…or rather its 36 hours. The New York Times Travel Section has devoted this weekend’s 36 Hours in [Your City Here] to Vancouver. I found the opening paragraph particularly interesting:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, is two cities rolled into one. For outdoorsy types, this western Canadian city is a nature paradise, with miles of scenic hiking trails and bike paths that sweep along the Strait of Georgia, the pine tree-lined waterway that connects Vancouver with the Pacific Ocean. For urbanites, Vancouver is a sophisticated destination, with thriving immigrant enclaves, an ever-expanding restaurant scene, quirky neighborhoods, distinctive shops and lively bars that party all night. Part of the fun is weaving your way through Vancouver’s two sides, and realizing that’s why the city ranks as one of the world’s most livable places.
Since I often refer to the city’s dual nature (although my duality is more about Summer Vancouver vs. Winter Vancouver), the outdoorsy vs urbanite split also works and fits neatly into those two seasonal characters as well.
I can’t say that they visit the same spots that I’d go to with limited time, but they hit a few (the Granville Island Public Market and Jericho Beach), toward the end. (The 36 hours are up? Damn, it was just getting good!) Also, the picture they use at the beginning of the article is, I think, one of the city’s most photogenic spots: one of the views from under the Granville Bridge, just as you approach Granville Island that includes the marina, the city and the mountains. Whenever I pass that point, I try to stop for a moment to take it in. Of course, you usually have to stop these days due to the crowds, and this article is probably not going help. Oh well…
Thanks to my Aunt Mary for being the first of what I expect will be many links from the East Coast to this article starting today…
Thanks to you and your Aunt Mary for the heads-up!
I put the link on our blog, too.
Hey, how ’bout Saturday, Aug. 4th for a lunch with “drf” & Pam??
Saturday, Aug. 4th should be fine. Will confirm when it gets closer to the date.
Hey there…checking in on your recent entries. Great to catch up. Congrats on the new job. Your comment on feeling that Vancouver was where you belonged gave me the warm fuzzies. Love the photos with the maple leaf tattoos.
The nicest view of Vancouver is driving north along Knight Street as it passes over 33rd and you get the entire vista. I also like driving along transcanada turning that sharper corner by Canada Way and you get the Burnaby mountain view and the terra cotta roofs. I also like the view as you rise above the Lion’s Gate and see North Vancouver hovering in the distance. Similar in beauty is the downshift on the steep north drive down the Second Narrows. Outside of Vancouver heading south on 99 I really like the view of Furry Creek, but it turns out the nicest contrast is the golf green against the blue sky and ocean.
Vancouver is beautiful. Too bad it’s packed with people, expensive, and resembles Hong Kong in demographics.
Sounds good.
Thanks for the other views of Vancouver. Raphael — have not seen a single one of the ones you describe, but that’s probably because I’ve had no car. That will probably change soon, so I’ll have to check those out.
As for the downsides, I like the fact that it has lots of people (I guess I side with the ‘urbanite’ side of the city’s charms). True, the fact that it’s expensive isn’t so hot, although it’s cheaper than Boston was.
As far as demographics go, I’m fine with the city’s diverse population with lots of pet owners, creative types, different age groups and languages. I’ve never been to Hong Kong, so I have no idea if that’s similar there. If, however that’s a veiled complaint about the high percentage of Chinese here, then I beg to differ, and let’s leave it at that.