Vancouver has earned a name as of the most beautiful cities because of its urban beaches and mountain backdrop. With its equable climate which keeps temperatures mild all over the year, Vancouver is a haven for leisure activities. It is also known for its busy and bustling cultural life and you can easily explore the modern Downtown on foot. Here are the top 8 most popular places to visit in this majestic city of Vancouver.
-
Stanley Park
It is a peninsula park with large trees close to the Downtown Vancouver. This park encircles a paved seawall path along the green space, which you can explore on foot or by bicycle. You just take a stroll and explore many local attractions ranging from the totem poles to the Vancouver Aquarium.
-
Grouse Mountain
Throughout the year, Grouse Mountain features an amazing panorama in clear sky which becomes visible in the evenings when the city lights are lit. You can board a gondola that plights daily from street level to the summit, where activities, dining, and wildlife awaits if you are a mountaintop explorer. It also offers snowshoeing, skating, skiing and snowboarding acting as a winter wonderland.
-
Museum of Anthropology
This museum is part of the University of British Columbia, which features a diverse glimpse of cultures from around the world, especially of British Columbia First Nations. In exhibitions, you see enjoy the native art, including large totem poles in the Great Hall. The museum building was originally part of a WWII-era fort, which was later transformed into a world-class museum by the local architect Arthur Erickson.
You can also explore some other attractions on the university campus i.e. the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, the clothing shoreline of Wreck Beach, and the amazing UBC Botanical Garden that features several interesting plantings and lent Nitobe Japanese Garden.
4. Granville Island
Granville Island is full of activities within a relaxed and distinctive atmosphere. It is packed with many artists and retailers who have moved into converted warehouses alongside theaters, houseboats, restaurants, and galleries. The local market is one of the most popular areas you can find people selling seafood, fruit and vegetables, seafood, and a range of other specialties along with eatery items as well.
5. Kitsilano Beach
The white shoreline of Kitsilano Beach depicts the true picture of the laid-back, fun-loving Vancouver lifestyle. It’s the most popular place for residents to spend time with friends or take a dip in the heated seawater swimming pool. The mountain backdrop is again a big attraction. The sceneries from Kitsilano over the city center are amazing. Apart from the oceanfront and the beach, this place has many cafés and walking trails, and a lively shopping strip lies a few blocks south on West Fourth Avenue.
6. Canada Place
Canada place is, in fact, the beginning of the Vancouver trip for several visitors. The amazing roof gives an impression of a huge sailing vessel which is again an attraction for the visitors. You can also witness the architectural excellence of part cruise ship terminal, part convention center, and hotel, and part hub for sightseeing bus tours. At the edge, there are picturesque views making this place even more amazing. Waterfront Station is also situated nearby which is a popular transit hub where ferries are transported to the public market at Lonsdale Quay.
7. Gastown
Gastown is the oldest area of the city with restaurants, galleries, and shops set in carefully restored Victorian buildings. It has heritage structures, iron lampposts, and cobblestone streets that give the district its distinctive ambiance. You can stop here for photos with Gassy Jack who was a popular name of Gastown and also visit the adjacent Steam Clock, which releases steam-powered chimes every 15 minutes.
8. Chinatown
Apart from the well-embellished Millennium Gate marking its entrance, Vancouver’s delicate Chinatown is a center of modern infrastructure amongst many older ones of Victorian times. You will find the signs at shops and restaurants are mostly written in Chinese characters, especially along Keefer, East Pender, and Main streets. The major local attractions of Chinatown include the pretty walled Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the Sam Kee Building, which at just two meters wide and considered to be the narrowest office building in the world. Chinese New Year is celebrated with an excellent parade in this town.
