Vancouver: First Impressions

We’re traveling around Alaska and Western Canada, so our posts for the next few weeks will focus on environmentally-friendly travel, food, and activities in those areas.

I had high expectations for Vancouver. I’d never been to British Columbia, but I had heard great things about it; it’s green (literally – tons of trees), the people are friendly and eco-conscious, and it’s on the water and the mountains so it’s gorgeous. We were only in Vancouver for 24 hours before we hopped on the cruise ship, so I’m still on the fence about it. We’ll be back next week and stay for four more days, so I’ll be able to form a fuller opinion then. In the meantime, here are my first impressions of Vancouver, BC.

So far, here’s what I like:

• Abundance of locally-owned delis, restaurants, and markets
• Diversity of food – you can find everything from Himalayan and Mexican to Japanese and Indian on the same block
• Independent, non-conformist vibe – kind of like Seattle or Portland
• Everyone rides bikes and there are lots of bike lanes
• You can walk a block off of a busy, vibrant street and be in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood
• People are incredibly friendly – a welcome change from Washington, DC
• You can walk to the mountains or the ocean
• There’s a ginormous park (Stanley Park) in the city
• Recycling bins everywhere – they’re easier to find than trash cans are on some streets
• Very walkable
• Good public transportation, specifically the buses
• Diversity of the people – it’s a very international city

Vancouver skyline from the ship

And here’s what I don’t like:

• Tall buildings – it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as New York City, but it’s still too tall for my taste; the short buildings in DC are one of my favorite things about it
• McDonald’s, Cinnabon, Safeway, Subway, American Eagle – American brands everywhere (I know, I know – it’s inescapable, but I still don’t like it)
• Too much concrete, especially near the water front; the buildings and street weren’t as pretty as I expected them to be
• West Hastings Street near Chinatown – unless you’re looking for prostitutes, drugs, or really enjoy the smell of urine, you should avoid it (long story about how we ended up here)
• No easy way to get from the airport to downtown via public transportation; right now you have to switch buses, but they’re building a SkyTrain that will link the two areas

Recommended Reading:

1. And We’re Off: Alaska, Vancouver, Banff and Beyond
2. Getting Around- Public Transportation: 25 Days to Green Travel, Day 17
3. Getting Around – Public Transportation: 25 Days to Green Travel, Day 17
4. What to Do – Green Activities: 25 Days to Green Travel, Day 18
5. Shades of Green Travel: Bottled Water