Vancouver

The historical suburb of Gastown has many a tale to tell and manages to combine the old with the new beautifully.  The neighbourhood of cobbled streets and historic buildings has seen a regeneration in recent years and is a great model for urban revival.  Much of the city’s hip dining and trendy bars are found here mixing chic cocktails and whatever is new on the food scene.  Many independent shops and boutiques are located here, especially designer men’s fashion and interior design shops.  Be sure to stop by Gastown’s iconic steam clock on the hour.

A trip to Vancouver would not be complete without a visit to Stanley Park located on the northwestern edge of downtown. This beautiful 1000 acre park set on a peninsula is one of the main attractions in the city and features many kilometres of paved walks and trails, the impressive Vancouver Aquarium, pristine beaches, gardens and of course amazing city and north shore mountain views. Rent a bike and cycle the 9 km sea wall circuit which will take an hour or so, or a 2-3 hour walk.

Granville Island is a peninsula and popular shopping district opposite False Creek facing Downtown Vancouver. The Public Market which is the most famous food market in the city opens daily and sell the freshest seafood, meat, specialty foods and sweet treats as well as plenty of prepared food to suite all tastes.  There is a thriving art and theatre scene and lots of local artists are based here so there are some great studios, galleries and boutiques to browse to find that perfect gift or souvenir.

Ice Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport so become one of the locals, wear some blue, white and green and go cheer on the Vancouver Canucks. Home games are played regularly throughout the season at Rogers Arena, not only home of the Canucks but also the venue for some of the biggest concerts in the city.

Robson Street is one of the city’s oldest streets and is Vancouver’s iconic shopping and dining destination.  Located in the heart of downtown in the west end neighbourhood it’s an easy walk from central neighbourhoods including Coal Harbour, Gastown and Yaletown. A shoppers paradise spread over 3 blocks with plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants in between.

Located in beautiful North Vancouver is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  The bridge was originally built in 1889 and redeveloped a hundred years later and today is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver, attracting over a million visitors each year. The simple suspension bridge is 140 metres long and hangs 70 metres above the Capilano River. Immerse yourself in the parks rainforest ecosystem, nature walks, cliffwalk and treetops adventure as well as walking the famous bridge.