The Stanley Park Hollow Tree stump, standing approximately 40-50 feet tall, is a popular spot for…read moretaking photos. It is worth checking out if you're already in the park, but I wouldn't go out of my way just to see it. The Hollow Tree is located towards the interior or central part of the area, away from the water, while Siwash Rock is closer to the shoreline.

Honestly, I'm not sure what the big deal is. It's an oddly big and hollow tree. You can see hollow…read moretrees in nature all the time as there are always in some sort of state of decay or rot if they're not alive. This is nothing special and would be more impressive if it were a live tree that was still flourishing whilst being hollow. There is a metal substructure holding the wood together and upright. It's a remnant of the past & a dead upright lower trunk of a tree. You can see trees of this size in the redwood forests in California and maybe even the large spruces in the Hoh Rainforest. Granted it's been around since grass began to grow (more than 700+ years old) but I feel like it's nothing but a place for free photos op. It was slightly nice to read the informational placard nearby dealing with the history of the tree and how it's always been a tourist destination because apparently people don't see big trees often. I can say I've seen it though.

If you love Art Deco, pop into this 1930s office building near the water. It's open to the public…read moreto see the architecture inside. Most of the design is in the lobby and don't sleep on going inside one of the elevators. There are a few shops in the basement. Restrooms are in the basement but they aren't open to the public unless you ask a shop owner to let you in.

Went there under renovation, but the side decor is still able to be seen alongside the building…read more Very iconic, but wish it was not under construction

While passing by this behemoth one night in December, the males I was walking with mistook the…read moreknees held against the sculpture's chest for a pair of boobs. Perhaps that has soured my experience with said behemoth, though only slightly, as I can now gaze upon it and smile at what could have been if only the artist were more boobily inclined. But really, it's intended to showcase the diversity of Vancouver with all its different letters and number making up a person. It's also fun to walk around in it.

Okay, I don't know why I like this art so much, but I really do!!…read more The statue was presented to Vancouver by the city of Olympia, Greece to commemorate the 2010 Olympics. It is made of bronze and was installed in 2014. It's located at the intersection of Cordova and Thurlow Street, in the median.

In Greek mythology, Nike (Greek: , "Victory", pronounced [nk]) was a goddess who personified…read morevictory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the goddess Styx, and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal). Nike and her siblings were close companions of Zeus, the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon. According to classical (later) myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she often is portrayed in Classical Greek art. Nike flew around battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame, symbolized by a wreath of Laurel leaves. Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance of Athena, and is thought to have stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon. Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins. Names stemming from Nike include among others: Nikolaos, Nicholas, Nicola, Nick, Nicolai, Nikolai, Nicolae, Nils, Klaas, Nicole, Ike, Niki, Nikita, Nika, Niketas, Nikki, Nico, and Veronica.

Everybody has a word or two that they dislike, for whatever reason. For me, I can't stand the word…read more"iconic". It is SO overused, and often it is used so loosely and inappropriately, that it has lost a lot of its true meaning. We've become somewhat numb to what the word is supposed to mean because it's thrown about so often in describing people and things that, while they might be really swell, they are by no means "iconic". That said, this inukshuk sculpture truly IS iconic. It is THE iconic sculpture and signature piece that, if one had to choose ONE symbol or work that represented the City of Vancouver, this would be it. Proudly standing on a grassy outpost of land overseeing the Burrard Inlet, just to the west of the seawall, halfway. between Sunset Beach and English Bay, this Inukshuk sculpture rises tall, like a monarch on her throne overseeing her realm. This massive granite piece is extremely popular with city residents and tourists alike, and I always see people taking photos of it and by it, regardless of the weather or time of day (it's particularly striking at sunrise and sunset, but at dusk, when it's illuminated by its footlights, it's spectacular! I like how it's illuminated by different colored lights at various nightly festivals during the year). One of the reasons that it's so majestic is its setting, right by the water. In my opinion, this is one of the most successful pairings of artwork to context ever, as its setting here on the water by the seawall at English Bay could not have been more perfect. I see one reviewer gave this landmark a mediocre review due to the fencing erected around the work during the annual fireworks celebration, noting he could not get up close to the sculpture due to the barrier. To this I say, get over it! I applaud the City for protecting this iconic, precious sculpture and appreciating its worth and value by preserving it as best they can. If that means putting fencing up around it a few nights out of the year, so be it. Better that then having it defaced by graffiti or climbed upon by drunken revelers during some nights when there are thousands and thousands of party-goers in this area. I applaud the City for protecting this sculpture in this way. Vancouver has a lot of wonderful artwork to showcase, and this particular work represents and pays homage to much of the City's cultural history and values. Truly not-to-be-missed!

The mighty monument that overlooks the beautiful English Bay. The Inukshuk is a symbol of Canada…read moreand Inuit culture. A tranquil and relaxing atmosphere to observe the moving ships and sunsets.

Love this place. The price to take the tram is a little expensive. But hiking trails are fairly…read moreeasy to handle with different difficulty. Nice view. I only came to this place for suspension bridge experience eventually. Did not go to the other 2 locations

Add the Sea to Sky Highway to your bucket list of road trips! From the rugged coastline up to the…read moremountains, we passed by breathtaking visuals of the Pacific Ocean, alpine lakes, coastal mountain ranges, and temperate rainforests.  For those who are more adventurous or looking for better views, venture off the highway to fully immerse yourself in nature! There's tons of stops along the way to explore - in fact, so many that this road trip can easily span across 3+ days! I was shocked by the immaculate stretches of roads. I mean well maintained, smooth, and clean - A complete 180° of the usual freeway conditions in California. Our day trip consisted of: 1. Whytecliff Park: A remote beach with a rocky path towards an island. Has pristine water & views of Howe Sound. 2. Porteau Cove Provincial Park: Has a gorgeous backdrop of the Howe Sound and lush mountains. Great for scuba divers thanks to the ship wreck, sunken statues, artificial reefs, and diverse marine life. 3. Murrin Provincial Park: A rock climber's paradise. 4. Shannon Falls: 0.7 mile loop trail with the third tallest fall in British Columbia. 5. Squamish: Halfway point. Snacked at A&W. 6. Brandywine Falls: Has an easy-to-reach cascading waterfall. Volcanic rock formations along the trail. 7. Whistler: A popular ski resort town surrounded by snow capped mountains. The Sea to Sky Highway road trip was my favorite activity when I visited British Columbia - Highly recommend making at least a day trip! The experience is 1000% worthwhile :)

You don't just see the globe, you experience it! It's an…read moreimpressive 2.5 tons of granite floating on a thin layer of pressurized water. Say what?! Don't ask me, I'm no engineer. The smooth surface reflects the moment back at you. I love the challenge it offers to those who try to photograph it. The globe can be rotated even by a child's hand, and (amazingly) it's safe for tiny fingers too. You can trace the etched map to places you've traveled, and share with friends. The location of this amazing globe is in the small park, right at the Beach House Cafe, just up from the Dundarave Pier, and at the end of the Centennial Sea Walk. Great place to bring your tourists!

Cute little historic area in downtown Vancouver with cobblestone streets, restaurants, and souvenir…read moreshops. It reminded me of a cross between Boston and Greenwich Village in New York. It's worth visiting if it's your first time in Vancouver, but it's not a place I'd come again and again.

Historical part of Vancouver. Basically the oldest part of the city. Named after "gassy" Jack…read moreDeighton, but don't say that too loud in the modern era. Apparently he did some (by modern standards) bad stuff. They toppled his statue in February 2022. Look for the weird mound to the SW corner of Powell/Water and Carrall/Alexander (ie Maple Tree Square). They try to keep this old district as historic looking as possible. Roads are will made of brick, and the pedestrian barriers are old school posts and chains. Some of the buildings are newer, but they keep the old historical facades. Actually has a nice 19th century feel with a bit of imagination. Food is overpriced, and the streets are filled with hordes of tourists during the cruise ship season (summer months). Nice lively feel. Be sure to visit the famous steam clock (spoiler - it is actually electrically powered, but belches steam to keep the tourists happy), and pop by the Lamplighter Pub (officially Vancouver's oldest pub, but I think the Cambie pub nearby is technically older) for a beer.

Very interesting, giant abacus in the middle of the sidewalk of Chinatown. It's very close to Dr…read more Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which I highly recommend checking out as well.

What, there's no review yet for this public art installation, centrally located in Chinatown, on…read moreKeefer, just north of Andy Livingstone Park? This "sculpture" has been here around 20 years! And it's super cool, as it's not just a sculpture to look at and admire, but it's an interactive piece, designed to actually be used (if one knows how to use an abacus, that is!). The horizontal frame is quite large, made of metal and painted a vibrant red. And the beads are the size of large cantaloupes and they are made of real jade! I love stuff like this that's not on the radar anywhere but, rather, one stumbles upon it in one's travels, as I did the other day, walking around Chinatown. Like, a hidden gem, designed to be discovered in one's explorations. This type of installation works perfectly in the setting of Chinatown, and because it's a literal representation (i.e., not abstracted in any way), it requires no interpretations or analysis, and it therefore would appeal to people of all ages, young and old. Great lesson for kids on abacuses and how they work, too! (Parents, this might be a fun way to get an enjoyable math lesson in!). This sculpture is on the north side of Keefer, just a few steps west of Carrall Street.

The Gastown Steam Clock is one of those quintessential Vancouver sights that you end up seeing on…read moreall the "must see" Vancouver lists and honestly, I'm glad we did take a minute enjoy the show. We walked over from Chinatown into Gastown, and there it was, surrounded by a small crowd of people all waiting for the clock to sing its tune. For a little context, the clock was designed and built in 1977 by Raymond Saunders and is often described as one of the world's first steam-powered clocks. Every 15 minutes it whistles a tune using steam-driven chimes, and on the hour it does a longer, louder version. You can actually see the steam puffing out of the vents as it plays, which adds to the whole old-world charm (but it's actually not THAT old). We arrived a few minutes before it was set to go off and waited across the street as we didn't want to be amongst the crowd. Everyone was watching, phones ready, a little anticipation building. When the clock started whistling, the steam rose up and the chimes echoed through the cobblestone street. It's a VERY short show, but it's sweet and kind of nostalgic. Luckily I was actually able to catch the longer, louder version which played on the hour. The clock itself is really beautiful up close--polished brass, glass panels, and you can even read a bit about its history on a plaque at the base. It's easy to see why it's such a popular photo spot and a go-to landmark for visitors. Would I go out of my way to see it? Probably not. But if you're already in Gastown, it's a perfect little 10-15 minute stop that feels very "Vancouver." One of those small, iconic moments that's worth experiencing at least once. Just try to plan for being there on the hour.

It's one of those landmarks that's simple, iconic, and surprisingly fun--especially if you time it…read moreright and catch it "performing." The clock whistles/steams on the quarter-hour, and the little crowd moment that happens around it makes it feel like a mini event every time. Great spot for photos, quick videos, and a memorable "we were here" stop. The area around it is lively, walkable, and full of shops and cafes, so it's easy to work into an afternoon in Gastown. It does get crowded, but the turnover is quick and it's open 24/7, so you can swing by early morning or later at night for a calmer experience. If you're visiting Vancouver, it's worth a stop--quick, free, and genuinely charming.