport...it's very ethnic with plenty of Klingit Indian
woodcarvings and totem pole stories to greet you,quite impressive.
The trip into the city through the tree lined streets is attractive and the inner
city itself quite a marvellous combination of old and new style buildings
giving an interesting impression and a desire to get out and explore.
Canada Place
Canada Place where the tourist ships dock
is right downtown with a welcome shopping area, (even a dry cleaner) real coffee
shops, banks of telephones, and email cafe at your doorstep.
From here you can catch a trolley for a reconnaissance tour of this beautiful harbour
city with it's spectacular mountain backdrop. There are water taxis,
ferries, float planes, large and small craft plying the harbour and always something
to look at.
The Railway Station is housed in a magnificent old brick building which is a favourite
location for the movie companies based in Vancouver, the Hollywood of the north.
It's not unusual to be cast as an extra as you walk through the building enroute
to your destination.
Gastown
Gastown is a short walk away and these tree lined streets
are full of souvenir stores, cafes, a brewery, and a real pot pourri of retail outlets.
This area is host to an annual Jazz Festival in July which brings hordes of people
to the inner city to listen to the music performed on several stages throughout the
area. It is a very festive event and popular with locals and tourists alike. Another
highlight of Gastown is the old steam clock that goes off on the hour throughout
the day.
Robson Street
If shopping is your bag then walk the few blocks to Robson Street, where the streets
are lined with every designer name store you can think of. It truly is the fashion
mecca of Vancouver, just the way to while away a few hours before collapsing into
a cool beer and oysters galore at the world famous restaurant, Joe Fortes.
There are loads of interesting cafes lining the street and they spill out onto the
pavement at the slightest hint of sunshine. It's a great way to watch the passing
parade which is quite eclectic and to observe the number of convertibles that roam
up and down Robson Street. There is a huge Virgin Store, EMI, Chapters Bookstore,
Dymocks,to name a few of the non fashion variety and Hooters Bar is popular with
the men who wear out before their women on the "Shop Till You Drop Tour". |
Stanley Park
 Stanley Park is a must for anyone wanting to get a true feel for Vancouver.
The area was gifted to the city and is the pride and joy of every resident. Acres
and acres of green with so many recreational activities available make it a most
desirable destination.
There is a free bus tour which allows you to take in the full extent of the size
of Stanley Park and you can get off at any stop along the route to explore for yourself.
There are walking tracks, tennis courts, yachting club, pitch and putt golf, picnic
spots, playgrounds, garden areas, cycle tracks, beach access, and beautiful vistas
of the harbour. A number of restaurants and cafes cater for all tastes and we enjoyed
The Tea House for a lovely al fresco lunch with delicious wine.
You can also explore Stanley Park by horse drawn carts, buses, bicycles, or on foot.
A favourite route is around the seawall, but beware, it is a very long way!
The city has a wonderful art gallery and features world class exhibitions like Monet
etc. It's a nice place to wile away a few hours.
Other Areas to Explore
There are other areas to explore. Take a ferry to the North Shore and see the city
from another aspect.
Take a drive up to the ski field, only about half an hour from downtown. It gives
a great view on a fine day.
Granville island
There is another area we used to visit, Granville Island,which is an area of art
and craft stores, lots of original art, and a most marvellous food market. It's large
and you can access it by ferry. It is a popular place for weekenders and there are
lots of street entertainers here as well on
a Sunday, heaps of food stalls as well.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is just across the bay and a ferry or float plane will take you
back in time. The city has a great British influence in the design of
the buildings and the harbour situation makes it a most attractive setting. The hanging
baskets in the city are colourful and the beautiful trees made an impression. We
took a bus tour to get a glimpse of the highlights and it was a fun way to get an
overview. The world renown Butchart gardens are a must,The are replanted four times
a year to ensure that there is always some colour on show.
Afternoon tea at "The Fairmont Empress" Hotel is a taste of how the upper
class British celebrated the afternoon. At $45 a pop, we decided on a glass of wine
instead but the hotel is worth a look and don't forget to check out the "rest
rooms". Most original still, very British in design, black and white tiles etc.
Lovely shops in the lobby too if you have an urge to offload some of that hard earned
cash!
 |
Vancouver - A Beautiful
City