Last Updated on May 5, 2021
It is always fun taking some time out to play tourist in your own hometown. This time, it was great to be able to see Vancouver from a different prospective, from the water, on a fully narrated hour-long tour of Vancouver’s inner harbour on a paddle-steamer.
It was interesting to learn many facts of Vancouver’s history that we did not yet know during the journey through Canada’s “Gateway to the Pacific”- the Burrard Inlet. One of the coolest facts was one we heard was about the green rooftop of the convention centre. We had no idea that the roof also has European honey bees living inside four beehives. The bees have contributed to the roof’s wild growth and produce wildflower honey for the convention centre’s culinary kitchens. How neat is that?
We were able to get views of some of Vancouver’s most famous landmarks: Stanley Park, the Convention Centre, Canada Place, the cruise ship terminals, the spectacular city skyline, historic Gastown, the breathtaking North Shore mountains, Lonsdale Quay, Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, the bulk sulphur terminals, the Port Of Vancouver, and more.
We were lucky that what started out as a rainy day turned into a beautiful day of sunshine, so the rainy weather, typical of Vancouver, didn’t dampen our fun and experience. By the half way point, the skies had pretty well cleared and the sun was shining bright, perfect for us to sit on the top deck for the best unobstructed views.
The harbour cruise was a great way to gain a deeper appreciation for the Vancouver skyline for both locals and visitors. The narration was excellent and it is a great way for visitors to get familiar with the area, and to pick some spots to return to once back on land.
When you have visitors in town, where do you like to take them to learn about your hometown?