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Highlights in Richmond and Vancouver

  • A city of spectacular, natural beauty, sheltered in the southwest corner of Canada, Vancouver is the third largest city in this vast country. It boasts a population of approximately 2 million people making it the largest city in British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province. It is a magical place, nestled at the foot of the Pacific coast range of mountains, 40 km north of the United States border and surrounded on three sides by water. A serene setting that encourages “Vancouverites” to be friendly and outgoing, devoted to leisure activities, enjoy a multitude of outdoor recreation in all seasons, support and promote diversity in the visual and performing arts, maintain good health, participate in preserving the environment and express the ‘joie de vivre’ that only a cosmopolitan seaport like Vancouver can infuse into its people.

    Whether you come for the two-day ‘Snowball Classic’ or an extended visit, we hope that the following pages will provide you with enough information to ensure that your trip to this exciting place will be rewarding and memorable.

    Richmond Highlights

    Historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery – Built in 1894, the Cannery echoes the days when it was the leading producer of canned salmon in British Columbia. Today it is a fishing museum with interactive exhibits, film, and tours that demonstrate the Cannery’s important role in the history of BC’s West Coast

    Richmond Olympic Oval – The Richmond Oval is a 512,000 square foot, multi-use facility, with capacity for 8,000 spectators.  VANOC takes full operational control of the Richmond Oval for the 17-day duration of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from February 12 to 28.  The Oval will house a 400m track with capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators and will be the location of all Olympic Long Track Speed Skating events.

    Steveston Fishing Village – Steveston village is a historic salmon canning center at the mouth of the South Arm of the Fraser River, on the southwest tip of Lulu Island in Richmond, British Columbia. Since 1945 it has hosted an annual Steveston Salmon Festival on July 1, Canada Day. The most southwestern tip of this southwestern suburb contains Garry Point Park, one of few parks in the Lower Mainland with suitable wind and space for kites to be flown. The city also serves as the town of Storybrooke on the hit ABC/Disney TV series “Once Upon a Time.”

    Richmond Centre – If you love to shop, Richmond Centre is the place to be. With 240 stores and services, Richmond Centre is one of the Lower Mainland’s best shopping experiences!

    Vineyards – Richmond’s wineries include Canada Berries Enterprise and Lulu Island Winery, the largest winery in the Metro Vancouver region. While these wineries produce red and white table wines, they’re best known for more distinctive vintages: icewines and some of Canada’s best fruit wines and berry wines, including raspberry wine, gooseberry wine, blueberry wine, black currant wine, apple wine and more.

    Asian Night Markets – The Richmond Night Market and the Panda Market are open seasonally and have nearly 140 food stalls and over 400 retail vendors at their respective sites combined. Discover a world of delicious foods including spiral potatoes on a skewer, barbequed skewers of meat and seafood (including squid, a market favorite), hand-pulled ramen, mango desserts and drinks, dragon’s beard candy, bubble waffles, and more!

    Whale Watching – There’s something magical about seeing whales in the wild and you do that from right here in Richmond. Hop aboard one of the Whale Watching boats and depending on the time of year you may see orca whales, humpback whales, gray whales or minke whales as well as other wildlife such as sea lions, porpoise, and bald eagles.

     

    Vancouver Highlights

    Stanley Park: A 1,000 acre forested, natural beauty a little larger than Manhattan’s Central Park (840 acres). It offers majestic totem poles, a connection with our native heritage; the very popular Vancouver Aquarium featuring performances by the beluga whales in residence; Lost Lagoon, a protected environment for swans, ducks and all manner of water birds; an 8.8 km (5.5 miles) seawall walk around the park’s perimeter affording the hearty walker, bicyclers or rollerblader, a reward of changing views of the harbour, mountains, and city.

    Robson Street: A shopping and restaurant mosaic to satisfy any and all tastes. The ‘Champs-Elysees’ of Vancouver; sip cappuccino and savor pastry while browsing in a variety of elegant and interesting shops or people watch from its many cafés, bistros, and restaurants, late into the night.

    Canada Place: Constructed for the ‘1986 World Exposition’ (and currently undergoing a major expansion), this ‘five sailed’ structure built to resemble a cruise ship, houses the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, World Trade Centre, the CN Imax Theatre, the Pan Pacific Hotel, the Cruise Ship Dock and Terminal (summer cruises only to Alaska); a wonderful place to stroll for views of the North Shore Mountains (only 20 minutes away). It is located across the street from the Vancouver Visitor Information Centre and the ‘Waterfront Centre and Hotel’ with a comfortable food court and shopping mall.

    Gastown: Where Vancouver began in 1886, this quaint, restored area is a tourist mecca of souvenir shops, galleries and restaurants sitting atop cobblestone paved streets, surrounded by many original brick buildings. At night, the entire picture is lit by simulated gaslight lamps lining the streets. Don’t miss the original ‘Gaslight Steam Clock’ which whistles and blasts out its tune every 15 minutes for expectant visitors. The clock was designed by local artist Raymond Saunders and is powered by underground steam which also heats the local building. The ‘Lookout’ at ‘Harbour Centre’ towers above Gastown. Take the elevator to the top for a 180° view of Vancouver.

    Chinatown: Reminiscent of Canton, the architecture, flavor, smell, and sounds are authentic. Sample Cantonese, Szechuan or Mandarin cuisine. Experience the vast array of herbal remedies (familiar and otherwise), bric-a-brac, exotic fruits and vegetables, clothing, furniture and housewares, music and videos, in the colorful stores. Visit the ‘Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens’ and the Chinese Cultural Centre.

    Both Gastown and Chinatown rest on the edge of where Vancouver had its beginnings. As in many major North American cities, those who have ‘fallen through the cracks’ of society (namely homeless, drug addicted and alcoholic unfortunates) tend to drift around and permeate these areas. Visually unpleasant at times, wariness and good common sense are recommended. The police strongly recommend that you do not give money or handouts to beggars.

    Cathedral Place: At ‘Cathedral Place’ this charming stone structure, one of the oldest in Vancouver, welcomes you for religious services and concerts. Opposite the elegant and stately ‘Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’ and one block away from the Vancouver Art Gallery and Museum, make your way along Georgia Street to the indoor ‘Pacific Centre’ shopping mall and food court. With over 200 shops and services and set among a three-story waterfall, you can access Vancouver’s main department stores, namely The Bay, Holt Renfrew, and Sears.

    Vancouver Public Library: Built to resemble the Coliseum in Rome, our Italian visitors marvel at the sepia-colored architectural delight. An interesting arcade, reminiscent of many in Rome, offers numerous cafés and small shops.

    Dining

    Vancouver has as many restaurants (per capita) as New York City. Choose your ethnic food preference and somewhere in the city, there are one or more restaurants that serve it. Too numerous to mention, herein we offer a few of the favourites and most frequented. Casual but definitely sophisticated with good service. Most restaurants display their menus with the price shown outside the establishment. Don’t be embarrassed to look inside first and request to view the menu if it isn’t displayed. The gratuity is usually 15% and is not included on the bill. The G.S.T. 6% (Goods and Services Tax equivalent to the V.A.T. in other countries) is added after the subtotal. The simplest method to calculate an appropriate gratuity is to double the G.S.T. which gives a 12% gratuity. To indicate the approximate price range of restaurants, $ denotes inexpensive; $$ moderate; $$$ expensive:

    • Water Street Café — Gastown, opposite Gastown Steam Clock – varied cuisine – $$
    • Cin Cin — Robson Street – Italian Wood Grill – Mediterranean – $$$
    • The Fish House in Stanley Park — International fresh fish and seafood — afternoon tea (2-4pm) – $$$
    • Coastal on Alberni and Burrard – Fish
    • Twisted Fork on Granville between Helmcken and Granville– French
    • Tokyo Joes at the Wall center on Helmcken Street – Japanese Sushi Bar
    • La Brasserie on Davie and Thurlow – French
    • Milestones — Robson Street — Global Food — good breakfasts – $$
    • The Teahouse — Ferguson Point in Stanley Park (a choice location to view the sunset on a clear evening) — seafood, regional dishes, afternoon tea – $$$
    • Hon’s — Robson Street – varied Chinese – $
    • Kitto’s — Granville Street — Japanese (excellent Sushi) – $
    • The Old Spaghetti Factory — Gastown — varied menu – $
    • Zeffirelli’s — Robson Street — authentic Italian – $$
    • White Spot — Georgia Street — traditionally great hamburgers, fish & chips — a Vancouver favorite – $

    Refer to your ‘Visitor Booklet’ in your hotel room for many more tempting places to dine.

    Other Points of Interest

    Granville Island: The highlight is the Granville Island Public Market, a feast for the senses. A staggering display of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, seafood, baked goods and delicacies from Canada and distant shores. A photographer’s paradise; with all manner of interesting shops, handicrafts, vendors and marine supplies. Granville Island Market and its surroundings is home to boats and architecturally designed houseboats moored at its marina. Outdoor or indoor eating both inexpensive and expensive cater to all tastes. Charming walkways offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy and appreciate water, sea, and sky. Granville Island is accessible by bus, on foot or via the bathtub-shaped private mini-ferries (Aquabus).

    Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park: On Vancouver’s North Shore, it is the oldest tourist attraction. The bridge sways 450 feet across and 230 feet above the Capilano River. Set in the historical Indian village re-created as an outdoor museum, ‘The Big House’ Native Carving Centre and the exceptionally fine ‘Trading Post’ gift shop make this a “must see” attraction.

    Grouse Mountain: At 4,100 vertical feet at its peak, Grouse Mountain on the North Shore offers the most rewarding view of Vancouver. Journey to the top of the ‘Grouse Mountain Skyride’, the largest tramway of its kind in North America. Enjoy fine and casual dining and other entertaining surprises.

    Vancouver by Night: Queen Elizabeth Theatre hosts Broadway musicals, ballet, opera and all manner of live performances, as do ‘The Orpheum’ and ‘Vogue Theatre’. The Commodore Ballroom hosts live bands for dancing. A variety of clubs and lounges feature entertainment and dancing throughout the city.