Travel By Jury

Vancouver, B.C. is a progressive and metropolitan city. As a part of the Pacific Northwest, this jewel is one of the largest cities in the area, and the largest in B.C. It’s easy to get around this city by foot, bus, or light rail (exact coin needed for buses). The downtown area, where I stayed, had a great big city feel with loads of high-end shopping. Good food also abounds in this area. Other areas not to be missed include historic Gastown, Stanley Park, Chinatown and Granville Island. Gastown boasts boutique shopping (Don’t miss Vancouver-based John Fluevog shoes), trendy locals, Canadian souvenir shops and the unique Steam Clock. Walk a few blocks south and you’ll get to W. Hastings which features a slightly Amsterdam-ish vibe with two head shops and a smoke-friendly cafe. But the best part of W. Hastings is great fabric shops, especially Dressew. Another must-see place is Stanley Park, which houses the Vancouver Aquarium. Go early because the crowds get heavy, especially on the weekends. You can pack a picnic to eat on the park grounds, or you can eat at the historic Stanley Park Grill, which is expensive but they serve local microbrews and delicious fries. Finally, do not miss the Granville Island Public Market. This indoor market serves the best baked goods, cheeses, meats, produce and prepared foods. It’s a great place to wander, snack, pick out souvenirs, and even picnic supplies. Hang out on the Island to visit the arts and crafts stores and good meals at restaurants, like Cat’s Social House. And with Vancouver’s bustling film industry, you might even get to catch a filming and spot a star. Vancouver is a wonderful place to visit and don’t let the talk of bad weather deter you.

Juror #2/Andalee

Vancouver Fun Facts Quiz

1. Vancouver has earned along its many nicknames, the name of :
A.Vanstock
B.Hong-couver
C.New Beijing

2. One of these opinions is definitely false. But the question is, which one?
A. Vancouver is probably the only place in the world where it is possible to ski, play golf
and go sailing, all in the same day
B. Canada owns the North Pole
C. Canada is the world’s second largest country by total area

3. Canada is believed to be the home of:
A. The Tooth-Fairy
B. Cindarella
C. Santa Claus

4. These tourists will have a hard time in Vancouver. Simply because there are bans in most
places, which prohibit:
A. Dinning with your pet
B. Smoking cigars
C. Flirting with waitresses

5. Vancouverites (people who live in Vancouver) “eat out” more than any other North
American city. Related or not, that makes them notorious for:
A.tipping well
B.consumming most wine glasses over a meal
C.skipping lunch

6. In the 1960′s in Vancouver was founded one of the world’s biggest and most active
organizations:
A.Earth Liberation Front
B.Greenpeace
C.PETA

7. Vancouver is one of the few North American cities with no:
A.old people
B.street gangs
C.downtown freeways

8. A certain iconic American musician would spend summers in Vancouver, where his granny
lived. Can you guess who?
A. Jimmi Hendrix
B. Bob Dylan
c. Elvis Presley

9. Injecting more than $1 billion dollars into the local economy, Vancouver has the largest

(in all Canada):
A. Film Industry
B. Airport
C. Fishing Industry

10. Which one of the following fine things listed below, simply cannnot be purchased from a
grocery store in Canada:
A. Alcohol
B. Condoms
C. Medicine

Filed under: North America | Tagged: Amsterdam, Andalee, British Columbia, buses, Canada, Cat's Social House, China Town, crowds, downtown, Dressew, exact change, film, fresh fish, fresh fruit, fresh market, fresh vegetables, fries, Gastown, Granville Island, Granville Island Public Market, indoor market, John Fluvog, juror #2, local food, microbrews, picnic, Stanley Park, Stanley Park Grill, Steam Clock, Vancouver, Vancouver Aquarium, W. Hastings, walking | 1 Comment »