Must See Sights and Landmarks in British Columbia Area

"Some people say the Marine Building may be the most impressive example of Art Deco architecture in Canada. Completed in 1930, its interior and exterior both feature marine symbols in the stonework and brass fixtures. Its exterior, which resembles a tiered wedding cake, was also shown regularly in the hit TV series Smallville,as it symbolized the Daily Planet headquarters."

"Vancouver's most romantic old-school tower block, and also its best art-deco building, the elegant 22-story Marine Building is a tribute to the city's maritime past. Check out its elaborate exterior of seahorses,..."

"While it’s now home to a bunch of offices, nobody is going to stop you from messing around in the lobby for five minutes to get your shot. Where: 355 Burrard Street"

"Scope out the cool architecture (such as that of the Vancouver Public Library), check out the Vancouver Art Gallery or window shop on Robson Street (Vancouver’s version of Rodeo Drive). End your walk at Trees Organic Coffee on the edge of Gastown. It’s a great place to people watch, especially because it’s conveniently located next to an Instagrammable pink street. Not only do you get to watch people take cheesy photos, but you can take some of your own as well."

"Robson Street is downtown Vancouver's most popular shopping drag. Stretching from downtown into the city's West End, Robson has a wide range of stores. Familiar faces like The Gap, Zara, Forever 21, lululemon, BCBG and Club Monaco are staples along the street for men and women's apparel."

"Known for its international flair and heart-of-downtown location, Robson Street is nicknamed Vancouver’s Rodeo Drive for its big-name luxury boutiques concentrated around the intersection at Alberni Street. A short walk from its core is the..."

"Vancouver Lookout offers 360-degree views of Vancouver and beyond. Its observation deck is 169m (553ft) above Vancouver. The lookout’s UFO-shaped design is the main feature of Vancouver’s skyline."

"Gaze at the panoramic views of Vancouver from 30 storeys high. While tickets for the Vancouver Lookout are a little pricy for what it is, your ticket grants you admission all-day long."

"Halfway along Water Street, the oddly popular Steam Clock is a tourist magnet that lures the cameras with its tooting steam whistle. Built in 1977, the clock's mechanism is actually driven by electricity; only the pipes on top are steam fueled (reveal that to the patiently waiting tourists and you might cause a riot). It sounds every 15 minutes and marks each hour with little whistling symphonies."

"Don’t miss the iconic Gastown Steam Clock, where pretty much every tourist has to take a photo (myself included). Continue wandering until you arrive in Chinatown. Vancouver’s Chinatown is quite small compared to many I’ve seen worldwide, but it’s home to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is well worth a visit, time permitting."

"A working steam clock, one of only a few in the world, located in Vancouver's Victorian Gastown. Vancouver, British Columbia"

"The Lion’s Gate Bridge is Vancouver’s most iconic bridge, and the best views of it are from Stanley Park. See it from the Prospect Point Lookout or walk a little bit down Stanley Park Drive to see it straight on like in the photo above!. Fun fact: the Guinness family (yes, the Irish brewing company) built the bridge in 1938!"

"There are multiple ways to get amazing views of Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver. The Lions Gate Bridge frames the mountain peaks of The Lions in the distance and you’ll find stone lions “protecting” the entrance to the bridge. The Lions Gate Bridge can be viewed from the Sea Wall or from Prospect Point"

"The Olympic Village was built in 2010 and is considered one of the greenest communities in the world. Located in False Creek, this is a great area to explore on foot, with plenty of benches, cute cafes and restaurants, and green spaces to keep you occupied for at least an hour or two."

"Gastown, named after 'Gassy' Jack Deighton - a Yorkshire seaman, steamboat captain and barman who opened the area's first saloon in 1867 - Gastown is where Vancouver began. A self-guided walk will reveal the area's colourful history."

"Vancouver's best museum is studded with spectacular First Nations totem poles and breathtaking carvings – but it's also teeming with artifacts from cultures around the world, from Polynesian instruments to Cantonese opera costumes. Take one of the free daily tours (check ahead for times) for some context, but give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore on your own. It's easy to immerse yourself here. "

"Museum of Anthropology at UBC: An informative museum highlighting The First Nations of Canada. Kitsilano Beach: An excellent place to relax with scenic views of Vancouver. You can also swim here when the weather is warm."

"Go to the Museum of Anthropology to find out about the Northwest Coast First Nations people Try some candied salmon - locally caught, hot-smoked salmon glazed with maple syrup"

"Just because Vancouver is surrounded by some of the world’s most stunning natural beauty doesn’t mean you should come to expect nothing beautiful indoors too. The city’s Art Gallery, located in downtown Vancouver, is home to over 10,000 art pieces, ranging from Canadian and British paintings to the photographic works of artists like Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Guided tours are always available, but for something both interactive and slightly different, try to make it for a FUSE event, where DJ’s and artists perform throughout the galleries from 8 pm to 1 am."

"Scope out the cool architecture (such as that of the Vancouver Public Library), check out the Vancouver Art Gallery or window shop on Robson Street (Vancouver’s version of Rodeo Drive). End your walk at Trees Organic Coffee on the edge of Gastown. It’s a great place to people watch, especially because it’s conveniently located next to an Instagrammable pink street. Not only do you get to watch people take cheesy photos, but you can take some of your own as well."

"Hidden behind the unassuming doors of the Rennie Museum is one of Canada’s largest collections of contemporary art. Opened in 2009, the collection focuses on topics that surround identity, social commentary, injustice and appropriation. Entrance is free but the museum is only open to the public on Saturdays by appointment."

"Housed in the historic Wing Sang building (51 East Pender Street), which is Chinatown’s oldest building (1889), the Rennie Museum is a private collection owned by real estate mogul Bob Rennie. Local and international artists are showcased in the gallery and free tours are available to the public. Continue to 9 of 10 below."

"A private museum that you have to book to get into, but definitely worth the minimal effort required. Make a story out of the exhibition, and take a main page post on the roof, it’s a win-win scenario. Definitely one of the coolest buildings you can check out in Vancouver."

"Grand View Szechuan Restaurant is Vancouver’s outstanding Chinese Szechuan Restaurant that serves fresh, moderately priced fish, beef, poultry, and vegetarian dishes. They provide a pleasant dining atmosphere for their customers to enjoy. They are known as one of the best Chinese food delivery restaurants in Vancouver."

"Copper Branch is a 100 per cent plant-based quick-serve chain and they've opened their first Vancouver location. Photo: Copper Branch/Facebook. This Montreal-based quick-serve and fully vegan restaurant chain opened their first-ever Vancouver location in early March...right before COVID forced everyone to close down."

"Our mission is simple: serve our community quality, whole foods and offer the world real food as fast-food for a change. Try: General Copper Bowl, Aztec Power Bowl, Italian Flatbread Cauliflower Crust"

"Jericho Beach is a lovely stretch of sandy oceanfront between the Kitsilano and West Point Grey neighborhoods—but it's so much more than that. It's home to some of Vancouver's posher facilities, like the members-only Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and Jericho Tennis Club, as well as tennis courts that are open to the public. While Vancouver's beaches can be enjoyed from shore or by taking a dip in the ocean, one of the most exciting ways to experience them is to get way out in the water."

"My all-time favourite place to photograph families in Vancouver. Jericho Beach gets truly beautiful light and has multiple places we can photograph until the sun is almost down, at which point we can move to the beach. Jericho is located on Vancouver’s west side, just west of Kitsilano and a short drive from downtown."

"An activity-lover's idyll, Jericho is great if you just want to putter along the beach, clamber over driftwood and catch stunning views of downtown. It's popular with locals on summer evenings, so expect..."

"Lined with logs for the sun spectators, this is the place to reflect on the day and take a few photos of some of the most vibrant sunsets you’ll probably ever see in your life. Sunset Beach Park is also home to an interesting art piece called Engagement, a 30 foot sculpture of two wedding rings. These were created by world famous artist Dennis Oppenheim, as part of the Vancouver Biennale."

"Sunset Beach is a popular destination, especially in the summer, but the green space behind the beach is equally as popular with locals looking for a place to play a game of soccer, meet friends and soak up the sunshine. Grab a drink from the concession stand and spread out on the grass - on a very hot day you might see someone bringing a slip N slide for everyone to slide down the hill."

"Sunset Beach Park does not put its name to shame, and the stunning sunsets you’ll see here while chatting with a friend over a few bites or brews will be worth the wait. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Kritsada Akkhapracha (@fedexfc)"