Thank you Tim Lee on being with me for this story podcast!
Tim’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimLeeLetsGo
Photo Credit:
https://youtu.be/3YTe8xqwDRw Thumbnail @ Tim Lee
Music Credits:
https://youtu.be/uUJhd6mOQMc @ Roa Music
https://youtu.be/L4_0H0gR0Vc @ Roa Music
Thank you Darius Davidson for being with me on this audio podcast!
Darius’ Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/dari_eats/
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/COwGcUTMqyG/ @ dari_eats
Music Credits:
https://youtu.be/LSt-pgzDge0 @ koreanpopinst
https://youtu.be/ANuJd7nBZfw @ Huy Nguyen Duc
Are you afraid of heights? The fear of heights, also called Acrophobia, is actually only in about 3% of the world’s population. But it seems like almost everyone admits that they are scared of heights at one point in their life. In Vancouver, there is one tourist attraction that transcends all others in the conquering of heights. The Capilano Suspension Bridge.
The crowning feature of this place is, well, the bridge! Don’t worry about it ever breaking, it can hold a fully packed 747 airplane. It is 137 metres long and 70 metres above the river below. In fact, the bridge is so strong that it can hold up to 96 adult elephants in weight. Reinforced with cable wires, it stays in place with massive blocks of concrete on either side. The park also monitors the wind and weather of the area, so even if there is a slight chance of dangerous weather, they will close the bridge.
Beales, Jacalyn. ‘Capilano Bridge’ 2017. JPG file. / Unsplash
However, the bridge is not the only thing that park offers. At the entrance of the attraction, you will be given a scavenger hunt to collect all the stamps located throughout the park. This includes a gift shop, natural exhibits, and a tree house! There is a hiking trail on the far side of the bridge, which is populated by a diverse lot of critters.
You might think “whew! know that I’ve gotten over the massive bridge, my worry of going to the washroom on the spot is over!” Well let me tell you, the famed bridge is not the only heart-racing thing in the park. A rather new addition to the park, the Cliffwalk is an extended cliffside adventure that spans over 213 metres along Capilano Canyon. Its high and narrow design is perfect for thrill seekers, but if you get anxious easily, I’d avoid this one just because of its extensive length. As one of the most famous attractions in Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has become a cultural experience that is a must-visit for everyone.
A live theatre, market, food court, seaside view- Granville Island has it all. It’s quite a nostalgic place for me, since so many of my childhood memories were made there. My father used to take me to the arcade in the kids zone, where I would play the same game over and over again just to win as many tickets as possible. In high school, we had field trips to the Arts Club Granville Island Stage where I experienced some of the most incredible live theatre. The most memorable for me was a live rendition of Kim’s Convenience, I’m so glad that they are now a successful TV show.
The main attraction of Granville Island however is the extraordinary marketplace. There is almost everything you can think of from live seafood to chocolate confectionaries. My parents would spend hours wandering the market, bargaining for the best price on a baguette. After browsing the market, you can go enjoy the food court right in the same building. There are tables indoors, or you can take your food outdoors to the dock (beware of seagulls though!). Most of the time there will be an entertainer in the dock performing music to enjoy along with your food.
ArtTower. ‘Granville Island’ 2012. JPG file. / Pixabay
The rich culture and diversity of Vancouver is on full display at Granville Island, there are many different shops selling clothing, souvenirs, and artworks of all ethnicities. Sometimes, celebrities’ even have music video shoots at the beautiful locations and use the artwork on the walls of the buildings as a backdrop! Many Vancouver-born stars such as Ryan Reynolds are often spotted shopping or just taking a stroll in the plazas.
Today, Granville Island is still pretty much the same, despite a few restrictions due to the pandemic. There are new art pieces in the galleries, new shops in the markets, and many new performances coming to its theatre. I hope this iconic location stays for generations to come.
In your head, think of how massive an Olympic pool is. Here I’ll even give you a picture of one:
janeb13. ‘Olympic Pool’ 2016. JPG file. / Pixabay
Now triple that length – that’s how long the Kitsilano Pool is. At a whopping 137 metres, it is the longest pool in Canada, and the longest outdoor pool in North America. I wonder if Olympians rent the place to practice super long distance swimming!
I remember when I was first taking swimming lessons, the main pools I would go to were the ones at C.G. Brown and Bonsor Recreation Centre. As a 6-year old, the pool seemed vast and unknown, which also came with giving me an irrational fear of seeing a shark in the pool (almost everyone has thought about this). The chlorine smell stuck to my skin after every lesson, and hugely differed from my trips to the beach. Now when I compare them to Kitsilano Pool, they seem like a breeze to swim across versus the longest pool in Canada.
It’s also the only saltwater pool in Vancouver, letting all patrons simulate what it’s like to be at a seaside, but without all the sand. Back when it opened in 1931, it actually used tidal water from English Bay, which resulted in various sealife being in the pool. It maintained its sandy bottom until 1960, which then was remolded due to health and circulation concerns.
Today, the pool’s design is very different from when it first opened. In 1978, the overhaul began with goals to provide a safer environment for visitors. As recently as 2018, the pool received an upgrade that aimed to reduce the usage of potable water. Kitsilano Pool is mostly open during the summertime, as that is when people of all ages can enjoy its specialties most frequently.
Back during the 3rd grade, my class held something daily called D.E.A.R. It stood for “Drop Everything And Run”, and it was the always highlight of my day. The entire class would go outside and run a lap or two around the field, then go back inside to resume class as if nothing had happened. It was humorous yet a great way to get our blood pumping. After noticing how I was finishing two laps before others even finished one lap, my teacher suggested I join the school’s Track and Field team, but it was restricted to students from grades 4 to 7.
As soon as I entered the school year as a 4th grader, I immediately made it a goal to become the best runner on the team. This was the first real routine physical activity I’ve ever experienced in my life, and it made me realize how important physical activity was. For the duration of the entire year, we would have after-school practice twice a week in preparation for the track meet at Swangard Stadium at the end of the year.
Free-Photos. ‘Sprint Track’ 2016. JPG file. / Pixabay
At first I was over-confident, and thought I could be the first to finish the practice laps if I sprinted as hard as I could. This would backfire as it turned out almost everyone on the team could best me, and I always ended up being among the last to finish. I soon found out that pacing yourself and maintaining proper breathing for extended runs is much more effective. I quickly learned as much as I could about proper running and springing techniques until the pivotal day arrived, a competition among other Burnaby schools at Swangard Stadium.
Various different types of events were held, but the ones I remember partaking in were the 100-metre sprint, 400-metre race, 800-metre race, and the 400-metre baton pass. Even though I never got first place in any race, I enjoyed the feeling of air rushing past my face as I ran. I continued to be a part of the Track and Field team until my elementary graduation in 7th grade, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a runner.
Yokohama, Japan 🇯🇵
If I told you that this city is Vancouver’s sister, you might look at me like I’ve lost my marbles. But it’s absolutely true, Yokohama is one of Vancouver’s five sister cities across the globe, and they are more important than you might imagine. The entire list is:
First off, what is a sister city exactly? The definition can vary from city to city, but in short, it’s a partnership. Kind of like a collaboration between two different artists, except it’s legally binding. The two cities can share information, have joint ventures, and most extensively host a student exchange program. In order for two cities to solidify their positions as sister cities, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) must be signed by the highest elected official from both parties.
The sister city that catches my eye right off the bat is Los Angeles. People have always compared the two cities as being similar in infrastructure and it doesn’t surprise me that a partnership formed between the two. Over in Asia, the two cities of Yokohama and Guangzhou are excellent choices to help Vancouver adapt to and advance its Asian population. Yokohama being the second largest city in Japan and Guangdong being the largest sub-provincial city in China provides a valuable comparison to Vancouver, which is the third-largest city in Canada.
Kawaguchi, Kiichi. ‘Yokohama Night VIew’ 2012. JPG file. / Pixabay
Over in Europe, Odessa is a popular hub for tourism and travel, which draws similarities to Vancouver as both have many iconic tourist attractions, such as the Vorontsov Lighthouse and the lighthouse at Lighthouse Park. Finally, we have Edinburgh, perhaps the sister city with the most famous landmarks and notable buildings. From Edinburgh Castle to the St. Giles Cathedral, its numerous attractions provide a great learning opportunity to Vancouver and its plans for preservation of iconic buildings.
If you could pick a new sister city for Vancouver, what would it be?
How much Shakespeare content have you consumed in your life? Maybe a few plays from High School, and a few pop culture references in movies and TV. But did you know that people have entire festivals dedicated to the life and culture of Shakespeare? Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach is Western Canada’s biggest non-profit Shakespeare Festival. Established in 1990, the event has taken place at Vancouver’s Vanier Park for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately, in 2020 they did have to cancel the event due to the pandemic, but in 2021 they held it as an online virtual event for anyone to enjoy! They are slated to return as an in-person festival in the summer of 2022.
Riches, Matt . 2018. JPG file. / Unsplash
The main attraction of Bard on the Beach is definitely the two theatre tents, with a combined total of 991 seating capacity. The Mainstage Theatre Tent is custom-built and typically used for the biggest Shakespeare plays and stories. Its open-ended view allows performers to take advantage of its beautiful backdrop. The Douglas Campbell Theatre tent has a smaller capacity but is arguably even more intimate with its showcase of lesser-known plays from Shakespeare as well as contemporary plays.
In the Bard Village, a variety of educational and entertaining activities are available. These can range from concession stands, game corners, and the Bard Boutique. In addition to the yearly festivals, it also hosts a youth summer camp for ages 8 to 18. They realize the importance of educating not only adults but also children of the impact and cultural value that Shakespeare has provided all across the world. For those aged 19 to 24, there are also paid internship opportunities.
The continued growth of Bard on the Beach since its establishment in 1990 is nothing short of amazing. Back in 1990, they only had 6000 in attendance, while 2019 held a record number of 103,000. The non-profit operating budget has also increased from $35,000 to $7.5 million in that time. Having received both audience and critical acclaim, Bard on the Beach, is sure to continue for generations to come.
I have been to many different live theatres in BC as a viewer and consumer, but rarely have I ever been able to stand up on the stage and perform for lots of people. The only time I was able to do this was in my twelfth grade choir trip to Whistler Village.
The three-day weekend trip zipped by way too fast, as each moment in the village seemed like a dream come true. It’s basically a resort with all amenities you could think of located very close to your hotel. However, the best part was the many scheduled choir performances I had with my ensemble. We performed for other schools as well as anyone who wanted to watch. Critics and music professionals also attended our performances which was very nerve-wracking, but luckily the bright lights on stage made it difficult to see the audience, so we just pretended that we were singing to no one and it eased our mindsets.
ArtTower . 2012. JPG file. / Pixabay
On the last day in Whistler Village, we were fortunate enough to perform alongside many different other schools who all prepared the same song together. There were at least a thousand people at the venue watching us, and it was the most grand scale event I have ever been a part of. As we were scheduled to leave the village, I wanted to go and see the incredible theatre venues once more but unfortunately the doors were all locked for safety reasons. Thankfully my choir teacher had recorded the whole thing and we all watched it on the bus home, laughing along the way at our different facial expressions on stage.
I have gained a lot of respect for live theatre performers after that experience in Whistler Village. Not that I didn’t beforehand, but I realized being in front of thousands of eyes is incredibly scary at first, but after a while it starts to become enjoyable to the point where you never want to step down from the stage.
Even though many restaurants and tourist attractions have started opening up more, you may still feel unsafe going to popular entertainment areas. That’s why I want to help you by giving my opinion of the top 3 best places to go to in Vancouver. These are going to be some less well-known attractions but will still help you experience the rich cultures of Vancouver. If you discover even 1 new place after reading this, my goal has been reached.
At number three is the Bloedel Conservatory sitting right at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park. You might know this iconic dome shaped structure already (perhaps you came here to take graduation photos?) but did you know that it houses over 500 different species? Not only does it have a magnificent view, but the area surrounding the Conservatory has beautiful and spacious walking paths to just enjoy the fresh air.
In second, one of my personal favourites on this list, is Burnaby Mountain and the Playground of the Gods (wow that sounds like a Rick Riordan novel). There is a rich history behind the totems that I won’t detail here, you’ll need to go there and read about it in person! Burnaby Mountain also has a beautiful flower garden that is spacious and superb for photos with the family.
My pick for first place is Buntzen Lake. Located in Port Moody, this 10 kilometre hiking trail circles a stunning lake that can only be appreciated in person. Online images don’t do it justice, you’ll need to actively be there and absorb all aspects of the trail with your 5 senses. Because it’s maintained by BC Hydro, you’ll see several electrical towers that can help as milestones in the hike. I can honestly go on and on about this place, perhaps it may even merit an entire article by itself!
Waardenburg, Ben . 2016. JPG file. / Unsplash
I hope you found a new place to visit after reading this, and if you already knew all three of them, why not go again?