A Guide to Vancouver
Vancouver is a tourist friendly city. The majority of the attractions can be found downtown, bordered with museums in the south, and Stanley Park in the north. Robson Street is known as one of the most expensive streets in the world, and runs from Stanley Park through the downtown core, ending at BC Place Stadium (where the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics are held.)
Stanley Park
One of the largest parks in Canada and possibly the most popular tourist attraction of Vancouver. The center of the park consists of very old trees which are up to 75 meters tall. The perimeter of the park is where the activities happen. You can expect to see the totem poles (known as the main attraction of Stanley Park), the rose garden, aquarium, golf course, tennis courts, beaches, and even a heated oceanside swimming pool. This is a great park to do some rollerblading or cycling on a nice day.
Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Center
The Vancouver Lookout was opened by Neil Armstrong in 1977. Standing 146 meters tall and situated in the business downtown district, it has the best view of Vancouver. This is probably the best first attraction for a Vancouver tourist.
Gastown Steam Clock
This world famous steam-powered clock is a very popular photo spot. Underground pipes send steam to the clock to make it run. Every fifteen minutes, it releases the steam and whistles a song. You can see all the gears spinning inside the clock.
Robson Square
Instead of building the tallest skyscraper in the world, they opted to build a sky scraper on its side. Instead of casting a huge shadow over the many stores, restaurants and government buildings in the area, the square emphasizes sunlight (the twin glass dome covers on the courthouses are a popular photospot) The waterfall was also designed to neutralize the noise of downtown traffic.
Canada Place
Originally built for Expo 86, the Canada place build will be used again for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The roof of the building looks like boat sails and are featured in many Vancouver postcards. The building itself is used as a convention center, hotel, and cruise ship terminal (cruises to Alaska).
Granville Island
The shopping district where street performances are encouraged. Locals and tourists enjoy the area's deep history and wealth of art. The city of Vancouver used to be named Granville.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The bridge (which has been in several TV shows including MacGyver) is pretty exciting to walk across. It hovers the river with a little sway and could be scary on a windy day or if kids start jumping on it. While in the area, you can also check out the largest collection of First Nations totem poles, storytelling, and native dancing.
Grouse Mountain
You can find a mountain of activities on Grouse Mountain. The "Grouse Grind" ia a popular and steep hiking trail. There is skiing, snowshoeing, skating, sleigh rides and paragliding. You could also get a scenic tour from the Grouse Mountain Sno-limo, mountain helijet, skyride, or mountain ziplines.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
The largest aquarium in Canada and the first aquarium to have an orca (killer whale) on display. Every sea animal can be found here, including beluga whales, sharks, seals, sea lions, otters, turtles and frogs.
Telus World of Science (Science World)
Science World is at the huge dome shaped building (the OmniMax Theater). Displaying science in a hands-on way, a visit to the science center is both fun and educational.
Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG)
The largest art gallery in western Canada. Featuring the works of Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, and Marc Chagall.
Museum of Vancouver (MOV, Vancouver Museum)
The largest civic museum in Canada. Exhibits include an Egyptian mummy, taxidermy of local wildlife and 19th century cultural artifacts.
Vancouver Maritime Museum
The Maritime museum shows the Maritime history of Vancouver. The two main exhibits are the St. Roch Arctic exploration vessel, and the RV Ben Franklin deep submergence vessel.
Vancouver Police Museum (Vancouver Police Centennial Museum)
This heritage building used to be the police department's autopsy facilities. The museum displays over 20,000 items including photographs, publications, confiscated firearms and counterfeit money.
Burnaby Village Museum (Heritage Village)
An "open air museum" that consists of 19th century buildings from throughout Canada. The old buildings and the museum staff dressed in 19th century clothing gives a glimpse of what historical Canada was like.
Metropolis at Metrotown (formerly Metrotown Center, Eaton Center Metrotown)
Metro is the second largest shopping mall in Canada. Originally it was a few malls connected by skyways, but now it is merged into one megamall.
Vancouver Pujabi Market
Visit the India Gate. The Punjabi Market is becoming increasingly popular to get anything India related. It is the place to shop, especially if you are doing Indian wedding shopping.
Vancouver Chinatown
Visit the Millenium Gate at the second largest Chinatown in North America. Vancouver is so densely populated with Hong Kong Chinese people that some people even call the city "Hongcouver".
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
A Ming dynasty styled scholar's garden (Chinese garden) that was built outside of China. Built with feng shui and taoism influence, it is a great way to experience the beauty of China without actually having to go there. Don't confuse the Sun Yat-Sen garden with the Sun Yat-Sen park that is right beside it. The garden is the real main attraction and requires an admission fare.
Wreck Beach
The largest clothing-optional beach in Canada. Also one of the ten best nude beaches in the world. The attitude there is that there is no attitude. It's very welcoming to both people with and without clothes. There are people selling all sorts of stuff at Wreck beach that you wouldn't be able to buy anywhere else.