I had not ventured out to explore the city for almost the first ten days of my reaching Vancouver. Suddenly one day I realized that there was so much to see and do that time would run out if I did not start right away. So off I went exploring the best options for covering the important highlights of the city. A visit to downtown Vancouver gave me the option of going for a Hop-on, Hop-off tour that would take people around the city giving them the convenience of hopping off and exploring places of their interest at their pace and hopping on to the next available bus to continue the tour. The tour entitles you to a day pass that is valid for 48 hours that you could redeem in the said duration. It seemed to suit us fine since we were strapped for time. We could choose between an open bus with a clear roof or a trolley to take the tour in. I’d have preferred to ride on the rather interesting looking red trolley with its old world charm but we only had buses available at the time. There were about 20 stops that the tour included. However, we got to decide how many stops we really wanted to stop at and for how long.
We took off on the bus from the waterfront. The buses have a recorded commentary running as you venture into the fascinating lanes of downtown Vancouver towards scenic locations and parks. If you were lucky enough to have a friendly bus driver he would add some personal touch to the taped commentary by chipping in with his bit of local knowledge about the places. He could even urge you to try the gelato at a certain stop, not because he was friends with the store owner but because he personally loved the gelato they sold there! We decided at the start itself that we would get down only at places that looked most interesting to us so that we could maximise on the tour.
Canada Place
Our first stop was at Canada Place. The magnificent view of the ocean with the convention center standing by in all its glory simply compelled us to get off the bus. Canada Place is a building situated on the Burrard Inlet waterfront of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel, Vancouver’s World Trade Centre, and the virtual flight ride FlyOver Canada. The building’s exterior is covered by fabric roofs resembling sails. It is also the main cruise ship terminal for the region, where Vancouver’s famous cruises to Alaska originate. Source.
The alluring blue waters rippling lazily with mountains reflecting along its edges was a sight to behold. The quietude would randomly get interrupted by the faint drone of a sea bus in the distance. One could spend hours just gazing into the far away horizon. We strolled around a bit along the waterfront, clicked pictures, shopped for some souvenirs which included a lot of maple products to take back home and licked happily on ice-cream cones soaking in the fresh ocean air.
Soon we were headed towards Robson street and Chinatown which are popular hubs for shopping. We preferred to stay on the bus since we did not want to shop. Chinatown, as the name suggests has the look and feel of China, with dragons adorning red lamp posts along the lanes. I did not get the chance to click pictures since I could not do so from the bus. We stopped for a leisurely lunch at Earl’s Kitchen on Hornby street, which was recommended by a local friend for its delicious wild salmon (review coming up in a separate post) before heading to our next stop.
Stanley Park
Our next stop, Stanley Park, was spread onto to various stops due to the sheer size and number of things one could see there. Right from the beautiful rose garden, forest trails, beaches, monuments, children’s play areas and the famous Vancouver Aquarium, the entire park needs at least one whole day to enjoy all that it has to offer. There are horse-drawn carriages that take you around the park for an hour-long ride. I had to curb the temptation of getting on the carriage to enjoy the sights of the park to the sound of the horse hoofs strutting along!
Stanley Park is a 405-hectare public park that borders the downtown of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada and is almost entirely surrounded by waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay. The park has a long history and was one of the first areas to be explored in the city.Unlike other large urban parks, Stanley Park is not the creation of a landscape architect, but rather the evolution of a forest and urban space over many years. Source.
The park is also known for its monuments and breathtakingly gorgeous landmarks. I could not click pictures of the rose garden since getting off at all the stops would mean that we would have to extend our tour to the next day which we could not afford to for a number of reasons. But I did manage to click a few shots of the landmarks and monuments.
After the never-ending stretch of the picturesque Stanley park unfolding before us page after page, we finally took off to our next stop, The Vancouver Public Library.
The Vancouver Public Library
Located on West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver is a paradise for book-lovers! It is the kind of place one could spend hours buried in books without a care in the world. I have yet to see a library as large and romantic as this one. It is said that 1.3 million books, periodicals, and other reference materials are moved through the building by vertical and horizontal conveyors, and the sitting capacity of the library is more than 1200 people at a time.
Centred on the block, the library is a nine-story rectangular box containing book stacks and services, surrounded by a free-standing, elliptical, colonnaded wall featuring reading and study areas that are accessed by bridges spanning skylit light wells. Source.
After browsing through the endless rows of the shelves of this charming library, heady with the aroma of old books we were in a mood to wrap up. We hopped onto the next bus, crossed the iconic Gastown and decided to hop off the bus and call it day. It was a day well spent. The Hop-on, Hop-off tour was an absolute value for money since we were sure that we would have been unable to see so many things at a time in such an effective way. Vancouver has so much more to explore that I wouldn’t be able to do justice to all of it in one post. I hope to touch on other places that I visited in Vancouver in my coming posts.
Before I leave here’s an interesting picture that I clicked from the bus on that day on my way back to my homestay. This mural stands in the happening Kitsilano area of Vancouver known for its varied attractions for tourists and locals alike, including one of the best beaches in Vancouver, parks and a host of other activities to participate in. I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge at Write Tribe and today’s prompt happens to be ‘Pattern.’ While I would not be opting to write on the prompts for this challenge, I’d still like to share this picture since I particularly loved the patterns seen here.
The Hop on and off Bus is common to every big downtown and is surely the preferred means to explore the city for tourists. The pictures of the waterfront and the Stanley Park look good. For every book lover, a visit to the city library is a must, isn’t it? And, those who can’t visit physically, even the picture of a library is delightful.
Yes, hop on and hop off buses are quite common in most countries. It was the first time I took one and I did not regret it one bit. A visit to the local library should always be a must!
Hi Vinodini – it sounds as though you had the maximum benefit you could from this ‘tour’ and wonderful to have a cheerful driver who was commenting and pointing out various sites … gelato sounds delicious! Love your photos too … one day I hope to follow in your footsteps – bus tour! Cheers Hilary
Yeah … I forgot the Library – definitely a place to visit and that sign is just brilliant – cheers Hilary
Yes, that’s an interesting sign, isn’t it?
Thanks, Hilary. I did try to make most out of my trip. I look forward to your updates on the future trip that you plan to take. 🙂
Hop on Hop off buses make it very convenient to sight see at your own pace. Stanley Park looks heavenly! And I loved the graffiti on that wall! Stunning pattern!
Thanks, Shinjini. Stanley Park was amazing, indeed. The graffiti pattern caught my attention from a moving bus. I really wish I had a closer look at it.
Thanks for sharing your pictures and tour of Vancouver. Canada is on my places to visit list. so read this one with great interest.
You won’t regret visiting Canada, Suzy. Do try to visit Vancouver if you can. It’s heavenly!
I liked the idea of Hop-on, Hop-off tour buses with commentary. And with the driver adding his personal touch is cool as well. Vancouver seems like an amazing place. The library … aah! I wouldnt come out of it for days!!
Oh yes, the library was quite something! Vancouver has so many amazing sides to it.
I recall my trip to Hong Kong where there was a double decker red bus where one could hop on and off anytime. Loved the pics and your trip details. I look forward to next week when I am visiting Zurich alone!
Wow! You’re visiting Zurich on your own? That’s going to be quite adventurous, eh? I recollect seeing the double-decker bus in Hongkong. Wish you all the best for your coming trip.
Gorgeous pics. I have heard that Vancouver is a beautiful city and your pictures confirm it.
Yes, its actually much more beautiful than the pictures here could capture it.
Wow.. It is as if reading about my dream. Superb write up and super awesome pics. I simply loved your website
Thank you so much, Swati. Glad to have you here. Do keep dropping by. 🙂
Beautiful captures and interesting details about the places. It felt like a virtual tour. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks, Kavita. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Great post and what pictures. Loved the library one especially. Makes me want to go to Vancouver now. hopefully some day 🙂
Thanks, Aritra. Yes, Vancouver is worth that visit. Make it happen!
Canada is on my to visit list. After reading this, I am even more keen to go there.
You won’t regret going there, Sunita. 🙂
Beautiful views of the city. I would have loved spending my time in the library. And I loved the running man statute too. Fascinating how it’s only the foot that holds it to the ground. Did you take a picture near the wings mural?
Yes, isn’t it fascinating how that guy is standing on one foot?! The wings mural was captured from a moving bus. I could not stop by to click a picture with it. I sure was tempted to get off the bus to do it but unfortunately, I wasn’t on a Hop-on, hop-off bus any longer.
I so loved the idea of hop on, hop off bus. How nice it will be to take our own time to explore places that interest us and skip the ones we don’t want, right? Had a short trip to Vancouver, thanks to your descriptions of the place.
Hop-on, hop-off tour was a convenient option. To top it the bus drivers added a local touch to the entire experience.
Delightful read! Makes me want to take a holiday at the earliest. The pictures are so scenic and beautiful. The graffiti looks amazing. I am sure the library must have been the icing on the cake 🙂 Great to connect with you here.
Hey thanks, Meha. The library was an absolute delight. Nice connecting with you. 🙂
I really liked the idea of hop on tour. The blue waters of Canada place look amazing. You covered quite a variety, must be super fun
Thanks, Manisha. It sure was fun. 🙂
Sounds like you saw a lot in a very short time. We only had a day in Vancouver on our way to Alaska by cruise ship, but we did see many of these parts of the city, mostly on foot. My fitbit was happy! I think that step record held till we traipsed around Barcelona last summer!
I managed to do a lot due to this Hop-on, hop-off tour. I don’t have a Fitbit but I can say that my pedometer app was the happiest when I was in Vancouver. Haven’t walked as much in my entire life! Barcelona must have been awesome, lucky you!
Traveling in a red trolley, I have to say, it’s on my bucket list! Haha
I hope you had a great time exploring Vancouver!
I’d love to visit the Stanley Park and the Library (#BookNerd)!
Oh yes, the red trolley is quite something, right? It’s on my bucket list too. Parks in Vancouver are heavenly, and of course, the library was a die-for. 🙂
Vancouver is such a beautiful place. It’s in my bucket list too. Hop on and off bus service is a cool way to explore its beauty. Thanks for sharing such awesome pictures. Happ to join with you for #writetribeprobloggerchallenge !!!
Thanks, Vasantha. I’m glad that you’re participating in the challenge as well. I do hope you get to visit Vancouver sometime.
Not only did you enjoy your Vancouver trip, you have done an amazing job describing it. “The alluring blue waters rippling lazily with mountains reflecting along its edges was a sight to behold” – This description just makes me want to be there and experience it! Looking forward to more travel posts 😊
Hey thanks, Ryan. I’m glad you enjoyed my description of Vancouver. 🙂
superb pics …and really a good, detail info, your post has re-memorised me our “New York trip”, wish to visit Vancouver very soon. looking forward to reading more from you
Thanks, Surbhi. Newyork would have been a wonderful experience. 🙂
[…] On our tour around the city in the Hop-on, hop-off bus that I wrote about in my previous post here, we spotted this restaurant just around […]