I’m wrapping up Vancouver month on the blog with a photo essay of pics the city. These Vancouver pictures have been taken over my many visits to the city over the past several years.
Some of these were taken 10 years ago (hence the sushi store that’s no longer in business), while many others were taken as recently as two months ago. Taken together, they present a pretty accurate picture of the city.
These images cover Vancouver skyscrapers, interesting shots of urban life, and a few oddball pics that remind me of Andy Warhol. Here’s a collection of pictures of Vancouver Canada!
Vancouver Skyline Pictures
The Vancouver skyscrapers are among the most striking features of the city:
I loved this art piece and the way it contrasted with the colorful skyscraper behind it.
On my first trip to the city, I came away with the impression that many of the skyscrapers in Vancouver looked exactly the same. It seemed very strange.
On recent visits, though, I looked more closely at the skyscrapers and noticed they were quite different. Some are made of concrete, while some are mostly glass. Some have balconies, others do not. Some are symmetrical, while others have quirks in their design.
There are some weird buildings in Vancouver. The golf ball-looking building is Science World. It was built for the 1986 World’s Fair but now serves as a nonprofit museum that is particularly popular with kids.
Did someone say weird buildings? Here’s another tall residential building with a unique wavy design. I love this!
Here’s another weirdly-shaped apartment building with aggressively angular balconies. I like this one too!
I really enjoy buildings like the one on the left which seem to defy gravity. It’s called Vancouver House, and it looks like it’s getting skinnier as the building goes down. It’s really more of an optical illusion due to its twisting facade:
Here’s yet another really cool-looking skyscraper. So narrow and round:
Staying on the 20th floor of a downtown hotel is a good way to a different view of the city’s tallest buildings.
Incidentally, if you’re curious, here’s a list of the tallest Vancouver skyscrapers. The city currently has 56 buildings that are at least 100 meters (328 feet) tall.
Granville Island Images
The Granville Island Public Market is one of Vancouver’s most popular shopping and dining areas. It’s a great place to buy some local foods and to do some people watching and gazing at the downtown skyline.
The indoor market has all kinds of shops and foods to check out. On this day, I went with a tasty burrito.
So much fresh fruit!
I should’ve bought some fruit, but instead I always go for the baked goods. I can never turn down a nanaimo bar when I’m in Canada! Here’s a pistachio nanaimo bar and a mini pecan pie from a bakery in the market.
If the weather’s nice, get your lunch and then head outside. The birds know to sit near the people in case they drop any scraps of food:
Sitting outside at the Granville Island market provides a sweet view of the downtown Vancouver skyscrapers:
I love how these otherwise boring construction towers have been decked out with cartoon characters to liven them up!
Pics From the Bridges, Beaches, and Parks
A look at the Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park. This bridge is so imposing and impressive.
Driving on it looks just as cool! Be prepared for traffic jams if you do decide to cross in your vehicle.
Here’s a look at the famous totem poles from Stanley Park. This is one of the most popular attractions in all of British Columbia!
Each pole has a specific meaning that is explained in the informational boards. This one is called the Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole:
The sights across the river. The water is everywhere in this city!
Stanley Park has a viewing platform to look across the water to Grouse Mountain and North Vancouver. Such a pretty view!
Stanley Park is a great place to take pictures of Vancouver, especially the downtown skyscrapers. Just be aware of all the bicyclists zipping past!
Vancouver has some other bridges that are awesome for pedestrians to walk across.
The Burrard Street Bridge has a fun Art Deco style. Most bridges these days don’t have this much personality!
From the Burrard Bridge, the city views are fun. This is a good place to take Vancouver pictures if you’re a pedestrian.
This city has a lot of awesome beaches too. Kitsilano Beach is close enough to downtown that you can walk there via the Burrard Bridge.
Kitsilano has a ton of beach volleyball courts in the summer. I wish Seattle had this many sand courts!
Drive a little further south, and you’ll reach Wreck Beach, a massive nude beach! I was surprised how many folks were here. It’s obviously not cool to post up-close pictures from Wreck Beach, so we’ll have to go with this distant photo:
Pics from the Vancouver Lookout Viewing Deck
One of the best vantage points in the city is the Vancouver Lookout. It’s a viewing deck 553 feet up near the top of Harbour Centre, a downtown skyscraper.
From up here, you can see 360 degree views of the entire city, the surrounding mountains, and even Mount Baker way down in Washington state.
The top of Mt. Baker is always covered in snow. Can you see it there in the distance?
Try to visit the Lookout on a clear, sunny day for the best photos and views of the city.
Vancouver Neighborhood Photos
I took this photo because that classic VW van stood out in front of the modern apartment building. I must have this van!
Going into the neighborhoods was fun, because I got to see cool sights like this. A ravioli store! That’s what you call an extremely specific niche. Sadly, it is no longer there.
This sushi place had a cool outside decor and a nice view. This one is no longer in business either.
More storefronts from the neighborhood business districts. Some of these may actually still be there:
I’ve never seen a high-rise apartment building with this much greenery. Gotta give them credit!
I like this art piece:
Words of wisdom from a neighborhood church:
North Vancouver is technically a separate city from Vancouver. You may find yourself here if you drive across the Lions Gate Bridge:
The Orpheum Theatre is nearly 100 years old! It’s the place to go to see the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as live rock concerts, stand up comedy, and musicals.
More Random Pictures of Vancouver Canada
Here’s one of the coolest art pieces in Vancouver. It’s called “A-maze-ing Laughter” and it’s located in Morton Park.
Look how cheap gas is in Canada! Except it’s in Canadian dollars… and it’s per liter, not per gallon. Doing all the conversions takes some getting used to.
Vancouver has some weird street signs. To me, this one says “Watch for grown men playing bocce”:
And here’s another odd sign. I think it means that there are cameras at the stoplights, but I love that the picture is one of those old-timey Andy Warhol-style cameras.
I had a chance to see an in-store concert by punk rocker Andrew WK at Neptoon Records. It was a wild and crazy show that I will never forget.
More scenes from amid the Vancouver skyscrapers, including an urban garden:
This is a really fun city to hang out in. Check out my tips for visiting Vancouver. If you’re a first-time visitor, those will come quite handy to help you navigate the city more successfully than I did!
