Vancouver Streets, Avenues & Boulevards

Reaching west from Hornby into the densely-populated West End is a fashionable collection of stores and restaurants that make Robson Street one of Vancouver's premier shopping areas. While the street runs from Stanley Park to B.C. Place Stadium, it's this cluster of designer boutiques, coffee shops and international eateries that gives Robson its vibrant personality day and night. It's a good street for a stroll, for watching people and meeting friends. On a weekend evening, that's what everyone in town under 30 seems to be doing. The Vancouver Art Gallery fronts Robson Square; on its south side is the Provincial Courthouse, designed by noted local architect Arthur Erickson.

The Vancouver Seawall is one of the city's most cherished features. Originally built to protect Stanley Park's shore's from erosion, the stone wall and subsequent pathway has been extended to 22 km (13 mi) and includes many of Vancouver's attractions. Featuring pedestrian and wheel-dedicated lanes for joggers, strollers, cyclists and in-line skaters, the popular pathway includes Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, Sunset Beach, False Creek, the Burrard Street Bridge and Kitsilano Beach.

West Hastings Street, which is sometimes referred to as Little Amsterdam, offers a concentration of stores selling assorted items of intrigue and amusement. In addition, some cafes in the area accommodate people wishing to smoke something other than tobacco.

Spanning central Vancouver from the north bank of the Fraser River in the south, all the way to Granville Square on the north shore of the downtown peninsula, Granville street cuts through the downtown core where it's a hive of shops, restaurants and activity. The Granville Street Bridge crosses False Creek and provides road access to the famous Granville Island from the downtown peninsula.

Although it's nicknamed Little Italy, The Drive from 1st Avenue south to about 12th Avenue is a colourful melting pot of Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Latin American shops, bakeries and restaurants. The nearby Vancouver East Cultural Centre is a church converted into a theatre.

Everyone pretty much knows that Vancouver is a foodie's dream and some of the city's best and locally-owned restaurants can be found on Denman Street. The West End street, in addition to being chock full of independent eateries and international cuisine, is also one of the city's main areas and offers a low-key alternative to star-studded Robson Street.