GET INTO NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR AUTHENTIC CITY EXPERIENCES

by Julie H. Ferguson

Vancouver's Denman Street is sandwiched by the sea at either end, and Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver lie along its western and eastern sides. Funky, friendly, and residential, it's a great place to spend a day as if you're a local. Eat here too in one of over fifty cafés.... Visit http://daytripstravelguide.com/exploring-a-vancouver-hood.html to read more.

Here are some pix to entice you!

Coal Harbour at the north end

English Bay at the south end
(© Doug Matthews, with permission)

Robson and Denman Streets 

Denman's cafés represent cuisines
from around the world 

Ten minutes from Denman by bike
is the Vancouver Aquarium

Images: © Photos by Pharos 2013, except where noted.

Related blog posts:

• Denman Street: Day one  http://stampsinmypassport.blogspot.ca/2013/03/hometown-tourist-day-one.html
• Denman Street: Day two  http://stampsinmypassport.blogspot.ca/2013/03/hometown-tourist-day-two.html
• Vancouver Aquarium:  http://stampsinmypassport.blogspot.ca/2013/03/vancouvers-aquarium-is-must-see.html

VANCOUVER'S AQUARIUM IS A MUST-SEE

Clown fish in the Tropic Zone

I've been to several world-class aquariums in my life. Monterey (MBARI) and San Diego (Sea World) spring to my mind—the first is primarily into research and education, the second is more performance oriented but has a strong subtext of education too.

With only two days in Vancouver, I had to make tough decisions about where I should spend my time. It was early March and the weather, though dry, was grey and chilly. So the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park was an ideal choice, especially as I wanted to try out some activities of interest to families visiting from overseas.

Dolphin pool 

Since last taking my daughter there when she was in elementary school, and she is now nearly thirty (!), I was impressed by the improvements, which are on-going. The exhibits inside are stunning and the marine mammals in the huge pools can be seen up close outside and in underwater viewing galleries.

Belugas from Canada's Arctic and Pacific White-sided Dolphins from our wild coast put on shows for the public throughout the day and are worth watching, though not as spectacular as the performing Orcas, etc., at Sea World. Kids cannot be dragged away from the sea otters on the surface and underwater, and adults are not immune from their heart-stopping cuteness either. The African Penguins are the next cutest at Penguin Point....

A male Gramma fish

The tanks inside in the various galleries are fascinating—from Frogs Forever to the Tropic Zone; from the Treasures of the BC Coast to the Amazon Rain Forest; from the Strait of Georgia to the North Coast of BC; from jellyfish to sharks and giant turtles. They're all there in huge tanks, up close and personal. There's even a 4D theatre to enjoy with thrilling sensory effects, including smells.



The Vancouver Aquarium is a wonderful choice for something to see and do in any weather with kids or without.

And, if you want to make a day of it in the summer months, the seawall around Stanley Park offers plenty of views, beaches, and cafes. There's even carriage rides, a miniature railway, and a splash park that enchant children as well.

IMAGES: © Photos by Pharos 2013. All rights reserved.

HOMETOWN TOURIST: Day two

Walking in Vancouver early in the morning my nose was filled with the aroma of roasting coffee. Its flavour changed each time I walked another block and passed another coffee shop. Tantalizing, but I wasn't looking for my fix just then, I was headed west down the last two blocks of Robson.

Times Square Suites are on the edge of the residential part of the West End of Vancouver that butts up against Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. Quiet, treelined streets with older apartment blocks. Residents were out walking their pint-sized dogs and jogging before work; several dads were walking their toddlers. A man was sweeping a walkway and another was hoeing around miniature daffodils in bloom. Everyone said good morning to me with a smile. I felt as if I was a local, not a guest in a lovely hotel.

I was on a quest to find the Nature House run by the Stanley Park Ecology Society because in the summer months they run programs for kids and families. They take them on walks in the west coast rainforest to see the wildlife. Sadly the House was closed, but it may be open on weekends according to the sign on the door.

Above the Nature House, I met a grey-haired lady with the fattest pug I'd ever seen riding in a basket on her walker. She loves the neighbourhood she's lived in for over fifteen years and walks to Lost Lagoon every day it's not raining. We talked for a long while—Vancouverites are SO friendly.

Visitors can rent bikes to cycle round the park at a number of locations in this neighbourhood. I visited Ezee Bike and Snowboard Rentals, a shop tucked below Times Square Suites. It's owned by Andy Kuo, who also operates another by the Vancouver Convention Centre. His claim to fame are his power-assisted, electric bikes for $40 a day. No other bike rental has them and Andy told me they are his most popular model. He rents all kinds of bikes for adults and kids, from road racing bikes to mountain bikes and old-fashioned bikes with baskets. Helmets are provided. It's the cheapest bike rental in the city and cyclists can rent by the hour too. Andy also rents snowboards and boots for winter tourists who want to try out the city ski areas of Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour.

I was offered a bike for the day, but it wasn't the right time as I had to make a beeline for the acclaimed Vancouver Aquarium, which I had not visited in much too long. I'll save that adventure for the next post.

IMAGES: © Photos by Pharos 2013. All rights reserved

HOMETOWN TOURIST: Day One

On a cold, grey March day I drove for forty minutes until I arrived in Vancouver. I've lived in or close to this Pacific coast city for 42 years and never fail to be smitten. I'm the guest of Times Square Suites, a hotel that caters to families and business travelers. It's at the corner of Robson and Denman, a couple of blocks from Vancouver's jewel, Stanley Park.

My suite is light and airy, large and clean, and overlooks Denman from the fourth and top floor. I expected traffic noise from this busy street but, no, it's quiet. Decor is soft earth tones. I have a full kitchen, albeit small, and a fireplace. The bed looks very comfy and the bathroom is average size.

I went up to the roof garden, which is lovely with a barbecue for guests to use. I can imagine how refreshing it would be on a hot summer night to have steak and some wine up here away from the crowds that flock to this 'hood in July and August.

After settling in, I went for a walk south on Denman all the way to English Bay and its beach, and then walked back seeking out a place for lunch. The showers had stopped by the time I ventured out. Denman has a huge choice of eateries from the award-winning Raincity Grill at the south end to myriad hole-in-the-wall cafes on every block. It seems that every country's cuisine is represented. In the end I chose a run-down looking Ukrainian resto and enjoyed delicious homemade perogies. Earlier I had found The House of Empanadas where I couldn't resist buying a couple of empanadas for a picnic lunch tomorrow.

There are very few tourists about in Vancouver's West End in early March. Instead Denman was full of locals walking their pint-sized Yorkies and poodles, and many elderly residents greeting their friends outside the busy community centre and gossiping in coffee shops. People-watching is at its finest here in summer.

 Third Beach in Stanley Park
Photo: Wikipedia

The location of Times Square Suites is ideal. Visitors can walk to Stanley Park
and its beaches, to English Bay, and to the heart of Vancouver along the famed Robson Street with its stores like Hermés and Tiffany's. A short taxi ride will deposit you at the False Creek ferry dock where you can catch a cute boat to Granville Island and the famous market, which can take a day to explore. This hotel is also well served by transit, which can whisk you to the North Shore across Lions Gate Bridge to its mountains.

Dinner at Nook, a small Italian resto next door to hotel. Small menu too, but the lamb ragout pasta dish was superb. Good Italian wine list. Filled up fast with a line-up out the door. Noisy, but fun. Would definitely eat there again.

IMAGES: © Photos by Pharos 2013, except where indicated.

STAMP: WEEKEND IN VANCOUVER

Image: Julie H. Ferguson (Photos by Pharos)

Husband and I are heading down to Vancouver next weekend for a break and some foodie enjoyment. Staying at the Westin Bayshore hotel that overlooks Stanley Park and the mountains. Weather forecast is for clouds and showers, but who cares?

We've made a reservation for lunch at Cardero's on Saturday, will visit a photography exhibition, enjoy a leisurely brunch on Sunday, take a walk, and spend money at the Gourmet Warehouse, the best place to shop if you are a keen cook.

QUESTIONS:

• Where do you go for a weekender? 
• What do you like to do?