Vancouver Downtown and Beach

Downtown Vancouver is a fluid concept, as it runs into both the west end and the downtown eastside. Roughly, it is the area bounded by Burrard Street on the west, False Creek on the south, Vancouver Harbour on the north, and from the corner of Cordova and Granville to Science World, on False Creek on the east side. It's not a large area, and can easily be crossed in less than an hour's walking. That's a good thing, considering the traffic nightmare that is downtown Vancouver. Leave the car farther out, and take the SkyTrain. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches.

Harbour Centre

Seattle has the Space Needle, Toronto has the CN Tower and Vancouver has the Harbour Centre Tower. Compared to the former two, Harbour Centre is just a wanna-be, weighing in at a mere 167 m (553 ft). Even so, the views from the slowly rotating observation deck are still pretty impressive-the best man-made viewpoint in Vancouver. Then again, you don't need to get very high. Although the downtown core is growing upwards, Vancouver is still a short city. A brief presentation and informative plaques around the perimeter of the observation deck will help you get your bearings and identify local landmarks. Scout out your trip through downtown Vancouver from here, or stop here at the end of your day for dinner in the Top of Vancouver Restaurant, one floor above the observation deck. The ride up the glass elevator is pretty cool too.

Architectural Institute Walking Tour

The Architectural Institute of BC offers walking tours of the downtown core during the summer. These free tours are aimed at promoting architecture, and the architectural institute to the general public, as well as offer a glimpse of Vancouver's rich social history through the buildings people constructed. Get to know a bit of Vancouver's history, from rough and tumble mill town to urban centre. There are six different tours, approximately two hours long, one a day, every weekday at 1:30. Check with the institute to find the tour most suited to you. The tours start at various locations throughout the city. Call the Architectural Institute for information (604 683-8588).

Science World

The silver globe sitting all alone on the east side of False Creek is a former World Exposition attraction (1986). Some of the most popular exhibits have been there since Science World first opened, and are getting a little dated, but interactive demonstrations by Science World staff and a rotating series of exhibits in the main gallery keep the place interesting. And if you get tired after all the hands-on exhibits, sit down, and watch a show at Science World's Omnimax Theatre. Omnimax has the largest screen in the world. Think Imax on steroids: a 27 m screen (5 storeys, or 88.6 ft) and 28 surround-sound speakers. The light they use to project the gigantic pictures is so powerful that if you were to place it on the moon, it would be visible from earth.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Carving out a one-block square niche for itself in the centre of downtown Vancouver is the Vancouver Art Gallery. The expansive lawn on the north side is a popular gathering place for political protests, while the south side is where young urban youth, street people and chess players share the Gallery steps with suit-clad professionals on lunch break. The art gallery is actually the former courthouse, built in 1906. It houses a series of touring exhibits, as well as artwork from its own collection. Check out the permanent gallery of local artist Emily Carr's work on the third floor. Carr is one of Canada's best known painters. This is the largest collection of her work anywhere.

Granville Street Mall/Granville Street

Emerging from the depths of Granville SkyTrain station (which is located underground, go figure), you emerge into the very heart of Vancouver's urban culture, a dizzying mishmash of street performers; vendors selling handmade jewelry next to towering shopping centres. Take a moment to look at the people, for this is the gist of what Vancouver is. There are bored suburban teens; soapbox prophets and boardroom power brokers; rich and poor; young and old all sharing the same space. The businesses are similarly diverse. Duthie's Books, The Bay Department Store on the same street as an interesting array of pawnbrokers and the Orpheum Theatre(home of the Vancouver Orchestra). No matter who you are, there's something for you on Granville. The Granville Street Mall runs from Nelson to Hastings

Vancouver Public Library

Not only is the Vancouver Public library one of the most striking bits of modern architectural design in Vancouver, it is a great place to explore. There are regular special events and author readings, and the library houses many special collections. Though most casual visitors won't care to go digging through the collection, there are 131 photo albums in the public area, containing a large sampling of photographs from Vancouver's history, and the history of the province.

Flightseeing

Helicopter tours of Vancouver and the surrounding area are extremely worthwhile. Tours can last from a few minutes to 45 minutes. Fly around the city, or around the spectacular coast mountain range at Vancouver's back door.

The Canadian Craft Museum

Craft is art, as you'll quickly discover at the Canadian Craft Museum. Each year, the C.C.M. presents approximately twelve different exhibits, focusing on different crafts, styles and crafters. The museum also offers special programs, like field trips, lectures and hands-on workshops. Originally located on Granville Island, the C.C.M. moved into the snazzy digs on the ground level of Cathedral Place. The courtyard adjacent to the museum is a green oasis amidst the concrete and glass of the city. The gift shop is one of the nicest in the city. Before leaving Cathedral Place, check out Navigational Device, one of the most remarkable bits of public art in the city, located in the main lobby.

Canada Place

	Old Vancouver Streetcar at Canada Place

With its gleaming white sails rising over the former cargo pier on Burrard Inlet, Canada Place is one of the most distinctive buildings in Vancouver. It's an appropriate image, as cruise ships dock here when they're in Vancouver. If you're lucky, you can see the Pacific Princess (TV's Love Boat, no less) paused here on her way to Alaska. Canada Place Houses the Pan Pacific Hotel, the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, and the IMAX Theatre, the second largest screen in Vancouver. Take in a giant screen IMAX film, then wander about the outside decks and watch the goings-on about the harbour.