Visit Vancouver and British Columbia with Carhire3000
A visit to Vancouver and the surrounding territory of British Columbia yields some of the most glorious sightseeing opportunities on the planet. Using the activity-filled city of Vancouver as your base, opportunities are limitless when hiring a car; from the immense spectacle of the Rockies and the formidable National Parks of Banff and Jasper; the glorious scenery and beautiful coast of the Pacific Rim; and the untainted beauty of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Get your bearings at the immense Vancouver Convention Centre by the harbour at Canada Place, where you are able to ascend the stairs to the upper deck of the building for a great panoramic view of the city and its suburbs. In the distance you will see the North Coast Mountains, Gastown, Stanley Park and of course the myriad of skyscrapers that rise up majestically across the downtown area.
Make your first port of call the nearby Stanley Park. Leave your car in the car park and take the one-hour tour by carriage. Inside the park you will find the revered Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. Regarded as one of the best in North America, the aquarium boasts dolphins, sea otters and beluga whales and should not be missed.
If you are visiting during the warmer months, take the short drive to the south of Stanley Park where you will find English Bay Beach. The sunsets here can be incredible and the area is ideal for many relaxation activities such as sunbathing, walking, cycling and roller-blading. If you happen to be here during the last week of July and the first week of August, don’t miss the ‘Celebration of Light’ – the world’s largest offshore fireworks display.
Whilst in the area, take in Robson Street and Vancouver’s West End where you will find a fine selection of shops, cafes and restaurants, set in an extremely vibrant atmosphere. Of the many eateries to choose from, seriously consider the Rain City Grill on Denman Street, where excellent locally produced dishes combine with stunning views of English Bay Beach.
Make sure you leave yourself time to visit the UBC Anthropology Museum. Just a twenty-minute drive from the West End, the museum has collated a simply inspiring collection of First Nations art, which includes totem poles and tribal masks.
The Vancouver Art Gallery should also be visited. Inside you will find works by British Columbia’s very own world-famous artist Emily Carr as well as other renowned local names such as Ian Wallace, Stan Douglas, Roy Arden and Brian Jungen.
Should you wish to further your interest in First Nations art, why not go and pick up a piece or two as a memento from one of the many galleries found in Gastown – Vancouver’s oldest district. Time your visit to coincide with sound of the famous Gastown Steam Clock letting out its chimes at noon, before heading to the rejuvenated Blood Alley, which boasts a good array of modern and inexpensive restaurants.
From Gastown, drive east to another of the city’s most celebrated districts – Chinatown. Here you will find genuine Chinese food markets amongst the throngs of bustling tourists as well as the popular Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The garden celebrates the Chinese gardening tradition of the Ming Dynasty, featuring incredibly ornate decoration patterns, winding paths, corridors and beautiful courtyards – well worth an hour of your time.
From Chinatown, head across the Granville Bridge to Granville Island. Alternatively you are able to board a small ferry from Yaletown Landing to False Creek on the island. If you are on the island during the summer months, relax at the pretty Kitsilano Beach, which features one of the planet’s biggest freshwater pools.
| Next |
