Vancouver by Trolley

         Blessed with an exquisite day in Vancouver, today I’m hopping off the Trolley at the Red Loop Stop #10 to visit the incredibly sun-kissed English Bay. Taking a leisurely walk down Beach Ave. is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. The streets resonate a relaxed atmosphere among both tourists and locals alike. Across the park, more of Vancouver reflects this sunny disposition. Almost instantly, a peculiar array of larger than life painted bronze sculptures catch my eye. Displayed in Morton Park, Chinese sculptor Yue Minjun’s aptly titled “A-Maze-ing Laughter” captures the whimsical enjoyment that is English Bay. The artwork is one of the many delights English Bay has to offer, all of which can bring a smile to your face.

 

 

            Continuing my walk, I see a nearby a crowd of people, hungry and eager, standing around one of Vancouver’s mobile food carts. Mike’s Hot Dog Stand is a bustling business that boasts “delicious veggie and all beef hot dogs, Bavarian and jalapeno smokies.” Judging by the number of people waiting in line, the ‘delicious’ description must be true.

 

          In search of somewhere to sit down and enjoy a meal, I venture further down Denman St. where I discover Delany’s Coffee House. There I take pleasure in a Savory Grilled Veggie Panini with roasted peppers, spinach, zucchini, feta and Dijon paired perfectly with a summery Peach Pear-Apricot smoothie.

 

           As I sit in Delany’s open-air storefront, eating my tasty siesta meal, I take notice of the many pedestrians strolling down the street. A number of people are donning bathing suits and damp locks, some carrying gelato in their left hand and others carrying shopping bags in their right. The thought of gelato and shopping inspires me to venture further.

          Walking again down Denman St, I find a classic Vancouver point of interest for anyone with a sweet tooth. The iconic Cupcakes store by Heather and Lori, offers a wonderful range of sweet treats. Today, the Peanut Butter Reese Cupcake takes the cake, so to speak.

 

  

            Continuing down Denman St, I see a distinctive shop called Kimprints, which holds a variety of beautiful artwork, stationary and gifts. Mirroring the English Bay area, this store has an engaging and eclectic feel, a flavor unique to Vancouver.

  - Claire McGillivray

While admittedly it’s been a very slow start to summer here in Vancouver, there are plenty of rainy day activities to keep us going through the drizzle, and enough breaks in the clouds to get us out and enjoying the nature surrounding our city.

Last weekend I hopped off the Trolley at The Teahouse in Stanley Park and enjoyed the views from their spacious outdoor patio along with some delicious Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna followed by a BC Salmon Burger.  While the building itself is beautiful, the view looking over Ferguson Point and onto the ocean is pretty amazing.

Instead of hopping back on the Trolley right after lunch, I decided to join one of Vancouver’s newest tours and enjoy the bits of sunshine that were peeping through the clouds. Cycle City Tours offers an array of tour options, including an extensive Stanley Park Tour. Although I admittedly joined the group partway in, I was just in time to learn about the amazing Blue Heron Colony.

I don’t know how I’d never noticed this Colony previously, as it’s home to over 200 birds, protected by plastic bands around the trees to keep predators out. We were lucky to see quite a few Blue Herons on our journey along the seawall but unfortunately my amateur cycling skills didn’t allow me to stay upright and take a photo at the same time.

I left the rest of the tour group when we got to the Fish House, because I’d heard rumors of the creative menu by head chef Karen Barnaby and had to check it out for myself. Sure enough, when I was seated at a table with yet another beautiful beach view, I was served Bacon Cake for dessert. Yes, it may sound strange, but this cake was absolutely amazing. With bacon crumbs throughout the batter and a larger piece of bacon to top it off, Ms Barnaby definitely wins for creativity in the kitchen here.

While waiting to hop on the Stanley Park Shuttle for a more in-depth Trolley tour of the Park, I couldn’t help but notice the continuous stream of active Vancouverites walking towards the tennis courts and the Stanley Park Pitch n Putt. The great thing about this area of Stanley Park is that although you’re only a mere five minute walk from downtown, you feel five hours away from the strains of city life.

- Kristen Milliron

If you’ve read the 30 Stops in 30 Weeks blog previously, it’s pretty apparent that I love Stanley Park. With 1000 acres to explore, many a wonderful afternoon can be spent exploring Vancouver’s #1 attraction. What you haven’t read yet, is my love for ice cream. You can imagine my excitement when I hopped off the Trolley at Prospect Point yesterday, home of the World Famous Ice Cream. Aside from their regular ice cream flavors, the Prospect Point Cafe offers something new to the market - matcha green tea soft-serve. This is a far stretch from the twist cones we remember from McDonald’s, yet the grown-up taste is a welcomed refreshment. I of course had to get a scoop of my favorite maple walnut ice cream, too.

The Prospect Point Cafe itself is a beautiful space, directly overlooking the Lions Gate Bridge and North Vancouver. With wooden architecture featuring wide windows and skylights, you really couldn’t get any closer to eating in nature without bringing a picnic. Currently Prospect Point is featuring the Salmon Festival on their menu, offering many dishes using both hot and cold salmon - I recommend the salmon salad.

Being an integral part of Stanley Park, the Prospect Point Cafe is focused on their heritage, featuring photos of the Lions Gate Bridge in its early days. My favorite feature of the restaurant, however, are their tables. Vancouver and Stanley Park in particular were hit with a devastating wind storm in 2006, affecting over 40% of the park’s forest. The Daniel Group, owner/operators of the Prospect Point Cafe, were quick to react to these storms and wanted to do something to preserve the trees that were destroyed. The tables in the Cafe were constructed from this lumber as a result.

The Lookout at Prospect Point has been recently redeveloped and features a large viewing area overlooking West Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge and the North Shore. A must-see when visiting the city, the Lookout is a great place to come with family and friends.

There are also a number of trails from this area, if you’re up for a light hike. One of them is a short trail just past the Prospect Point Cafe, taking you to the base of the Lions Gate Bridge. A nice and easy walk is just to the midway point of the bridge, which was built by the Guinness family and designed by the same person who designed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. On any given day you may have a cruise ship or a whale passing underneath, and float planes flying past on their way to Victoria.

The weather is finally turning here in Vancouver and as I hopped off the Trolley at the Totem Poles in Stanley Park, I was greeted by a refreshing ocean breeze that indicates summer is truly right around the corner.

According to the Vancouver Park Board, the Totem Poles are the most visited attraction in British Columbia and it’s no wonder why.  The Totem Poles beautifully showcase the region’s aboriginal history and have been found in this location since the early ’60s.

Directly across from the Totem Poles is a great little gift shop, Legends of the Moon, with snacks and souvenirs aplenty. This area has a lot more to offer than just the Totem Poles and a gift shop, however, Just past the Totems you can find the famous lighthouse in Brockton Point, observation placards pointing you towards the North Shore with a brilliant view of the Lions Gate Bridge, and Lumberman’s Arch is right around the corner.

As promised, I also took the time to participate in another Vancouver gem, the Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours. This was an amazing way to explore the thousand acres in Stanley Park. The hour tour was fully-narrated and while leisurely trotting through the Park, our guide pointed out highlights along with some of the area’s history. The Horse-Drawn Tour is something I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time and is a worthwhile activity for its uniqueness alone.

Stanley Park has many things to offer, but a family favourite has always been the Vancouver Aquarium. A non-profit that focuses on conservation and providing learning tools regarding aquatic life to the public, the Vancouver Aquarium has been in operation since 1956.

When you walk towards the Aquarium from the Trolley stop, you are greeted by caricature artists, balloon entertainers and Bill Reid’s famous Killer Whale Sculpture. Erected in front of the Aquarium in ‘84, the statue represents the culture of the Northwest and the aquatic mammals both in the aquarium and in the neighboring Pacific Ocean.

Inside the Aquarium’s walls, there are many rooms for you to explore. One of my favorites was the humid amazon corner, featuring some of the Aquarium’s newest residents, Goeldi’s marmosets. Moving into the Aquarium in late March, these tiny monkeys can be hard to spot but are worth the search. Also found in this space are tropical birds, butterflies and three sloths.

Back into the aquatic spaces there are beautiful coral displays, sea nettle and thousands of species of fish. I was just in time for the last dolphin show of the day, showcasing the trained talent of some pacific white-sided dolphins. Although a spectacular show, I was eager to visit the Aquarium’s most popular residents, the Beluga Whales.

The family of whales can be viewed from the outside viewing deck or from the recently renovated Arctic Exhibit. This breathtaking exhibit features facts about the Arctic’s history, culture and inhabitants opposite the brilliant round viewing area of the belugas’ tank.

It’s so easy to spend a full day in Stanley Park that I didn’t have time to visit another great attraction at this stop, the Horse Drawn Carriages. I’ll be sure to include my visit on the Horse-Drawn Shuttles in my next Stanley Park post.

Stanley Park is often the first place visitors to Vancouver venture to see, and it’s no wonder why. Offering over 1000 acres of green space surrounded by ocean, every turn has breathtaking sights. This afternoon I hopped off the Trolley at the Rose Garden and was greeted by many tourists exploring one of this Spring’s first truly beautiful days.

Just past the Garden itself featuring approximately 3500 plants on display (the best time to see the Garden in full bloom is early June) is the Stanley Park Pavilion. Celebrating their hundredth anniversary this year, the Stanley Park Pavilion is one of Vancouver’s most popular locations for weddings and other special events. It is also home to Stanley’s Bar & Grill, a restaurant featuring a 200 seat verandah.

Directly across from the Pavilion is one of my favorite summer spots in Vancouver, Malkin Bowl. Malkin Bowl is not only home to Concerts in the Park, a hugely successful outdoor concert series, but to Theatre Under the Stars, which is a summer series of theatre in the park. This year, productions at Malkin Bowl include Bye Bye Birdie, Anything Goes, the Sam Roberts Band and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Bring a blanket with you on a summer evening to enjoy these great productions in a venue unique to Vancouver!

            

On the other side of the Pavilion near one of the Park’s public parking areas, is Klahowya Village, an amazing Aboriginal attraction that is about to begin its second season. Open daily as of May 16th, 2011, Klahowya Village offers activities and interactive experiences for all. It encourages guests to get a taste of First Nations culture through the arts, cuisine and hands-on experiences. Highlights include a story-telling circle and the Spirit Catcher Train. With an entrance fee of only $5, this is definitely a stop that should not be missed when visiting Stanley Park.

Coal Harbour is a fantastic area to explore. When I hopped off the Trolley at the Westin Bayshore, the sun was shining over the ocean with views of Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains, while the surrounding cherry trees were displaying beautiful pink blossoms. There is a current public art display throughout downtown called Vancouver Biennale; the red statues that you see below make up the Meeting display and have been a fantastic photo op here since the fall of 2009.

Inside the Bayshore hotel there are a few boutique shops along with the office of one of my favorite local attractions, Prince of Whales. POW are an environmentally conscious whale-watching company that has over a 95% success rate of seeing orcas on their tours. Although their season for daily tours from the Westin Bayshore does not begin until May 27 , I managed to snap some photos of their boat in the harbour and make a reservation for myself to go on an Ultimate Day Tour in early June.

Although it may be sunny and beautiful in Vancouver, it is still unfortunately one of the coldest Aprils we’ve had in many years and I was ready for a warm up after my wander through Coal Harbour. I’d frequented the Lift Restaurant for brunch in the past and was eager to see what they had to offer on their lunch menu. I can definitely recommend the Chicken and Chanterelle Pot Pie to anyone looking for a home-cooked feeling meal. Oh, and the view’s not bad, either…

Vancouver’s Robson Street is famous for a reason. Not only does it have boutique shops and designer stops along each block, but it’s also one of the most bustling downtown areas in the city. Robson has something for everyone from kids to 20 somethings, business types and vacationers.

After hopping off the Trolley at the Blue Horizon Hotel, I walked down to Miko Sushi for some lunch. This is a great restaurant not only for the food but the atmosphere. The walls are covered in hockey memorabilia, jerseys and autographed photos. There’s a small TV by the sushi bar that is sure to have either the game or its highlights on, and the tables are always packed. For what is seemingly a hole in the wall sushi restaurant without a website, this is one of my favorite dining choices on Robson.

Another favorite of mine is O’Doul’s Restaurant, offering live jazz nightly. If you plan on being in Vancouver during the Vancouver International Jazz Fest this year (June 24th through July 3, 2011), this is a great place to end your evening. O’Doul’s acts as both the official media venue and a late night jam venue. Artists from the festival will show up here and rotate through jam combos until the wee hours of each morning.

Aside from great restaurants, Robson Street wouldn’t be famous without its shopping. Along with everything from Armani, BCBG, Banana Republic and countless shoe stores, one of the busiest shops on Robson Street is Lululemon. Famous for their yoga-inspired apparel, this Vancouver company offers workout and casual wear perfect for the West Coast outdoor lifestyle.

I luckily chose one of the sunny days to be a tourist this week and hopped off the Trolley at Stop #9, the Sutton Place, to explore what the bustling corner of Burrard and Robson had to offer.

As it happened to be just before noon, I happily stopped for lunch at the now infamous Japa Dog Hot Dog Stand, on the corner of Smithe and Burrard, in front of the Sutton Place Hotel. Japa Dog offers a wide range of selection from your normal hot dog to delicious bratwurst plus combinations, and has quite the local following. As there is often a line down the street for this stand, I expected to be waiting quite some time but must have just missed the lunch crowd.

The pub you see in the background, The Winking Judge, is a great neighbourhood English pub if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a pint, too. They have traditional English art up on the walls and even have a pool table on premises, a rarity in the downtown core.

My next stop was to the Canadian music superstore, HMV. This location offers three floors of multimedia products, with everything from DVDs, CDs (and records), entertainment related books and accessories spanning the premises. Right next door to HMV is the Vancouver filming and office location of CTV, Canada’s largest private broadcaster, which is also the most-watched network in Canada for the past nine years. CTV was very involved in last year’s 2010 Winter Olympic Games and even had an Olympic Store on site.

Directly across the street from HMV is Canada’s iconic apparel store, Roots. Known for their Canadian culture, made-in-Canada products and comfortable clothing, Roots is a household product and name. However, I was admittedly more interested in their neighbouring store, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Having lived in California previously, I’m very picky about my caramel apples (Disneyland’s are hard to beat) but was pleasantly surprised when I bit into my first treat from RMCF. What makes it even better? They’re willing to slice the apples for you so you can avoid the messiness that usually ensues when trying to eat an apple on a stick.

The rest of Robson street awaits…

It’s been a beautiful start to Spring here in vancouver and I was excited to be a tourist in the heart of downtown today. I hopped off the Trolley at stop #8, the Wall Centre, and crossed the street to what I think of as Vancouver’s one-stop-shop hotel. The Century Plaza is home to an award-winning spa, a popular comedy club and a versatile restaurant. Beyond simply being home to these facilities, each of them goes a step above to bring a quality product to visitors and guests.

Absolute Spa offers treatments you would expect anywhere, but makes your experience unique by offering a relaxation lounge to unwind in, a complimentary lunch and even champagne and strawberries for you to enjoy, depending on the treatment that you decide to indulge in. Beyond Restaurant offers a wide-range of menu options featuring my favorite, the daily quiche, and Comedy Mix brings a wide range of comedians nightly, from Tuesday through Saturday. Although I frequent these features of the hotel rather regularly, I happily discovered a new favorite - Beyond Cafe, who makes gelato in their very own kitchen.

Next door to the Century Plaza is an easily recognizable 14th-century-style Gothic tower, belonging to the heritage building of St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. My favorite feature of this church (aside from its location and the building itself) is their weekly Jazz Vespers service. Held at 4pm on Sunday afternoons, this service features local jazz musicians, with new artists performing each week.

I walked one block further, to the new Robert Lee YMCA, and hesitantly asked for a tour of the facility. Even though the facility was bustling (at 2pm in the afternoon, mind you!), the front desk attendant didn’t mind in the least stepping away and walking me through the impressive four story building. I couldn’t help but be amazed by everything from the adaptable pool, the neverending cardio machines and the length of weights spread throughout the facility. But I expected all that. What I didn’t expect, however, was a basketball court, reservable squash courts and a full community family development centre on the top floor. Even though I have a gym in my apartment building, I have to admit, I considered getting a membership on my way out. But my favorite thing of all? The graph they have posted to tell members how to avoid congestion at the gym.