1. Visit the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

2. Window shop at Vancouver’s best shopping areas

3. Mountain biking in the North Shore
4. People watch in Vancouver neighbourhoods
5. Visit the Christ Church Cathedral

6. Go celeb-spotting

7. Tour Vancouver’s art and other museums
8. Watch the cruise ships go by at Dundarave Pier
9. Hang out at UBC (University of British Columbia)
10. Richmond Night Market

11. Wander around Lynn Canyon

12. Tour Vancouver’s Olympic venues

13. Play disc golf at Queen Elizabeth Park

14. Take a scenic drive

15. Watch the water at Lonsdale Quay

16. Visit the beach (Wreck Beach)

Gastown is also know for the world’s first Steam Clock and is a great tourist attraction. At each 15 minute interval the clock sounds Westminster chimes on 5 brass steam whistlers. The Steam Clock was designed and put together by Raymond Saunders in 1977 based on a 1875 model, it has a cast bronze case and weighs over 2 tons and the movement was powered by a ‘falling ball’ drive.

The saloon/hotel that started it all was burned down in the Great Fire of 1886. The fire ripped through the whole town and destroyed Vancouver, it was thought to have been started by clearing fire that went out of control by Canadian Pacific Railway. It destroyed 398 homes in about an hour, only 2 of the 400 original houses made it.

Unlike the houses that burned down in the Great Fire of 1886, “The Europe Hotel” is built to withstand fire and it was the first fireproof building in western Canada. The Europe Hotel was built by Italian businessman Angelo Colari in 1892. It was known as the finest hotel in town during those days.

In Maple Tree Square you will find the statue of Gassy Jack Deighton, there is also the Fisherhead Water Fountain stands near the Lamplighter Pub in the Dominion Hotel which was the first Vancouver business to serve alcohol to women.

If you are into Canadian art , Gastown is home to many great art galleries, with works from a selection of Canadian Native artist and sculpters in Western Canada.

Participate in a free 1.5 hour walking tour of Gastown that is conducted daily from June through August. It starts at the Gastown Steam Clock and Gassy Jack statue in Maple Tree Square, you can contact the Gastown Business Improvement Society for schedules if you are interested.

Make you way to the 300 block of West Cordova Street where you will discover street shops selling collectibles, antiques, Canadian designer fashions, and dine at cool eateries, all this on one block.

Gastown is near to Vancouver city’s downtown business area and hotels so it will be quite easy to find and west of it is the Canada Place. You can easily walk from Gastown to the Cruise Ship Terminal or the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. Heading east of Gastown you will come to Vancouver’s Chinatown and you will be very close to the Sun Yat Sen Gardens. Now going south you will discover the BC Place, Rogers Arena (formerly GM Place), and International Village.

To get to Gastown is quite easy, you can get there by SkyTrain, Vancouver’s rapid transit system, SeaBus (ferry service from the North Shore), West Coast Express and city buses from all areas of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Canada Place is located on Vancouver’s waterfront at 999 Canada Place right in the middle of Howe Street and Burrard Street and paid parking is available at the Canada Place parkade. It is a stone throw away from Waterfront Station and you can also get there by Seabus, Canada Line, Skytrain and Bus.


Your first spot to visit at the Canada Place is the Welcome Centre in the Main Plaza, here you can ask and find out about the attractions at Canada Place and what events are currently happening. Also view the Storyboard for beautiful imagery and videos of Canada as a country. Walk towards the Canada Place Pier and enjoy the amazing views of Coal Harbour, North Shore mountains, Stanley Park, and Burrard Inlet.

Walk through the Canadian Trail which takes you through (virtually tour) ten provinces and three territories, starting from British Columbia to Newfoundland to the Northwest Territories. At night time you can also enjoy the view of Canada Place’s sails light up in a fantastic display of animated imagery called “The Sails of Light”. Canada Place host one of the largest and best Canada Day celebration in Canada so if your visit to Vancouver is near July 1st, Canada Day be sure to visit.

Getting There

By Foot – There is pedestrian access along the foot of Howe St & Burrard St. Canada Place is the center of downtown Vancouver and the beginning and end of the Vancouver Seawall.

History

Robson Street was named after John Robson who was the Premier of British Columbia starting from 1889 to 1892. Back in 1895 there used to be train tracks along Robson street because it was a trading and commercial area and eventually all types of small shops were set up by merchants to service Vancouver’s fast growing population.

After World War II Robson Street was known as “Robsonstrasse” which represented the European shopkeepers influence. The store owners ran small delicatessens, patisseries, and chic clothing boutiques that lined Robson street.  Over the next 100 years Robson Street’s popularity and character continued to evolve.

Robson Street is now Vancouver’s most famous shopping street right n the middle of downtown Vancouver. It’s a three block stretch between Burrard and Jervis street you will a great mixture of shops and restaurants which has become even more pronounced and more appealing in the last 20 years and today locals and tourist alike can find along Robson and its side streets, restaurants for fine dining, premier fashion brand stores and services. Also Robson Street is a great place to sit outside have a coffee and ‘people watch’ as the locals and tourist goes shopping and hangout on the street.

During the evenings Robson street and surrounding areas liven’s up with colorful buskers and performers. Both locals and tourist enjoy drinks and fine foods at some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. Robson street is renowned both on a worldwide level and locally as it remains a favorite shopping destination for locals and well as foreign visitors. Robson Street is must see if you ever visit Vancouver’s downtown area.

Getting there

• By bus Direct Service by #5 Robson/Downtown
• By Skytrain Robson Street is located 2 blocks south of Burrard Street Skytrain Station

History
The first hikers recorded in history to reach the peak in October 1894 named Grouse Mountain. In the late 1800′s, climbing Grouse Mountain was no easy task, and took nearly three or four days to complete, back then there wasn’t a bridge to cross Burrard Inlet and no paved street to the base of the Grouse Mountain. The rugged crew of hikers dredged deep  snow, climbed over rocks and of course fought their way past the dense forest. Grouse Mountain was named after Blue Grouse which was a breed of birds that were plentiful in the mountains, and this was what the band of hikers hunted while trekking to the summit.

After this first climb up Grouse Mountain and word spread the mountain started attracting hundreds of avid and adventurous hikers. Don and Phyllis Munday was one of the those adventure seeker and he built the first log cabin on the mountain. The Munday Alpine Snowpark to this day bears their name in honor of their contributions to mountaineering.

Activities

Skyride – Above the tall Douglas fir trees you can take in the beautiful view of the city of Vancouver, Pacific Ocean, Gulf Islands, and white snow peaks of the mountainside. The Skyride is on of North America’s largest aerial tramway system. You can take pictures on the way up or once up top at the The Observatory you have a wonderful dinner.

Hours of Operation
The Skyride operates 365 days a year, departing every 15 minutes from 9am-10pm.

Wind Turbine Tours – This is the world’s first and only wind turbine that allows you to stand in a clear glass view POD at the top of the tower, 3 metres from its gigantic  rotating blades. Get a 360-degree views of Grouse Mountain’s surrounding environment.

Hours & Price
Daily 10am-7pm, departing the Fire Pit area in the Alpine Plaza every hour.

Family (2 Adults, 2 Youth) – $59.95
Adult/Senior/Youth – $19.95
Child (12 & under) – Free*

Refuge for Endangered Wildlife – This is a wilderness sanctuary on Grouse Mountain where endangered animals can explore and play, it is a refuge where they can be safe and secure. There is also a research, education and conservation centre on the mountain and it’s all included in your General Admission ticket.

Lumberjack Show – The Grouse Mountain’s Lumberjack Show puts together a great crew of lumberjack performers displaying their skills.  The set for the performance is a set features two logging camps from the early 1900s, where Johnny Nelson from the Green River logging camp prepares to battle Willie McGee from Blue Mountain to determine the top lumberjack. This is a 45-minute fast paced show that  features log rolling, a 60-foot tree climb, two-man peg and raker saws, axe throwing, and springboard chop.

Showtimes (May long weekend-September)
45-minute shows at 12:00, 2:30, 4:30

Birds in Motion – Grouse Mountain, in cooperation with the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, invites you to witness some of nature’s finest birds to demonstrate their flying abilities.

Birds in Motion Demonstrations Hours
Daily at 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm (late May to mid September).

Helijet (helicopter) Tours – Get high up in the sky and enjoy the awe inspiring views from above the peaks of Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains in a helicopter ride of your lifetime. Helijet offers breathtaking tours that begin at The Peak of Vancouver.

Available Helicopter Tours
Crown Mountain Tour
An 8-minute aerial tour that will take you over the crater of an extinct volcano and the peaks of Goat and Crown Mountains.

The Lions Peak Tour
A 15-minute flight that extends the Crown Mountain Tour, you will be flown over the Capilano Valley before climbing through the peaks of the Lions.

Coastal Scenic Tour
An exciting 20-minute journey over Vancouver’s Coastal Mountains and it’s breathtaking city coastline. The tour includes Grouse Mountain, the Lions Peak Mountains, Cypress Bowl, English Bay, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver.

Grand Glacier Tour
An awe-inspiring 25-minute flight over Vancouver’s closest glacial icefield; Meslilloet Mountain. The scenery includes Goat, Crown and Cathedral Mountains, Pallisade Lake and Indian Arm before circling Meslilloet Mountain’s Glacier.

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The Ultimate Flying Experience – Tandem Paragliding offers flights launching from the Grouse Mountain Peak and landing in Cleveland Park for an elevation drop of 3,300 feet.

Hours & Price
Flights available daily, 10am-6pm (late June-September) with flights departing on the hour.

Pre-Booked Flights
$229 (inc. General Admission)
$199 (Members)

Mountain Ziplines – Our dual-line, five-line circuit gives you an adrenaline-pumping tour across the peaks and canyons of Grouse and Dam Mountains. The tour lasts about two hours and can be booked as an individual or as a group.

What the tour includes
The zipline experience will give you a unique perspective of Grouse Mountain, combining heart-pounding thrills with an exploration of BC’s old-growth forests. Along the way our fun and friendly guides will look after your safety, and share stories with you that will leave a lasting impression. And then you’ll strap yourself in and…zoom. Make sure to enjoy every second of this jaw-dropping scenery. Because it goes by fast. Crazy, awesome fast.

Hours & Price
Tours available everyday, from 10am-7pm with tours departing every 30min.
$105 (inc. General Admission)
$75 (Members)

The Grouse Grind – The Grouse Grind® is a 2.9-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, commonly referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.”

This trail is very challenging. Keep in mind that there is a wide range of mountaintop trails that might better suit the average hiker.

Trail Facts
Length: 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 853 metres (2,800 feet)
Base: 274 metres above sea level (900 feet)
Summit: 1,127 metres (3,700 feet)
Total Stairs: 2,830
Statistics: Annually, over 100,000 people hike the trail.
Average Time: On average it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike. For novice hikers, two hours is recommended.
Participants: Hikers range in age from 7 to 90, with an equal male/female split.

…and more like dining, Theatre in the Sky, scenic activities and shopping.

Stanley Park first of all is a great place to go for the family. Stanley Park is the best know and biggest park in Greater Vancouver are and is also known around the world. Situated on a peninsula at the northwestern edge of downtown Vancouver, it has 1000 acres of park and it is acessible in the middle of Vancouver and it attracts approximately 8 million visitors each year

The best way to see Stanley Park is to start somewhere along the loop and go around the park. You can do this by driving or if you are more physically fit walk the whole loop. Alternative modes of travel are biking and rollerblading and you can rent both of these at stores near Georgia and Denman Street or bring your own. The loop road at Stanley Park goes counter clockwise the car traffic is slow (speed limit) and the total distance is about 6 miles, so if you plan to walk the whole thing make sure you have ample time set aside. . Walking the loop has many advantages like seeing the landmarks along the way and getting some exercise.

Stanley Park has no shortage of trees (500,000 cedar, fir and hemlock trees) to look at as well, there are lots of trails to hike along inside the park, lovely beaches, miles of well-maintained paved. Canada’s largest aquarium and there is a swimming pool, water park. There are also has a miniature train and farmyard for kids and during Christmas season the train and farmyard are decorated in festive lights.

In terms of cost most things are free except for parking and attractions like miniature train.

Attractions

Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is home to more than 70,000 fascinating creatures.

Gardens
Stanley Park is also known for its spectacular gardens that bloom year-round.

Sightseeing Spots
The park is full of fascinating landmarks heritage destinations, including First Nation artworks, sculptures, fountains and a lighthouse.

Dining
Stanley Park is home to four unique restaurants, ranging from the causal cafe to the fine-dining seafood house.

Stanley Park Pavilion
The Stanley Park Pavilion is the oldest standing and most celebrated heritage building in the park.

Recreation

Beaches & Lakes
The park is surrounded by water, with beaches and lakes that are good for walking around and others that are great for swimming.

Seawall
Stanley Park’s most famous feature is its impressive Seawall, an 8.8-kilometre paved route that loops around the park.
Sports
From tennis and golf to rowing and cricket, the athletic facilities at Stanley Park run the gamut.

How to Get There

While there are plenty of parking throughout Stanley Park, it’s recommended you get there by public transportation especially on busy summer weekends when parking spaces are at a premium for late arrivals.

Waterfront Skytrain station offers the best access to Stanley Park if you want to take in the Seafront of Coal Harbor on the way there.

Exiting the Skytrain at Burrard Station will get you within a block of Georgia Street and from here thera are quite a few buses that goes to Stanley Park. Make sure to ask the bus driver if the bus stops near the entrance of Stanley Park, as some go straight through.

The number #19 bus takes you to the Stanley Park Loop, which is a which is great to explore the most of the park’s main attractions. You catch the number #19 bus on Pender Street or on Georgia Street west of Cardero.

There is a free Shuttle Bus operates in Stanley Park once you get there, it runs from June through September. This does a big loop around the whole park stopping at 15 of the most popular attractions. You can get off then on the bus as you like, it’s a great way to explore the park if don’t want to do a lot of walking.

Vancouver’s history is rich despite the fact that it is a young city by historic standards. The Aboriginal peoples of the Vancouver region has been there for around 3,000 years. The native settlements around Vancouver shows that the aboriginals were a food-gathering people with a intricate social system.

Captain George Vancouver sailed into Burrand Inlet and landed there in 1792 and it was the catalyst of a big change in the lives of the First Nations near the Northwest Passage.

Next came the fur traders, gold prospectors than the settlers came. In 1808 the North West Company trader Simon Fraser and his ship crew were the first Europeans descended the Fraser river to set anchor in what we know as Vancouver today. In 1862 at McLeery’s Farm on the Fraser River the European started settling here. Following that a sawmill was built at Moodyville which is now North Vancouver and the lumbering industry was started.

Gassy Jack Deighton in 1867 set up a shanty tavern and the settlement of Gastown rapidly built up around the tavern. Three years after the government surveyed the settlement and decided to build a town site and called it Granville. Vancouver was incorporated as a city In 1886, and shortly after the city was destroyed by fire a few months later. The very resilient community vowed to rebuild and within a year the small city was built. Four year later, Vancouver’s future was solidified when the train transportation from the east and traffic of ships of the Canadian Pacific fleet, arrived. This contributed to the future growth of the Vancouver.

Due to the construction of the railroad system (built on Chinese railway workers back) the population grew quickly from 5,000 in 1887 to 100,000 in 1900. The first ten years of the twentieth century, Vancouver’s population increased 300% and which attributed to a construction boom. Stanley Park ring road was the first road to receive pavement which was made out of the crushed shells of the large midden at the old native village of Lumberman’s Arch; Stanley Park ring road was paved for use by bicycles. Only after World War I were automobile roads built to link up Vancouver to other cities.