World Class

We departed Point Roberts for the city of Vancouver on August 21, the day of the eclipse.  Around 10 am the sky turned to dusk and about 11:30 am the sky returned to its normal pretty blue daylight colors.

Craft of all sorts are found in False Creek

As we approached Vancouver, boats of every sort from yachts to sport fishermen and commercial vessels were prevalent in English Bay and became increasingly dense as we entered False Creek; numerous paddle and peddle craft, water taxis, and yachts filled this busy harbour.  Having stayed at Coal Harbour near Stanley Park in previous years, we chose to stay in False Creek this year to enjoy Granville Island and the easy access to metropolitan downtown. 

Metropolitan Vancouver seen from False Creek

Vancouver is among the most beautiful cities in the world, surrounded by water and towering glass buildings with numerous parks and bike baths that encircle the city.  Multiple water-taxi stops on both sides of False Creek make it easy to see all the sights in downtown as well as a visit to Granville Island.  Man-made Granville Island was created around 1917 to house heavy industry.  During the Depression, hundreds of families lived there in a shantytown settlement.  These families sold salmon and buckets of smelt door to door or operated small boats to earn a living.  Today, Granville Island is a fun and exciting place to spend time walking among the many boutiques, art galleries and art schools; dine at several different restaurants or attend live theatre. 

The Public Market on Granville Island

The fabulous Public Market on Granville Island is the main draw and shouldn’t be missed.  One could spend an entire afternoon in the market alone finding special treasures and specialty produce.  Although there are a few artisan craft stalls, the market mainly consists of a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and cuts of meats and sausages.  It’s always a treat visiting the market and we never go away empty-handed. 

Quality Meats and Sausages at the Granville Public Market

Boaters have several options for moorage located on both sides of False Creek, most marinas take reservations, others may have limited space or operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Details for moorage options can be found in the Waggoner Cruising Guide.  Anchorage is available in False Creek with a permit obtained at Heather Civic Marina or you can get the free anchor permit online.  The customs dock is located at Fishermen’s Wharf (on the T-portion of the dock, marked in yellow).  We cleared customs quickly by telephone, the only challenge was negotiating around boat traffic and some commercial fishing boats at the wharf. 

Docks at Quayside Marina

After clearing customs, we slowly made our way to the north side of False Creek and into our assigned slip at Quayside Marina.  Quayside Marina is the most modern and secure marina in the area and is most likely to have available space, but reservations are highly recommended during the peak season.  Fishermen’s Wharf is also a good choice and often has available space. 

Fishermen's Wharf and Custom Clearance Dock

It’s hard not to enjoy yourself in this beautiful city with chic restaurants, classy bars, museums, and endless shopping and entertainment.  The best part is the convenience of getting around town by bus or across the harbours by water taxi. 

Water-taxis are a great way to get around on False Creek

Two operators in False Creek provide foot ferry service.  Aquabus (604-689-5858) which can accommodate bicycles, wheelchairs, and pets; and the False Creek Ferries (604-684-7781) which offers a day-pass for easy hop-on, hop-off at all stops.  Both water taxi services stop at all the major destinations in False Creek.  The more time we spend in Vancouver, the more we come to cherish this world class city.