2-3 Hour Itineraries
Stanley Park
The 1,000-acre park that is the heart and soul of the city. First established in 1886, and dominating nearly a third of the land that makes up Vancouver’s downtown core, Stanley Park is an oasis of cedar, hemlock and fir trees flanked by the Pacific Ocean. You haven’t been to Vancouver until you’ve taken to the seawall, the 8.8 kilometre stonewall that circumnavigates the park. Join the locals and walk, run, blade or cycle (bicycles may be rented at Harbour Air Adventure Centre) your way around, stopping to pull up a long on one of the many beaches you will pass along the way and enjoy a picnic lunch (available through in-room dining). Attractions within the park include the totem pole visitor centre, rose garden, tennis courts, playgrounds, refreshment stands and restaurants, miniature railway, children's farmyard, horse & carriage rides, and the world-class Vancouver Aquarium.
www.parks.vancouver.bc.ca
Between March 15th and October 31st, narrated, one-hour Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours are available. Private carriages are also available for the month preceding Christmas. Tours depart from the Information Booth on Park Drive, east of the Rowing Club.
604.681.5115
www.stanleyparktours.com
Vancouver Lookout! Harbour Centre Tower
The remarkable 360-degree view of downtown Vancouver makes for a perfect first stop in Vancouver; just minutes from the Fairmont Waterfront. Facts, interesting stories and Vancouver trivia cover all aspects of the view plus energetic, well-informed guides provide tours every hour. Tickets are valid for the entire day, allowing you to return and view the sparking lights that decorate the city by night. Visit the web site for current events and viewing times.
555 Hastings Street West, Top of Harbour Cent, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N4; Phone: 604.689.0421
www.vancouverlookout.com
Gastown
This historic neighbourhood, located five minutes east of the hotel is noted for its quaint cobblestone streets, late-Victorian architecture and unique First Nations galleries and souvenir shops. Visit the world’s first Historic Steam Clock, enjoy a hot latte or a cold beer on a sidewalk patio and watch life go by.
Robson Street
The busiest pedestrian street in Vancouver, Robson has much to offer for an afternoon of shopping and people watching. Stretching from the Vancouver Public Library at Homer Street, past Sears at the Pacific Centre Shopping Mall and the Vancouver Art Gallery at Hornby Street to the Robson Public Market at Cardero Street you will find a vast array of shops, restaurants and cafes.