Begin at the Caper's Building, 2285 W. Fourth Ave. (at Vine), in Kitsilano and
finish at Homer and Georgia Street at the
Vancouver Public Library,
Downtown Vancouver
It should take you about 2 to 4 hours, not including shopping, eating, and
sightseeing stops.
Make sure you go in the day when the business are open.
The Capers Building at 2285 W. Fourth Ave. was built according to an innovative
energy-efficient design and now serves as the home of the environmentally
focused David Suzuki Foundation; an excellent bookstore called Duthie's; and
Capers, an organic supermarket. The small outdoor patio is a great place to grab
a coffee and people-watch. Farther east on Fourth Avenue there are several good
retro-clothing shops, a travel bookstore, a number of furniture and interiors
boutiques, several bakeries, and numerous other spots in which to grab a bite.
To continue the tour from here, walk north (downhill) 5 blocks on Yew Street and
cross north over Cornwall Avenue, which leads you to Kitsilano Beach
Vancouver is blessed with Parks and
Beaches. Kits Beach is the home of the spandex and testosterone set. The
action on the volleyball courts is fast and furious. For the less than
physically perfect, the logs lined up on the beach make it a fine place to lay
out a blanket and laze the day away. Small children can often be found playing
on the nearby swings, while older kids favor the lifeguarded swimming area or
the world's largest outdoor saltwater swimming pool. On a clear day, the views
of the mountains are tremendous.
Walk down the beach and around the corner on the paved pathway passed the totem
pole and Turn north (toward the mountains) and walk down the steps to the
Vancouver
Maritime Museum
Canada's principal maritime museum on the Pacific, located in the heart
of Canada's greatest ports at the gateway to the Pacific Rim. For 45 years, we
have been Pacific Canada's premier link to maritime history, art, culture,
industry and technology.
Proceed down the crushed-stone pathway to
Vanier Park and Heritage
Harbour to see many older wooden boats that find shelter here,
Those interested in a shortcut can pick up a ferry (False
Creek Ferries; tel. 604/684-7781) at this point and float down to
Granville Island. On
weekdays and in the off season, the ferries run less frequently. Hours and fares
are posted on the sign at the end of the dock.
Walkers should proceed east (toward the city) along the shoreline. To your right
stands artist Chung Hung's massive twisted iron sculpture, Gate to the Northwest
Passage. Just beyond that, the conical building is the
Vancouver Museum, 1100
Chestnut St. (tel. 604/736-4431) and
H.R. MacMillan Space
Centre (tel. 604/738-STAR). The low building next to that is the
Vancouver Archives, 1150 Chestnut (tel. 604/736-8561), home to some truly
fascinating panoramic photographs of Vancouver back in the early days.
Carry on along the pathway around the point, passing the Coast Guard station on
your right, and you're walking underneath the Burrard Bridge.
Cross beneath the bridge and continue along the pedestrian path. You'll have to
go up the steps to walk above the fenced-off docks (or go around the back for
wheelchair access) before coming down on the other side at the Government Fish
Dock
Want to buy fresh from the boat? This is the place to do it. Find fresh salmon
in season (summer and early fall), prawns, scallops, and other shellfish much of
the rest of the year. Sales take place every day in high season and on weekend
mornings the rest of the year. Hours and availability, of course, depend on the
catch.
From here, amble on down the seaside walkway past the gaggle of Canada geese (in
the spring there are usually also downy Canada goslings) to
Granville Island.
Okay, so it's not really an island. But it is a fascinating collection of shops
and restaurants,
Granville Island Arts Club Theatre ,
Granville Island Hotel,
artists' workshops, housing, and still-functioning heavy industry -- one of the
few successful examples of 1970s urban renewal.
To continue the tour, bear left down Duranleau Street. Shops in this section
specialize in marine tours of all kinds, which makes it a good place to look for
a fishing charter or kayak tours. The Net Loft building on the far side of the
street is a great spot for pottery, glasswork, paper products, and ladies' hats,
both classic and funky. It's also home to Blackberry Books, 1663 Duranleau (tel.
604/685-6188). Just past the Net Loft is Triangle Square, an open space where
street buskers often perform. Cut through the square, cross the street, and:
Take a Break--You name it, so long as it's edible, the Granville Island Public
Market probably has it, from chocolate to fresh salmon to fresh bread to
marinated mushrooms to strawberries picked this morning out in the Fraser
Valley. then head outside for an alfresco feast at one of the tables on the dock
overlooking False Creek .
The views are great, the fresh air invigorating, and, if you've brought small
children along, it's the perfect place to play that endlessly fascinating (to
kids) game of Catch the Seagull.
When your hunger pangs have eased, continue east on the water's edge -- note the
Aqua Bus
ferry dock, to which we'll be returning later -- and follow the path around the
Arts Club pub, underneath the Granville Street Bridge, and then to your right,
away from the water, and go through what is, perhaps, the perfect little outdoor
courtyard. At the far end of Johnston Street is the
Dockside Brewing
Bar, 1253 Johnston St. (tel. 604/685-7070), a pub blessed with good beer and
a geographically advantaged patio (it's on the edge of False Creek).
Alternatively, just to the right, you can climb the low circular hill known as
The Mound
Gaze out over False Creek. The blinking geodesic dome at the far end of the
creek is Science World . In the
same direction but closer is a small marina and restaurant complex, situated on
Leg-in-Boot Square.
Descend from The Mound and retrace your steps (or wind your way back through
some of the side streets) to the Aquabus Ferry Dock
From here,
Aqua Bus
harbor ferries (tel. 604/689-5858) arrive and depart to a variety of places
including Leg-in-Boot Square and Science World down the Creek. Our destination
is on the far side of False Creek, the Yaletown Landing (at the foot of Davie
St.)
The small forest of high-rises ringing the north shore of False Creek are the
creation of one company -- Concorde Pacific, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li
Ka Shing. Formerly a railway switching yard, the area was transformed for the
Expo '86 World's Fair.
From here, turn to the left and walk along the waterfront to David Lam Park,
turn right on the pedestrian path, and follow it to The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is so named because that's exactly what this brick and timber
frame building was, back when this land was the CPR's switching yard. The
structure has since been converted into a community center. It's worth ducking
inside, whether to experience this wonderful space, make use of the public
restrooms, or have a look at the locomotive that pulled the first passenger
train ever to chug into Vancouver, way back in 1887.
Leave the Roundhouse by the front entrance on Pacific Boulevard, then cross the
street and walk up Davie Street 1 block to Mainland Street. You're now in
Yaletown
Vancouver's former warehouse district a funky upscale district of furniture
shops, restaurants, multimedia companies, and "New York-style" lofts. Note the
metal canopies over the loading docks on many buildings -- they used to keep
shipping goods dry, now they do the same for tourists and latte-sipping Web
programmers. Turn right and walk up Mainland to Helmcken Street and:
Take a Break--Helmcken Street between Mainland and Hamilton streets has
something for every taste. For coffee and pastry lovers, there's a Bread Garden
at Hamilton and Helmcken. Heartier appetites can grab pub grub at Milestones on
the opposite corner. For those who prefer their barley and yeast in liquid form,
there's the Yaletown Brewing Company at 1111 Mainland St.
From here, continue on Mainland or Hamilton 1 block up to Nelson Street, then
turn left and go up 2 blocks to Homer Street. Turn right and walk up 3 blocks to
the Vancouver Public
Library
With all the sights and attractions there are to see in Vancouver going to
the library may not sound like the most exciting thing to do but the central
public library downtown is a must-see building
It’s a circle in a square design that looks a bit like something you would see
in ancient Rome. In fact a lot of people compare it to a Roman Coliseum.
The Vancouver Public Library is a place where even if you don’t plan to check
out any books it’s still a great place to go. You can sit in the atrium lobby
where there are all kinds of little shops and cafés and small tables to sit and
chat. |
