You know the drill. One of the ‘must dos’ in a city visit is to find the best viewpoint across the city skyline and photograph it – a day view and a night view if you can.
The CN Tower in Toronto, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State Building in New York, Skycity In Auckland, Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai etc.
Now Vancouver is a world-class city. One of the best. But for me, a city’s personality is found in two kinds of views: the ones everyone tells you to see, and the ones you discover for yourself. This is a guide to both.
Part 1: The Predictable (And Essential) View
Vancouver’s viewpoint is the Vancouver Lookout Tower. It offers 360-degree views over the down town area, Stanley Park, the Waterfront, and the North Shore. Fantastic day or night. Highly recommended.
All well and good, ticked the box, been there done that…. but somehow all a little predictable.
Part 2: The Unconventional Vancouver: A City from Different Angles
This is where the real fun begins. Because for me, the predictable view is only half the story. The other half is found in the views you’re not meant to look for.
From Above: The City’s Hidden Architecture
So here’s a few views you don’t find in the tourist brochures – just as visually exciting in my (twisted?) mind – but not the ones the tourist agencies tend to promote.
I’m talking about the building ventilation systems, the car parks, trees growing on rooftops, peeling felt on flat roofs, road crossings from above, and close-ups of the city’s street sculpture.
All much more inspiring…. well to me anyway.
Vancouver. Brilliant City. One of the best in the world. I recommend a visit. But while you’re there keep an eye out for the building ventilation systems – some of the best.
From Ground-Level: The Unconventional Park
This ‘unconventional’ perspective applies at ground-level, too.
Take Stanley Park. From the Lookout Tower, it’s that famous green shape in the 360-degree view. Most visitors head straight for the famous, must-see totem poles at Brockton Point.
But what about the park’s other stories? The ones you find when you skip the main attractions and just… walk?
That’s exactly what we did. We went in search of the real nature living inside this massive urban park.
Join us for a walk where we find the largest urban Great Blue Heron colony in North America, learn the story of the park’s introduced black squirrels, and stand before Siwash Rock, a 32-million-year-old monument tied to an ancient Squamish legend.
It’s the unconventional side of Stanley Park, and just as inspiring as any rooftop.
Read the full story: Black Squirrels, Birds and Stanley Park, Vancouver
Vancouver is a brilliant city. I recommend a visit. Just remember to see it from all angles—the predictable and the inspiring, from the highest tower to the forest floor.
Read our guides to Vancouver Island and beyond.
Wow, I miss my city!! Living in Calgary now. Thanks for the reminder… C.
I love the photographs, particularly the rooftops. I visited Vancouver twice in 1962 and loved it then. And the ferry trip to Victoria seemed to me then, and probably would still today, one of the most beautiful experiences that can be bought for very little.
Love the photos. I used to love going up to my dad’s office in downtown Vancouver when I was a kid and staring down at all the rooftops. Really been enjoying the blog. Safe Travels!