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Stanley Park
 The
most prominent feature that sets Vancouver apart from other cities
is this magnificent 405-hectare park laced with walking paths through
a largely untouched piece of west coast forest wilderness at the
edge of the city’s West End. You can easily forget that the
city you just left behind is just beyond the trees. The park is
surrounded by a stone, man-made Seawall walk which surrounds the
entire park. This is where the locals come to play in any type of
weather. On any day you can see in-line skaters, cyclists, joggers
or people strolling along or sitting on a rock or sandy beach just
watching the boats or the sunsets over English Bay. Stanley Park
is the largest civic park in Canada and larger than Central Park
in New York City. Development within the park includes the Vancouver
Aquarium, the largest in Canada, children's farmyard, miniature
train, the open air Theatre Under The Stars, totem poles, a cricket
oval, Lost Lagoon, the Nine O'clock Gun, and Deadman's Island which
in an earlier time was a Native burial ground and later a naval
base. It is now used by cadets and reserve units. Recreational facilities
include a pitch and putt golf course, bathing beaches, tennis courts,
Brockton Oval 400 metre cinder jogging circuit, a large outdoor
swimming pool with a view of the ocean beyond, refreshment stands and several excellent restaurants.
This is a great place to start your visit to Vancouver and there
are horse drawn carriages or free shuttle buses to help you get
around.
China
Town
The Vancouver China Town is one of the most original and intact
Chinatowns of all the ones typically found in many cities in
North America. It has not been tarted up and marketed as a
tourist trap like so many have. Vegetables and house wares spill
out
of crowded shops onto narrow sidewalks. Its great fun chancing
one or two of the scores of small Chinese restaurants, sampling
a dish you may never even have heard of before. According to
Ripley's Believe It or Not the Sam Kee Building at 8 West Pender
is the narrowest building in the world. It is 1.5 meters deep
and was built out of spite by The Sam Kee Company in 1913.
The city had expropriated most of the property in order to widen
Pender Street but refused to compensate the company for the
remaining
strip. Their neighbour expected to receive this strategic corner
very cheaply but the company responded by building this unusually narrow building. The use of the bay windows on the second floor
provide extra space. The basement with its unused communal
baths extends well under the sidewalk.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese
Garden
578 Carrall St in Chinatown
This beautiful garden is the only authentic classical Chinese
garden outside of China and was built by Chinese artisans who
came here
specifically for this project. The very enthusiastic and often entertaining volunteers will tour you through and explain the
garden and the architecture in detail. The tour is highly recommended
especially for first time visitors to a Chinese garden.
Gastown
 You are now in the part of Vancouver where it all began. This area
which had been turned into warehouses for some of its less glorious
past was totally restored to its original charm in the late 60's
and early 70's. Cobbled streets are lined with boutiques, tourist
shops, coffee shops, art and antique shops and restaurants featuring
many types of cuisine. Although understandably touristy since
it is located right next to the Cruise Ship Terminal at Canada
Place, it is a very lively place where anyone can have a great
time if only to people-watch while sitting at a café.
The main attraction for many is watching all the tourists posing
for photos in front of the STEAM CLOCK, a mechanical wonder that
uses steam to power a clock that whistles on the quarter hour.
Maple Tree Square is the original point for all Vancouver street
addresses. Gastown was designated a provincial heritage site
in 1971.
Robson Square
Designed by renowned Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson this
is another great place to either people-watch or enjoy the
beautiful
gardens, pool and waterfall. While providing the city with
a central Square it also houses the courthouse, theatres, and
conference
rooms. There is also a skating rink with music for the winter
months, which converts to a dance floor, entertainment centre
in the summer. It's a great place to put your feet up and take
a break from shopping.
Robson Street
No trip to Vancouver would be complete without a walk down very
lively Robson Street. In fact you will stumble onto it soon after
your arrival. The portion of Robson Street west of Burrard Street
developed a strong European ethnic flavour during the 50's and 60's
and was nicknamed Robson Strasse because of the many European businesses
that located there. Although few of those original shops remain
it still has a very diverse ethnic flavour and has more recently
been developed into a fashionable strip of designer boutiques, coffee
shops and restaurants. There is an unusually large number of excellent
restaurants either on or just off Robson Street and it's a great
place for sushi lovers. Robson
Street becomes very busy on weekend evenings when it becomes a very
popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike. It’s
also a good place to pick up a pair of in-line skates or a bicycle
for the day.
BC Place Stadium
At the far end of Robson Street you can't miss the home of the
BC Lions CFL football team. It also serves as an exposition
site and seats 60,000 people. The dome, which covers the stadium,
is supported by air and can be seen from almost any point around
False Creek.
Vancouver Art Gallery
This sandstone and granite structure was built in 1906 with additions
completed in 1912. It was designated a heritage building in
1974 and initially housed the Senior Law Courts but became
the home
of the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1983. There have been many
excellent shows including the Dutch Masters and the Canadian
Group of Seven,
and it houses a permanent collection of works by famed British
Columbia painter Emily Carr..
Canada Harbour Place & Cruise
Ship Terminal
The blazing white sails of Canada Place at the foot of Burrard
Street have become as much a Vancouver Landmark as the Opera
House has to Sydney, Australia. It is the main departure and
arrival point for cruise ships travelling to Alaska and other
destinations and offers breathtaking views of the harbour and
the Lions Gate Bridge. The CN IMAX THEATRE at Canada Place shows
exciting features, which change frequently and include 3D films
projected onto a giant five storey high screen with surround
sound.
Science World
At the very far end of False Creek, a small inner harbour mainly
used by pleasure boats, sits a triodetic dome called Science
World which features hands-on exploration, exhibits and dazzling
demonstrations that change regularly. The Omnimax theatre in Science World boasts
the world's largest dome screen and is strongly recommended.
University
of British Columbia
At the westernmost point of the city is another peninsula of
sorts: The University of British Columbia or UBC. It is a great
place
to explore whether on foot, mountain bike, or by car. UBC is
the home of Pacific Spirit Park, acres of trails and rainforest
to hike, jog or mountain bike. A visit to the outstanding Museum
of Anthropology at UBC is a must. The Museum of Anthropology
has art and artefacts from Asia, Africa and the Pacific and perhaps
the best totem pole collection in the world. The museum is very
inviting and seems to make every effort to make collections available
to the visitor. You’ll be encouraged to open drawers and
examine the thoughtful displays. The architecture is also of
interest. Other places to visit at UBC are the Nitobe Memorial
Gardens, the Totem Park, and the Botanical Gardens. UBC is also
the home of Vancouver’s notorious Wreck (nude) Beach.
Granville
Island
If you enjoy feasting your eyes on perfectly displayed fresh seafood
and vegetables, this is the place for you. While you're there
you can try some of the great prepared food as you take in some
of the local street entertainment or just watch the boats and
the world glide by. Granville Island is the site of a number
of very good restaurants and pubs as well as a few live theatre
companies. You can reach it easily from the West End by hopping
aboard one of the small shuttle ferries that depart from under
the Burrard Street Bridge next to the Aquatic Centre pool. The
trip only takes a few minutes.
Queen Elizabeth Park
The highest point of the city is the home of our third largest
park. It’s the home of the Bloedel Conservatory where you
can enjoy the company of 50 different types of free-flying tropical
birds. The vegetation of the conservatory encompasses three different
climate zones. The park itself is beautiful with its diverse plant
life, expansive walks, sunken gardens, pools and fountains.
Commercial
Drive
Commercial Drive has traditionally been the centre of the Italian
community of Vancouver. It has always been a great place to come
for good food, a fine sidewalk cappuccino, and fun street life.
A landmark for the neighbourhood is the Vancouver East Cultural
Centre, which always has a myriad of local cultural productions:
theatre, dance, comedy, and music. In recent times Commercial Drive
has become more culturally diverse. Though it still has an Italian
flavour, the mix of cultures includes new Canadians of South East
Asian, Latin American, and Portuguese descent. The neighbourhood
has attracted a number of urban folks who have bought heritage
homes there and have begun to gentrify the neighbourhood. You’ll
also see a number of rainbow flags flying reflecting a large lesbian population. The area is a hub for left of centre discussions and
cutting edge arts and really comes alive during the city’s
fringe festival.
North Vancouver and West Vancouver
People often refer to North and West Vancouver as the North Shore
as it is located across Burrard inlet to the north of the city.
North Shore attractions include Lynn Canyon Park and Suspension
Bridge, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, Seymour
Mountain, Cypress Mountain, Lighthouse Park, and Whytecliff
Park to name a few. No trip to Vancouver would be complete
without
a drive to Horseshoe Bay along the scenic and winding Marine
Drive.
To make a reservation call
Barclay House in the West End
1351 Barclay Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada. V6E 1H6.
Direct Line 1-604-605-1351 / Toll Free Reservations 1-800-971-1351
Fax: (604) 605.1382
e-mail: info@barclayhouse.com
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