While I was in Vancouver, British Columbia, I walked around the city on multiple occasions. Here is a combined city tour with pictures.
Spirits in a Landscape Statue
Let’s start our walk around the city at the Spirits in a Landscape statue in W Georgia St.
The statue was designed by Abraham Anghik Ruben and installed in 1992.
The plaque reads: “This work represents various elements of the natural world, more precisely the birds and animals to be found in this Province. They are a reflection of our own human pursuits and activities. This is like a mirror of ourselves. The three birds with uplifted wings represent a flame of fire.”
Coal Harbour
On several occasions I walked along the Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver. It’s a nice place to be, with many small shops, ice cream places, and next to the cruise terminal.
One day a cruise ship stopped to unload and load people - we’ve seen a long line of cabs streaming into the harbour to pick up people. To the point where the police blocked the street and regulated the traffic.
There’s a small airport in the harbour, where seaplanes arrive and then take off over the water.
Some videos from the harbour.
Winter Olympics cauldron
Nearby, just a few steps up, is the Olympics cauldron for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The Olympics cauldron is a Geocache.
Evangeline and Flowers
Walking West from Coal Harbour, and heading inland, there’s the Evangeline and Flowers sculpture on a sidewalk from Bayshore Dr.
It was created by Joe Fafard and placed there in 2004.
Bayshore Marina
Heading back towards the waters, there’s the marina with plenty of small and not so small boats.
Lost Lagoon
Walking further west from the Marina, one arrives at the Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. There’s a walkway around the lake, which heads towards Second Beach
There’s a bridge between two pathways, which is almost entirely under water. At least when I was there.
Second Beach
Following the path around Lost Lagoon, one arrives at Second Beach. There’s a pool (entrance is not free), in case you want to swim. Or enjoy the beach and the view. If you come here in the evening, you can see the sunset.
A-maze-ing Laughter
From Second Beach you can walk south, along the Stanley Park Seawall way. About a kilometer later you see figures on the left side, and probably also people taking pictures.
This is the A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture by Yue Minjun, installed 2009.
The inscription says. “May this sculpture inspire laughter playfulness and joy in all who experience it.”.
And if you are into Geocaching: look up the cache before you go there, you need a piece of paper and a pen to log the cache.
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
Walking uphill into Downtown, you pass by the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, which has a nice park nearby. And the tree in front of the hotel is illuminated at night.
Terry Fox Memorial
Near the docks and BC Place is the Terry Fox Memorial.
Terrance Stanley ‘Terry’ Fox was an athlete who lost a leg due to cancer. He embarked on a cross-country run to raise awareness and money for cancer research.
The statues are placed on the Terry Fox Plaza, outside of the BC Place Stadium.
This place is a Geocache.
Hudson’s Bay Department Store
Little piece of history in 674 Granville St: The Hudson’s Bay Company, incorporated 1670. Today it’s a private owned company, mostly in department stores.
Victory Square Cenotaph
Heading back towards north we are near the end of today’s walk around the city. This place is called Victory Square Cenotaph and is a war memorial for soldiers who fought in World War I.
The memorial is placed on the north-east end of Victory Square park.
Gastown Steam Clock
From Victory Square it’s only a short walk north to the Gastown Steam Clock, a steam operated clock. Although steam operated, the clock was only installed by Raymond Saunders in 1977. At the top of the hour, the clock produces a puff of steam, which attracts tourist to the spectacle.
There is a Geocache nearby.
This concludes our walk around Downtown Vancouver for today.
Walking Route
Here is the walking route in OpenStreetMap. If you follow the route as it is, it’s about 12 km, and will take about 3 hours.
Go at your own pace, and don’t forget to take pictures and enjoy the city!
Restaurants and ice cream places
Also check out the restaurants in Vancouver which we visited.
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