AAA Destination Guide: Vancouver

AAA Destination Guide: Vancouver , updated 4/16/15, 5:00 PM

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Discover everything that #Vancouver BC has to offer. One of the world’s great outdoor food markets, Granville Island Market isthe place to go for a slice of Vancouver life as well as the freshest fruits,vegetables, cheeses, meats, candy, baked goods and flowers and Downtown’s Robson Street beckons shoppers with its trendy designerboutiques, bookstores, jewelry shops and more. When you need a break,grab a seat and a cappuccino at a bistro or coffee shop and watch theworld go by.

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AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps,
travel information and top picks
AAA Destination Guide: Vancouver includes trip-planning information
covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive
member discounts, maps and more.  
Vancouver has won many accolades as one
of the top cities in the Americas, and for very
good reasons. Set against a backdrop of
majestic snow-capped mountains, the city lies
on a peninsula that juts into the Pacific
Ocean. This spectacular setting allows for a
plethora of outdoor adventures, including
skiing, sailing, hiking, scuba diving, fishing
and more.
Explore cosmopolitan Vancouver’s diverse
neighborhoods, ranging from trendy Yaletown
to dynamic Gastown to Granville Island with
its outdoor food market, where more than 50 permanent vendors vie for
your attention with such treats as sourdough baguettes, homemade goat
cheese, spicy sausages and crisp apples. If you’re in the mood for fine
dining, indulge in fresh regional seafood, a Vancouver specialty, at one of
the city’s first-rate restaurants.
Must-sees include Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain. Stanley Park is a
veritable oasis with its beaches, gardens, woodlands, and splendid views
of the waterfront, while the view from a gondola atop Grouse Mountain
will leave you breathless. For a memento of your trip, shop for some
original First Nations art at local galleries. With all that Vancouver has to
offer, your most difficult task will be choosing what to do during your visit.
But remember, you can always come back.
Essentials
One of the world’s great outdoor food markets, Granville Island Market is
the place to go for a slice of Vancouver life as well as the freshest fruits,
vegetables, cheeses, meats, candy, baked goods and flowers.
Downtown’s Robson Street beckons shoppers with its trendy designer
boutiques, bookstores, jewelry shops and more. When you need a break,
grab a seat and a cappuccino at a bistro or coffee shop and watch the
world go by.
Enjoy fabulous waterside views while strolling, bicycling or rollerblading
around the perimeter sea wall of Stanley Park. Beaches, gardens and
woodland glades complete this 405-hectare (1,000-acre) urban
sanctuary.
White beluga whales steal the show at Vancouver Aquarium Marine
Science Centre; competing for attention are the center’s other 8,000
marine animals including sea lions, sharks and walruses as well as
rainforest creatures such as iguanas and crocodiles.
On a clear day, you can see forever at Grouse Mountain; the Skyride, an
aerial cable car, presents a breathtaking view of Vancouver and the
harbor.
Spot pods of orcas and other sea creatures on a whale-watching cruise.


Destination Guide: Vancouver 
2 
Essentials Map
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com
Dine in restaurants that rival New York’s; an array of multicultural cuisines
is available, but don’t leave town without savoring mouth-watering Pacific
Northwest and Asian cuisine featuring freshly caught seafood.
Discover one of Vancouver’s trendiest neighborhoods; Yaletown has
earned comparisons to New York’s SoHo and rightfully so. Once a
warehouse district, the area now attracts the young and hip with its of-
the-moment boutiques, galleries, loft apartments, pubs and outdoor
cafés.
Confront your fear of heights with a walk across the Capilano Suspension
Bridge in North Vancouver; it sways 70 metres (230 ft.) above the
Capilano River Canyon.

Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members

- Exclusive AAA member discounts available
1. Stanley Park
7500 Stanley Park Dr
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
Phone: (604) 681-6728



2. Vancouver Aquarium Marine
Science Centre
845 Avison Way
Vancouver, BC V6B 3X6
Phone: (604) 659-3474


3. Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
Phone: (604) 980-9311




4. Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Rd
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1
Phone: (877) 985-7474





Destination Guide: Vancouver 
3 
Vancouver in 3 Days
Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination.
But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your
time in Vancouver.
Vancouver in 3 Days – Day 1 Map

Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com

Day 1: Morning
Kick off your tour of Vancouver at the Vancouver Lookout at Harbour
Centre. A glass elevator zips to the top of this 177-metre-tall (581-ft.)
building, where 360-degree views of the city skyline, the North Shore
Mountains, English Bay, Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the Port of
Vancouver take your breath away.
Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
1.Vancouver Lookout
at Harbour Centre
555 W Hastings St
Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6
Phone: (604) 689-0421

2. Stanley Park
7500 Stanley Park Dr
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
Phone: (604) 681-6728


3. Stanley Park
Horse-drawn Tours
7500 Stanley Park Dr
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4
Phone: (604) 681-5115

4. Vancouver Aquarium
Marine Science Centre
845 Avison Way
Vancouver, BC V6B 3X6
Phone: (604) 659-3474


5. The Fish House
in Stanley Park

8901 Stanley Park Dr
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
Phone: (604) 681-7275

6. Chinatown
East Pender St & Gore St
Vancouver, BC V6B 6M4
Phone: (604) 658-8850

7. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen
Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
Phone: (604) 662-3207

8. Pink Pearl Chinese
Restaurant

1132 E Hastings St
Vancouver, BC V6A 1S2
Phone: (604) 253-4316

9. Wild Rice

117 W Pender St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1S4
Phone: (604) 642-2882

10. Yaletown Brewing
Company

1111 Mainland St
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2
Phone: (604) 681-2739

11. Sandman Hotel
Vancouver City Center

180 W Georgia St
Vancouver, BC
Phone: (604) 681-2211
Destination Guide: Vancouver 
4 
Catch a bus to your next destination (Translink offers bus service to
points throughout Vancouver). Stanley Park boasts dense forests,
beautiful waterfront views, beaches, gardens, totem poles and a
children’s farmyard on its 405 hectares (1,000 acres). Watch or join
joggers, cyclists and inline skaters as they follow the park’s 8.8-kilometre-
long (5.5-ft.) sea wall. Or explore the park on a leisurely 1-hour trolley
ride, offered by Stanley Park Horse-drawn Tours.
Afternoon
Stanley Park also is home to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science
Centre, where you’ll meet beluga whales, sea lions, otters, dolphins,
sharks and other creatures of the deep. When hunger strikes, you won’t
have to go far; lunch on floppingly fresh seafood and raw oysters at The
Fish House in Stanley Park. Afternoon tea, served daily at the restaurant
from 2-4, features delightful finger sandwiches, miniature desserts,
fragrant teas and cordials.
Venturing out of Stanley Park, head east on W. Georgia Street, then east
on W. Pender Street to North America’s second-largest and very vibrant
Chinatown, between Carrall and Gore streets. Snap up some souvenirs
at colorful emporiums; choose from Chinese décor, crafts, curios, jewelry,
foods and fashions as well as bamboo, jade, brass and silk goods. Note
the poppy-red street signs accentuated with golden dragons and Chinese
lanterns.
Escape the bustling crowds at Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical
Chinese Garden. Experience peace and harmony as you stroll the paths
of this Ming Dynasty-style garden accented with pagodas, plum trees,
bamboo and jade-hued ponds.
Evening
When in Chinatown, eat where the locals do. Fresh local seafood and
vegetables hold center stage at the 700-seat Pink Pearl Chinese
Restaurant. If you arrive earlier in the day, sample the dim sum; it’s
considered one of the best in the area. Wild Rice serves up a modern
interpretation of Asian cuisine and is open late for night owls.
If you love the nightlife and you love to boogie, and you’ve got some
surplus energy, Vancouver clubs run the gamut from frenetic discos,
intimate lounges and swanky cabarets to beery pubs, sports bars and
stadium concerts. You’ll find these just about anywhere in the metro area,
but some neighborhoods offer clusters of clubs if you prefer to park once
and barhop the rest of the night. Downtown’s Granville Street is where
the 24-hour party people go; try Crush Champagne Lounge, Stone
Temple Nightclub and Tonic.
Gastown, Kitsilano and Yaletown also are popular with clubgoers.
Gastown boasts The Drink, The Modern, Shine and Sonar, all places to
drink, dance and be merry. Kitsilano (or Kits, as the natives call it) is
home to the well-known Cellar Restaurant and Jazz Bar which hosts local
and international talent. Wondering where to watch some good flamenco
dancing in Vancouver? The Kino Café on Cambie Street is just the place;
sip some sangria and clap along to the music.
Finally, Yaletown, home base for the city’s young, stylish professionals, is
where you’ll find hipper-than-thou hangouts. Bar None on Hamilton Street
is a SoHo-style spot with a cigar lounge and martini bar, while Yaletown
Brewing Company is popular with the 9-to-5 crowd for microbrews and
burgers; it has a homey feel complete with a fireplace and pool tables. If
you just want to trip the light fantastic, hit Richard’s on Richard’s—its
popular with the locals for its large dance floor and live DJs; be sure to
look sharp as there’s a dress code. On Seymour Street is AuBar;
Vancouver is known as Hollywood North and it’s not unusual to find
celebs at this au courant club. Go four blocks east and you’ll find a
different vibe at The Shark Club, a sports bar in the Sandman Hotel
Vancouver City Center on W. Georgia Street; masculine, modern décor,
pool tables, big-screen TVs and hockey fans fill the joint. After 10 p.m.,
live DJs and go-go dancers get the party started.
Day 2: Morning
Take the Aquabus ferry across False Creek to Granville Island. At
Granville Island Market, peruse stalls showcasing every type of edible
imaginable—all locally produced—and gather a variety of scrumptious
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Destination Guide: Vancouver 
6 

Vancouver in 3 Days
Map and Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members

- Exclusive AAA member discounts available
1. Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
Phone: (604) 980-9311



2. Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Rd
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1
Phone: (877) 985-7474


3. Moustache Café

129 W 2nd St
North Vancouver, BC V7M 1C5
Phone: (604) 987-8461
4. Cactus Club Café

1598 Pemberton Ave
North Vancouver, BC V7P 2S2
Phone: (604) 986-5776

5. The Edge Bistro

3135 Edgemont Blvd
North Vancouver, BC V7R 2N7
Phone: (604) 985-9125

6. Harbour Cruises
501 Denman St
Vancouver, BC V6G 2W9
Phone: (604) 688-7246

Evening
For your evening repast, choose from Vancouver’s vast selection of fine
restaurants, many with picturesque waterfront views. Some of the best
include The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant on Granville Island, or C
Restaurant just across the Granville Street Bridge.
After dinner, catch a hockey game when the Canucks take to the ice at
General Motors Place, 800 Griffiths Way. Alternatively, cap off your day
at a high-energy nightclub, an Irish pub or a concert by local or
international performers; Vancouver’s thriving nightlife caters to all tastes.
See Day One’s list for suggestions.
Day 3: Morning
Board the SeaBus downtown to cross Burrard Inlet, then it’s on to
Lonsdale Quay, where a Translink bus will take you to Grouse Mountain
in North Vancouver. Depending on the season, activities include skiing,
ice-skating, sleigh rides, helicopter tours, a lumberjack show…and that’s
Destination Guide: Vancouver 
7 
just the tip of the iceberg. The panorama of downtown Vancouver from
the mountain is simply sublime.
About 3 kilometres (1.9 mi.) from Grouse Mountain, the 137-metre-long
(450-ft.) Capilano Suspension Bridge challenges you to tread 70 metres
(230 ft.) above the Capilano River through the rain forest. After you brave
the bridge, take in the totem pole park, gardens and First Nations
dancers.
Afternoon
North Vancouver has a number of quaint bistros to quell your lunchtime
appetite. The Moustache Cafe specializes in Pacific Rim cuisine, the
Cactus Club Café has casual fare and wild BC salmon, and The Edge
Bistro features Mediterranean cuisine and delectable tiramisu.
Head back to downtown Vancouver and explore some of the city’s many
distinctive neighborhoods. You’ll find funky boutiques, bookstores and
coffee shops on Kitsilano’s West Fourth Avenue, while antique shops, art
galleries, pubs and street vendors line Gastown’s cobblestone streets.
Formerly an industrial area, the trendy Yaletown district now houses
swank furniture and clothing shops, cafes and hip nightclubs. Robson
Street, between Burrard and Jervis streets, has the feel of an outdoor
mall with such well-known chains as Banana Republic and BCBG Max
Azria as well as a wide selection of popular restaurants and
coffeehouses.
Evening
Marvel at downtown’s nighttime skyline ablaze with lights as you tour
Vancouver’s waters on a dinner cruise provided by Harbour Cruises;
you’ll be treated to a tasty West Coast-style buffet and live music. Watch
an awe-inspiring sunset over the Pacific Ocean and check out the
picture-postcard scenery, including the snow-sprinkled North Shore
Mountains and West Vancouver’s shoreline.
Restaurants
Some of Vancouver’s finest restaurants can be found downtown. Freshly
caught seafood and Pacific Rim cuisine are the mainstays of many of
them; originality and creativity are chief ingredients in all. On trendy
Denman Street in Vancouver’s West End, with excellent views of English
Bay, the name of Rain City Grill was chosen as a not-so-subtle reference
to the misty Vancouver climate. Menu selections at this true Pacific
Northwest eatery are created with the freshest regionally produced fish,
meats and vegetables. In keeping with the Pacific theme, there is an
extensive selection of wines from British Columbia, Washington and
Oregon as well as wines from California. If you’re bound and determined
to drive, take advantage of the evening valet parking service as parking
can be very difficult to find on your own.
On Robson Street, a window-shopper’s dream, CinCin (pronounced chin-
chin), with its bustling atmosphere, is known as the place to see and be
seen. Film stars like to dine here, so have a look around and see if you
can spot someone famous. The large, open-kitchen concept features a
unique wood-fired brick oven where juicy rotisserie chicken turns slowly.
The special wood-oven pizzas fill the restaurant with a delightful aroma.
For meat lovers, fresh seafood and meats are grilled over alderwood,
enhancing them with a unique flavor. During warmer weather the heated
outdoor terrace is open and overlooks colorful Robson Street below.
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House is a popular San Francisco-style
seafood grill found on one of Vancouver’s busiest downtown corners just
off Robson Street. Just who is Joe Fortes? Vancouver’s beloved turn-of-
the-20th-century hero was one of the city’s first lifeguards who taught
hundreds of local children how to swim. When he died in 1923 a
monument was erected in his honor at English Bay which reads simply
“Little children loved him.” Today, the classically styled Canadian seafood
restaurant and bustling oyster bar named after Joe is one of the city’s
hidden pleasures. In a typical year more than 300,000 fresh-shucked
oysters will be served and more than 100 types of just-caught fish are
grilled to perfection. Try Joe’s signature hand-cut steaks or Salt Spring
Island lamb chops. Sunday brunches feature lobster benedict, seafood
hash and live entertainment. One special highlight is a delightful rooftop
garden open year-round.
Destination Guide: Vancouver 
8 
Hervé Martin, the chef/owner of The Hermitage, received his training in
France and served as private chef to the King of Belgium as well as head
chef in some of the finest hotels in Europe. This charming French
restaurant on Robson Street combines a casual yet refined atmosphere
with a regularly changing menu, reflecting a Burgundian style mixed with
the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. In warmer weather, a courtyard patio
invites you to dine alfresco. The highly rated wine cellar includes fine
burgundies from the owner’s family vineyard in Chamilly, France.
Bacchus Restaurant has been a CAA/AAA Four Diamond Award winner
since 1998. This luxurious restaurant is in The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa,
a swank boutique hotel in downtown Vancouver. The windows in the
piano lounge open after dusk in the balmy summer months, providing
diners and lounge patrons a great spot for people watching. The creative
menu with a heavy French accent features à la carte menu items or a
three-course prix fixe menu, with or without wine pairings from its
spectacular globe-spanning wine list. Choose from delectable dishes
such as pan-seared British Columbia salmon or grilled Alberta “Sterling
Silver” beef tenderloin. Afternoon tea and brunch are served on
weekends. You might start brunch with a kir royale and progress to such
treats as banana and pecan pancakes and sausage of wild boar.
Voted Best New Vancouver Restaurant for 2002 in a local opinion poll,
Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar is in the funky Yaletown district, Vancouver’s
hot mecca for food and fashion. This hip grill’s mid-century modern décor
with illuminated cubes, groovy pendant lamps and mod carpet draws both
the young and the young-at-heart. Wonderful West Coast regional cuisine
is influenced by different cultures and flavors from around the world.
Sizzling satays, tuna tartare and grilled beef tenderloin are just a few
items sure to please your palate. The most recent addition to Glowbal is
the sexy Afterglow, a 50-seat lounge that is “the” place to be on
weekends.
At the end of Davie Street adjacent to False Creek, Provence Marinaside
serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Named after a small marina nearby,
this restaurant’s main emphasis is on freshly caught seafood, and lots of
it. An extensive antipasti menu includes grilled items such as squid,
eggplant, asparagus and rosemary polenta. A raw oyster bar presents a
sizable selection to fans of the bivalve mollusks. If you prefer the fruits of
the sea grilled, steamed or seared, wise choices include seared ahi tuna
and wild Pacific sea tiger prawns Provençal. Give yourself plenty of time
to peruse the voluminous wine list.
The Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen Garden sits amid the 22-
hectare (55-acre) VanDusen Botanical Garden and features creative
contemporary West Coast cuisine. You’ll find fresh ingredients from the
garden in many of the lunch and dinner entrées. Try the afternoon tea or
the daily specials of homemade soups, or ask about the chicken pot pie,
a longtime favorite.
Lumiere, about a 10-minute drive west of
downtown Vancouver, is a wonderful award-
winning restaurant presenting the ultimate
dining experience. Chef/owner Robert Feenie
has trained with some of the most notable
chefs in the world, including Emile Jung at Au
Crocodile in Alsace and Jean-Georges
Vongerichten at New York’s Jean-Georges.
Feenie also won the Iron Chef America
contest in 2005 and is a regular on Canada’s
Food Network TV. The preset menu with a
choice of nine or 13 courses changes monthly at this formal French
restaurant; wine pairings are optional and a vegetarian version is
available. You also may order from an à la carte menu; seasonal
selections might include split pea crusted halibut or sous vide saddle of
lamb.
Regularly voted Vancouver’s most popular restaurant, advance
reservations are the only way in the door at Bishop’s, west of downtown.
In business for more than 20 years, the restaurant serves contemporary
North American cuisine. It’s an intimate, very upscale room on two levels
where presentation of food is a painstaking performance. The menu
Destination Guide: Vancouver 
9 
Restaurants Map
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com


weekly but always includes the season’s freshest ingredients and local
organic produce. Entrées might include Fraser Valley lamb, roasted
Cowichan Bay Farm duck breast or Dungeness crab cake. Service is very
attentive but sometimes demands a wait. Owner John Bishop is a well-
known fixture on the restaurant scene and a consummate host who often
caters to a film star crowd.
Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
1. Rain City Grill

1193 Denman St
Vancouver, BC V6G 2N1
Phone: (604) 685-7337

2. CINCIN

1154 Robson St
Vancouver, BC V6E 1B5
Phone: (604) 688-7338

3. Joe Fortes Seafood
& Chop House

777 Thurlow St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5
Phone: (604) 669-1940

4. Bacchus Restaurant

845 Hornby St
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1V1
Phone: (604) 608-5319

5. The Hermitage

115/1025 Robson St
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A9
Phone: (604) 689-3237

6. Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar

1079 Mainland St
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9
Phone: (604) 602-0835

7. Provence Marinaside

1177 Marinaside Crescent
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3
Phone: (604) 681-4144

8. Shaughnessy Restaurant
At VanDusen Garden

5251 Oak St
Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1
Phone: (604) 261-0011

9. Lumiere

2551 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9
Phone: (604) 739-8185

10. Bishop's

2183 W 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7
Phone: (604) 738-2025

11. The Fish House
in Stanley Park

8901 Stanley Park Dr
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
Phone: (604) 681-7275

12. Salmon House
on the Hill

2229 Folkestone Way
West Vancouver, BC V7S 2Y6
Phone: (604) 926-3212


Destination Guide: Vancouver 
10 
The Fish House in Stanley Park is an urban gem and can be found in
Stanley Park next to the tennis courts. Reminiscent of a lush, old country
estate and surrounded by vibrant gardens, the restaurant has earned
raves from both patrons and media for its “seafresh” seafood menu.
Several favorites are worth noting: the seafood bowl, a Pacific Northwest
bouillabaisse of shellfish and local fresh fish; flaming prawns flambéed
tableside or the grilled wild salmon with maple glaze. A daily fresh sheet
provides an abundant choice of simply prepared local and imported fish.
Afternoon tea is served daily from 2 to 4. While this is a celebration of a
British tradition, this event offers a new twist on the classic tea
sandwiches and scones.
Across English Bay in West Vancouver on your way to the Horseshoe
Bay Ferry Terminal or heading to Whistler, the hilltop Salmon House on
the Hill restaurant has been creating some of the best Pacific Rim cuisine
for more than 23 years. Dramatic panoramic views of English Bay and
the downtown core can be seen from every table. Fish and meats are
smoked or flame-grilled and flavored with smoky-sweet green alderwood.
Barbecued fresh BC salmon is Salmon House’s signature dish along with
a wide selection of Pacific Northwest wines. You simply can’t beat the
views or the food here if you’re looking for a truly memorable Vancouver
experience.
Attractions
In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where
to spend your time. Here are the highlights for this destination, as chosen
by AAA editors. GEMs are “Great Experiences for Members.”
A good way to start your visit is with an eagle’s-eye view of Vancouver as
seen from Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre. You’ll be whisked up
169 metres (554 ft.) via glass elevators to the observation deck, where
you’ll see sweeping views of the city as well as its shimmering harbor and
snow-dusted mountains. In North Vancouver, you can ride an aerial cable
car to view Vancouver from a vantage point of 1,100 metres (3,609 ft.) at
AAA GEM attraction Grouse Mountain. The view is nothing short of
spectacular and there’s plenty to do, including helicopter and sleigh rides,
guided forest strolls, a lumberjack show and a wildlife refuge. Also in
North Vancouver is AAA GEM attraction the Capilano Suspension Bridge,
where you’ll cautiously walk 70 metres (230 ft.) above a 300-year-old rain
forest. Watch First Nations artists carve totem poles at the carving center.
The highest point in Vancouver is the incongruously named Little
Mountain at Queen Elizabeth Park. You’ll marvel at the 360-degree view
of the city’s skyline from Little Mountain’s lookouts. The park also
contains a dry quarry garden and an arboretum with specimens of nearly
all of Canada’s trees.
Vancouver’s moderate climate and frequent but light rains create the
perfect environment for lush gardens throughout the city. Stanley Park, a
AAA GEM attraction, gives credence to this fact with its elegant
manicured gardens interspersed with tangles of old-growth forests. The
park, surrounded on three sides by water, also features several beaches
and is bordered by a 10-kilometre (6.5-mi.) seawall. Horse-drawn
carriage rides are a pleasing way to take in this bit of heaven on earth.
VanDusen Botanical Garden is another AAA GEM attraction that has
taken full advantage of the local climate. You’ll find 40 themed gardens,
including a Rhododendron Walk and a Sino Himalayan Garden, as you
wander the meandering paths of this 22-hectare (55-acre) paradise. A
highlight is a hedge maze made of 3,000 pyramidal cedars. The 28
hectares (69 acres) of UBC Botanical Garden at the University of British
Columbia include the Asian Garden, where you can admire the rare blue
Himalayan poppy. A native British Columbian garden, alpine garden,
16th-century monastic herb garden and traditional Japanese tea and
stroll garden are other treasures you’ll unearth.
While you’re on the UBC campus, take some time to explore its notable
museums. The UBC Museum of Anthropology showcases the art and
culture of British Columbia’s aboriginal people; among the masterpieces
in its modern galleries are one of the world’s finest collections of totem
poles as well as aboriginal jewelry and ceremonial masks.