User:Shaundd/Maps Demo
Test with regionmap template
editBerlin can be seen as a cluster of centres. Berlin has many boroughs (Bezirke), and each borough is composed of several localities (Kiez or Viertel) — each of these boroughs and localities have their unique style. Some boroughs of Berlin are more worthy of a visitor's attention than others. Berlin used to be divided into 23 boroughs, and these boroughs are used in Wikivoyage as they remain foremost in popular conceptions of the city and are generally of a good practical size and cultural division for visitors. In January 2001, the number of boroughs was reduced from 23 to 12 for administrative purposes - mostly by fusing old boroughs together - sometimes across the former inner-Berlin border. The boroughs can roughly be grouped into six districts:
Mitte (Mitte, Tiergarten) The "heart" of Berlin, once the centre of Berlin, then the nucleus of East Berlin and coming into its own once more as the focal point of reunified Berlin. There are many historically important sights in addition to abundant cafés, restaurants, museums, galleries, and clubs in the district. |
City West (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Schöneberg, Friedenau, Moabit, Hansaviertel) Ku'Damm (short for Kurfürstendamm) and Tauentzienstraße, are among the main shopping streets in former West Berlin, especially for luxury goods. There are great restaurants and hotels on those streets and their side streets. The district also contains the Schloss Charlottenburg and the Olympic Stadium. Schöneberg is generally a cosy area for ageing hippies, young families, and LGBT people. |
East Central (Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg) Associated with the left wing youth culture, artists, and Turkish immigrants, this district is somewhat noisier than most, packed with lots of cafés, bars, clubs, and trendy shops, but also with some museums in Kreuzberg near the border to Mitte. These districts are undergoing gentrification as they are popular with students, artists and media professionals. |
North (Spandau, Reinickendorf, Gesundbrunnen, Weißensee, Pankow, Wedding) Spandau and Reinickendorf are beautiful old towns, which feel much more spacious than the inner city. Pankow was once synonymous with the East German government, and the villas the East German "socialist" leaders inhabited still exist. |
East (Lichtenberg, Hohenschönhausen, Marzahn, Hellersdorf) The museum at the site of the 1945 surrender to the Soviet army is of interest, as is the former Stasi prison, an essential visit for anyone interested in East German history. Marzahn-Hellersdorf's reputation for being a vast collection of dull high-rise apartment blocks is undeserved because it is the home of the "Gardens of the World", a large park where various ethnic styles of garden design are explored. |
South (Treptow-Köpenick, Berlin-Neukölln, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Steglitz-Zehlendorf) The South is a mixed bag of different boroughs. Zehlendorf is one of the greenest and wealthiest boroughs in Berlin, while Neukölln is one of the city's poorest. The northern part of Neukölln (sometimes labeled "Kreuzkölln") is becoming gentrified. Köpenick's swaths of forest around Berlin's largest lake, Müggelsee, and the nice old town of Köpenick itself beg to be discovered on bikes and using the S-Bahn. |
Basic test
editsee mw:Manual:Collapsible elements
By boat
editA common option to get to North Vancouver is the passenger-only ferry called the SeaBus. It's a bit utilitarian in design, but it moves people efficiently and the big windows at the front and back provide great views of the North Shore mountains and the downtown Vancouver skyline. Departures are every 15 minutes from Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver and Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver between 6am - 6:45pm M-F and 10am - 6:15pm on Saturdays. It runs every half hour at all other times. The SeaBus operates from about 6:00am to 1:20am, with shorter hours on Sunday. A schedule is available on TransLink's website.
The SeaBus is part of Metro Vancouver's public transit system and uses the same tickets and Compass Cards. Passage is considered two zones so the fare is $4.65 (standard) and $3.15 (concession) on weekdays until 6:30pm, and $3.20 (standard) / $2.15 (concession) at other times (fares effective July 2024).
By car
editIf you're coming from anywhere other than downtown Vancouver, driving is probably the easiest way to get to North Vancouver. From downtown, the Lion's Gate Bridge (Hwy 99) provides a scenic although sometimes congested entrance point. Highway 1 and the Second Narrows Bridge (also called the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge) generally moves better. Both bridges slow down significantly during rush hour on weekdays; traffic can backup on weekend afternoons, as well.
By bus
editIt's possible to get to North Vancouver from other spots in Metro Vancouver using the Translink bus system, but it will likely involve a number of transfers to get to where you're going. Bus routes in the North Shore tend to work on a hub and spoke model with buses meeting up at the following three spots:
The main bus routes of note are:
- 28 - Connects North Van (at Phibbs Exchange) with the Millenium and Expo Skytrain routes (Gilmore and Joyce stations, respectively).
- 210 & 211 - Connects North Van and downtown Vancouver via Gastown, East Van and the Second Narrows Bridge. The bus routes continue on to Deep Cove with a stop at Phibbs Exchange for transfers to other North Van bus routes.
- 239 - Connects Lonsdale Quay (and the SeaBus) with Phibbs Exchange, Capilano University and Park Royal. This is the only bus with connections to West Vancouver bus routes.
- 240 - Connects the Central Lonsdale area of North Van and Marine Dr with downtown Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge and the West End.
If your trip only involves the bus system, the standard adult fare is $2.75. Trips that combine the bus with either the SeaBus or Skytrain follow the normal three zone pricing system.
Get around
editIt is convenient to get around the North Shore by driving or taking the bus. There is also a variety of hiking and biking trails. The bus service is mostly aimed at getting people downtown so travelling from one part of the North Shore to another may involve a transfer. However, it is possible to reach many of the attractions by bus. There is excellent service between the SeaBus and many of the attractions on the North Shore, such as the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge or the Grouse Mountain Skyride.
Parking is quite plentiful and usually free on the North Shore. The City of North Vancouver has talked about installing meters around Lonsdale Avenue, but so far nothing has been done.
By road
edit
Printable Maps
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Hwy 1, or the Upper Levels Highway, runs east-west from the Second Narrows Bridge to West Vancouver and provides quick transit across the city. However, if you're going to see the attractions, you'll need to get off the highway. Lonsdale Avenue runs north-south through middle of the City of North Vancouver, while Capilano Road, Lynn Valley Road and Mount Seymour Parkway provide access to the areas above and east of the highway. Many shops, restaurants and businesses are located along Marine Drive and Lonsdale Avenue.
By bus
editThe North Shore bus system is built around the three hubs of Park Royal in West Van, Lonsdale Quay in North Van and Phibbs Exchange in North Van. Buses run between each of these hubs and out to the various attractions and parts of the region (e.g., Grouse Mountain, Horseshoe Bay, Deep Cove, etc.). Park Royal and Lonsdale Quay have buses that connect with downtown Vancouver while Phibbs Exchange has buses that connect with Vancouver and Burnaby. Travel within the North Shore on the bus system is considered one zone and costs $2.50. Taking the bus outside of the North Shore will be two or three zone travel and will cost more ($3.75 or $5.00, depending on the destination), unless it is a weekday after 6:30pm or a weekend/holiday (when all zones are $2.50). If you are a student (in some cases a valid student ID will be requested) then the fare for one zone is 2.50. If it is after 6 pm or a weekend/holiday then the fare will be $1.75 regardless of zones crossed.
By bike
editFor those who want a good workout (there are a lot of hills), there are several designated bike routes in North Vancouver. Generally, they are well signed and on quieter streets, but do not always have bike lanes marked on the pavement. A map is available from the Translink website.
See
editAttractions
edit- 1 Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way (head north on Capilano Rd until it ends, or take bus #236 from Lonsdale Quay), ☏ +1 604 984-0661. Open every day, 9AM - 10PM. Board the Grouse Mountain Skyride at the parking lot and be carried up the mountain to the "Peak of Vancouver". Up top, there are various activities including (depending on the time of the year) hiking, skiing, ice skating, helicopter tours, a lumberjack show and a refuge for endangered animals. Indoors, there are restaurants, two shops and a theater. And if you tire of all that, there's always the view of Vancouver laid out below you. $14 child, $24 youth, $36 senior, $40 adult. Price includes admission to many activities.
- 2 Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Rd (a few minutes north of Hwy 1 off Exit 14, or by bus #236 from Lonsdale Quay), ☏ +1 604 985-7474, fax: +1 604-985-7479, info@capbridge.com. Open daily 8:30AM - 8PM June to Labour Day; 9AM - 5PM winter (except Dec when it's 10AM - 9PM for the Canyon Lights); closed Dec 25. The largest of the two suspension bridges in the North Shore at 137 m across and sitting 70 m above the Capilano River, the Capilano Suspension Bridge offers visitors more than a wobbly walk. The area includes nature trails, Treetops (a series of elevated platforms near the tree canopy), Cliffwalk (a series of narrow platforms suspended over the edge of the canyon), a First Nations cultural center and several restaurants. BC residents can exchange their full-price ticket for a 365-day membership which gives discounts on shopping and on future tickets for visitors. Bridge and far side of park are not wheelchair accessible. $12 child, $22 youth, $27 student, $31 senior, $33 adult.
- 3 Capilano Fish Hatchery, 4500 Capilano Rd, ☏ +1 604 666-1790. Open daily 8AM - 9PM in spring/summer, 8AM - dusk at other times. This is a working fish hatchery on the Capilano river in the Capilano River Regional Park. There are many displays about salmon and the glass walls allow you to see the salmon jumping up the ladder during spawning season (roughly July to November). Within the park, there are many hiking trails and a picnic area at the Cleveland Dam. Free.
- 4 Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Place, ☏ +1 604 929-5610. Open daily 10AM-4PM (April to mid-Sept); Tu-Su (mid-Sept to March). Once a working farm, Maplewood Farm is now open to the public so they can see what farming in North Vancouver was like. There are a number of traditional farm animals and a few more exotic animals. For kids, there are goats and rabbits to pet, ducks to feed and daily milking demonstrations. In the summer pony rides are often available for an extra charge on weekends. Adults $7.70, children and seniors $4.65.
- 5 Park and Tilford Gardens, 440-333 Brooksbank Ave (next to the JJ Bean coffee shop), ☏ +1 604 984-8200. Open until dusk. Eight themed gardens created in 1969 as a community service project for the enjoyment of the people of North Vancouver. The gardens include: The Oriental Garden, The White Garden, The Rock Pool, The Native Garden, The Herb Garden, The Display Garden, The Colonade Garden and the Rose Garden with 300 plants offering over 24 varieties. Free.
Parks and natural areas
editVisit one of the many parks in the North Shore, including
- 6 Cates Park, Dollarton Hwy. Sand and pebble beach with views of the Second Narrows Bridge, Burnaby Mountain, Burrard Inlet and the entrance to Indian Arm. There are a number of picnic tables, grassy areas and two playgrounds for children. In summer, there's a concession stand (Wally's Burgers). Free.
- 7 Deep Cove & Panorama Park, Gallant Ave & Panorama Dr (Car: from Hwy 1, take exit 22 (Mt Seymour Pkwy) or 23 (Dollarton Hwy) and follow to Deep Cove Rd; Bus: take route 211 or 212). One of the prettier spots on the North Shore, with a beach, a couple of marinas and a cove framed by mountains. Panorama Park has picnic tables and grassy areas to sit and enjoy the view, as well as a beach with a roped off area for swimming. Across the street from the north end of the park, is the start of the popular Quarry Rock hike. At the south end of the park is Deep Cove Kayak, which has canoe, kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals and lessons. Gallant Ave is the main street and has shops and restaurants. Deep Cove is very popular on summer weekends, so take public transit or come early if you want to find a parking spot.
- 8 Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, end of Lilloet Rd. There are a number of hikes of varying length and trail quality. The popular 3 km loop around Rice Lake is fairly flat and in good condition. There is also a 10 km paved trail that heads further into the Seymour River valley.
- 9 Lynn Canyon Park, Peters Rd (head north on Lynn Valley Rd from Hwy 1 (exit 19), turn right onto Peters Rd and follow it until it ends), ☏ +1 604-984-3149. Open daily 7AM - dusk. A great little park set on the forested slopes of Lynn Creek. The main draw is the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which is shorter, less busy but almost as high as the more noted Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge connects to hiking trails on the both sides of the creek, with a common 20-30 minute hike being a loop that crosses the suspension bridge and follows the canyon down to Twin Falls. The creek is a popular swimming spot in the summer with pools above the suspension bridge and below Twin Falls. But be careful if swimming -- the water is icy cold (it is snow melt, after all) and read the warning signs; there are deaths almost every year. Free.
- 10 Lynn Valley Ecology Centre, ☏ +1 604 981-3103. The ecology center, near the suspension bridge, has a number of displays on ecology and many activities for young kids. Admission is by donation.
- 11 Lynn Headwaters Park, end of Lynn Valley Rd (access from the corner of Lynn Valley Rd & Dempsey Rd). A popular spot with locals that has picnic tables on the river close to the parking lot. There are a number of trails of varying difficulty on the other side of the river.
- 12 Maplewood Flats, Dollarton Hwy. A popular birders destination on Burrard Inlet with walking trails.
Lonsdale Quay and the Waterfront
editLonsdale Quay is a market, gathering place and transportation hub for North Vancouver. It has a prime spot for gazing at the skyline of downtown Vancouver and the nearby public areas and walking paths let you take in the views at your leisure and learn a little about the history of the area.
The Lonsdale Quay Market (123 Carrie Cates Court, Open daily 9AM-7PM, ) is a bustling and popular market, especially around lunch and early afternoon. The first floor has a variety of shops, mostly selling tourist-oriented souvenirs of varying quality and tackiness. The second floor has a more eclectic variety of shops and boutiques. The best value is the food options, with a diverse food court and a number of sweet smelling shops that entice with baked goods, sandwiches and treats. Climbing the steps outside to the revolving Q provides nice views across the harbour to downtown Vancouver.
Short walking options extend from either side of the Quay. Heading west past the McDonalds and the drop-off area (follow the Trans-Canada Trail signs) brings you to 13 Waterfront Park. There is a small Japanese garden, a gazebo on the water and lots of green space and benches to enjoy the view or have a picnic. The curvy bars in the middle of the park are an artist's interpretation of the North Shore mountains. The park also hosts a number of summer festivals including Canada Day activities and Caribbean Days.
To the east, head out to the street (Carrie Cates Court), turn right and walk past the Seaspan tugboat dock to the red-roofed buildings that mark the entrance to the 14 Shipyards Historic Precinct. It is the site of what was once the largest shipyard in British Columbia. There are a number of displays that go through the history of shipbuilding on the North Shore and Shipbuilders Square hosts a number of community events, including free concerts and a night market on Friday evenings during he summer. For views of Vancouver, the Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver, head east along the waterfront to the 700 foot 15 Burrard Dry Dock Pier.
Do
editSkiing
editOne of the things that drew people over to the North Shore in the early days was skiing and it continues to draw the crowds, particularly on weekends in January and February. The three ski hills offer a mix of downhill and cross-country skiing, tubing and snowshoeing. Opening and closing dates depend on the weather, but they are usually open by late November and close in early/mid April.
- 1 Grouse Mountain. Is accessed through the Grouse Mountain Skyride at the northern end of Capilano Road (Exit 14 from Hwy 1 or bus #236 or #232). It is known for its terrain parks (Jib, Rookie and Advanced) and the great views it provides of Vancouver. You can also snowshoe on the trails at the top of the mountain. The ski area is usually open as long as the Skyride is open (9 am to 10 pm). Full day Downhill tickets are $45 (adult), $35 (youth), $35 (seniors) and $20 (child) with discounts for night skiing (4 pm).
- 2 Mount Seymour, 1700 Mount Seymour Rd (top of Mount Seymour Rd), ☏ +1 604 986-2261. 9:30AM–4PM, with night skiing until 10PM as snow conditions permit (usually early/mid Dec to March). $51/39 (adult full day/after 4PM), $44/34 (youth & student), $42/32 (senior), $24/20 (child 6-12).
Mountain Biking
editHiking
editThere are a number of beautiful hikes to do on the North Shore. It should be noted that most of the provincial parks parking lots charge parking fees in the summer.
- Baden Powell Trail named after the founder of the Boy Scouts goes across the entire North Shore from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. This is generally done in sections and can be accessed in a number of different locations.
- Capilano Canyon
- 3 The Grouse Grind. A stiff 2.9km hike, with 1,000m elevation gain, to the peak of Grouse Mountain. The busiest and best-known hiking trail in the Lower Mainland, this is more of a fitness thing than an outdoor experience. Proper footwear is highly recommended, and in the late afternoon, make sure to allow enough time to complete the climb before dusk. Stick to the trail as it is dangerous to stray off it. Admission is free. A tram ride back down is only ten dollars if you want to save your knees.
- Lynn Creek
- Mount Seymour
Swimming
edit- Lynn Creek There are a number of nice deep pools for swimming in on Lynn Creek. The water is quite cold, so most just do quick dips. Some locations are popular for cliff jumping. However, read the warning signs and be careful; there are deaths almost every year.
Kayaking
editDeep Cove has a few kayak rental shops. It is possible to go for a nice 1-hour kayak around the Deep Cove area or a multiple-day kayaking trip up Indian Arm.
Festivals
editLearn
editPost secondary education on the North Shore is through Capilano University. Capilano University grants degrees, diplomas, and certificates in a wide area of programs, though mainly in trades and vocational programs. It also offers many continuing education courses.
Buy
editShopping Malls
edit- 1 Capilano Mall, 935 Marine Drive, ☏ +1 604-980-8561. Open every day. At Hamilton Ave (North Vancouver). Anchor tenants are Sears and Walmart.
- 2 Lynn Valley Centre, 1199 Lynn Valley Rd (North Vancouver), ☏ +1 604-988-1515. M-W, Sa 10AM-6PM, Th-F 10AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM.
- 3 Park & Tilford Shops & Gardens, 333 Brooksbank Ave (North Vancouver), ☏ +1 604-984-8200. An outdoor shopping mall built around a unique garden. The garden was built originally when the mall site was occupied by a distillery.
- 4 Parkgate Village Shopping Centre, 3650 Mt. Seymour Parkway (North Vancouver).
Additionally, many of the small villages within the North Shore have shopping districts, including Deep Cove and Edgemont Village (Ridgewood Drive and Edgemont Boulevard), . A drive or walk along Lonsdale Avenue, Marine Drive and Main Street will also yield plenty of shopping opportunities.
Souvenirs, Sports Equipment and Other Stuff
editA good spot for souvenirs (plus fresh produce, seafood and baked goods) is the 5 Lonsdale Quay Market, 123 Carrie Cates Court (at the SeaBus terminal). Grouse Mountain has a gift shop in the bottom floor of the chalet with postcards, books, T-shirts, Native Art and other items. The Trading Post at Capilano Suspension Bridge has a large selection of First Nations art. There are also small gift shops in Deep Cove, Ambleside and Horseshoe Bay.
If your equipment needs a tune-up or you just want something new, Lonsdale Avenue has a number of shops that sell and repair bikes, snowboards and skis, as well as related accessories. If you need outdoor gear, there is a 6 Mountain Equipment Co-op, 212 Brooksbank Ave (corner of Main & Brooksbank). There are also a number of shops along Marine Drive that cater for these sports.
Eat
editIf you're looking to buy your own food, there are plenty of grocery stores (Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Superstore, IGA) scattered across the North Shore. There are also a number smaller stores that sell produce (Kin's Market is one chain), as does the market at Lonsdale Quay.
North Vancouver has a large number of restaurants serving a variety of tastes. Generally, if you drive along Marine Drive or Lonsdale Avenue you won't have a problem finding a restaurant. A selection of restaurants is below.
Budget
edit- 1 Beans on Lonsdale, 1804 Lonsdale Ave (18th and Lonsdale), ☏ +1 604-985-2326. M-F 6AM-7PM, Sa 7:30AM-7PM, Su 8AM-7PM. Popular coffee shop with sandwiches and soups, and some gluten-free and vegan option. There's quite a bit of seating indoors and on the sidewalk and a fireplace for some added warmth on the cool damp days. $3-$7.
- 2 Brazza, 1846 Lonsdale Avenue, ☏ +1 604-904-2333. M-F 6AM-11PM, Sa-Su 8AM-11PM. Coffee and one of the largest selections of gelato in the North Shore. $3-$7.
- 3 Honey's, 4373 Gallant Ave (main street of Deep Cove), ☏ +1 604-929-4988. Daily 6AM-5PM. Popular cafe with soups, salads and a variety of baked goods. The donuts are legendary - freshly baked and generously sized with a cakey texture, honey-glazed coating and a bit of oil. Very tasty, but not the best thing for your diet. under $10.
- 4 Rosemary Rocksalt, 1669 Lonsdale Ave (Lonsdale & 17th), ☏ +1 604-612-2516. M-F 6:30AM-7:30PM, Sa-Su 7:30AM-7:30PM. This cafe serves up a little taste of Montreal with bagels and Montreal smoked meat. The bagels are made fresh in the wood-fired oven in the shop and the sandwiches are stuffed full. Options include the Montreal smoked meat, turkey, vegetarian and breakfast sandwiches. Bagel sandwiches $5-10, bagels $1-2.
- 5 Sushi Station, 1643 Lonsdale Ave, ☏ +1 604-990-8897. Very cheap and reasonably good sushi.
- 6 S'Wich Cafe, 644 Queensbury Ave, ☏ +1 604-973-0133. M-F 6:30AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-3PM, closed holidays. A little cafe and sandwich shop that makes some great sandwiches. The portions are a good size and have a good mix of seasoning, tasty spreads, veggies and meat. The bread is your choice of white or multigrain, and it is pretty thick. There's just over ten sandwich choices with traditional and more modern favourites like the reuben, pulled pork, turkey brie, roast beef & cheddar, spicy Italian, chicken pesto and a couple of vegetarian options. $10.
- 7 Waves Coffee House, 3050 Mountain Highway (Lynn Valley), ☏ +1 604-990-8799. This coffee shop also offers a selection of coffee alternatives while providing free wireless internet access.
Mid-range
edit- 8 Andrea's, 153 West 16th St (one block west of Lonsdale), ☏ +1 604 985-0414. A neighborhood restaurant that's been around for a while. It serves mostly Greek and Italian food with large portions for reasonable prices. $10-$20.
- 9 Burgoo, 3 Lonsdale Ave, ☏ +1 604 904-0933. Su-W 11AM-10PM Th-Sa 11AM-11PM. Cozy restaurant with homey wood decor and a warm fireplace for those rainy Vancouver days. The kitchen serves up fairly large portions of soups, sandwiches, stews and curries. It's a frequent winner of best comfort food in local readers choice awards. Starters $5-$14; Mains $10-$19.
- 10 Colosseum Pizza, 100-124 West 1st St, ☏ +1 604 980-2212. Daily from 4PM. Pizza, pasta, but mostly pizza. There are two styles of pizza: "Canadiana" and "Italian classic". Canadiana is the fairly typical North American pizza with plenty of sauce and the usual toppings and flavours (pepperoni, hawaiian, etc). The "Italian classic" pizzas are different and really shine — there's no tomato sauce, just the crust, seasoning and a select few vegetables and/or cured meats. The classic pizza selection is reputedly based on the owners' travels through the Mediterranean. For the garlic lover, the Caesar salad is also excellent. Pasta $12-16, pizzas $13-35.
- 11 Krua Thai, 1445 Lonsdale Ave, ☏ +1 604 990-9349. 11:30AM-2PM M-F (lunch), 5PM-9PM M-Sa (dinner). Not as spicy as some but very good Thai food. $8-$15 for a curry.
- 12 Mumbai Masala, 770-333 Brooksbank Ave (next to Moores in the Park & Tilford Center), ☏ +1 604 984-8888. A mix of Indian dishes. $8-$15.
- 13 Thai House, 180 West Esplanade, ☏ +1 604 987-9911. Open daily 11AM-10:30PM. Thai cuisine from mild to spicy.
- 14 Tommy's Cafe, 1308 Ross Rd (corner of Ross Rd and Mountain Highway, the entrance is on Ross Rd), ☏ +1 604 988-0053. Daily from 8AM - 2PM. This restaurant is a mountain bikers favourite. They serve very good breakfast with free range eggs and nitrate free bacon if you wish.
- 15 Tour de Feast, 319 Mountain Hwy, ☏ +1 604 980-1811. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM, Sa-Su 10:30AM-4:30PM (closed on the 4th Sun each month). Simply presented restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Sandwiches are served on a hoagie bun and are well stuffed with meat, veggies and sauce. Breakfasts typically include poached or fried eggs with meat and veggies. The dishes have lots of flavour and are made mostly with organic ingredients. $7-16.
Splurge
edit- 16 The Observatory, 6400 Nancy Greene Way (located at Grouse Mountain and accessed through the Skyride), ☏ +1 604-980-9311. Open daily, 5PM-10PM. Pricey, but good food. Restaurant is located in the top floor of the chalet atop Grouse Mountain. Admission to Grouse Mountain is complimentary with advance dinner reservations. Mains $39, appetizers $16.
Drink
editNightlife options in North Vancouver are limited. Clubbing is pretty much non-existent (you have to go to Vancouver to find night clubs), but there are a number of good neighbourhood pubs.
- 1 Sailor Hagar's Brew Pub, 233 W 1st St (Short walk from Lonsdale Quay), ☏ +1 604-984-3087. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Everything a pub should be, includes a great selection of beers, nice woodwork, and a fun atmosphere.
- 2 The Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub, 1177 Lynn Valley Rd (next to Lynn Valley Center), ☏ +1 604-990-8880. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Popular spot to get a drink and watch the game.
- 3 The Raven, 1052 Deep Cove Rd, ☏ +1 604-929-3834. daily 11AM-midnight. Excellent pub food at cheap prices; well worth the money. Cheap wing Wednesday nights are especially popular.
- 4 Seymour's Pub, 720 Old Lillooet (Highway 1, exit 22), ☏ +1 604-904-8778. Usual pub fare at reasonable prices. Friday nights are busy with young locals especially during winter months.
- 5 Mosquito Creek, 2601 Westview Drive (Highway 1, exit 17), ☏ +1 604-983-3083. M-Sa 11AM-1.30AM, Su 11AM-11PM. Centrally located on the North Shore. Thursday nights draw in larger crowds for their feature karaoke night.
- 6 Queens Cross Neighbourhood Pub, 2989 Lonsdale Avenue (Highway 1, exit 18), ☏ +1 604-980-7715. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Casual atmosphere and a diverse menu featuring great sandwiches.
Sleep
editAccommodation in North Vancouver is more scaled down than in Vancouver. You won't find the luxury chains here, but you can get clean comfortable rooms at a more reasonable price that still provide easy access to the city and most other destinations in the region.
Midrange
editThere are a number of chain motels located around the intersection of Capilano Rd and Marine Drive, offering similar style rooms and amenities. The buildings are a bit older and nothing is four or five star luxury, but reviewers consistently indicate the rooms are clean and comfortable. Prices are typically $80-$180, depending on the size of the room and the time of the year. Most offer a complimentary breakfast.
- 1 Best Western Capilano Inn & Suites, 1634 Capilano Rd, ☏ +1 604-987-8185, toll-free: +1-800-644-4227, info@bestwesterncapilano.com.
- 2 Comfort Inn & Suites, 1748 Capilano Rd, ☏ +1 604-988-3181, toll-free: +1-888-988-3181, fax: +1 604-904-2755, info@vancouvercomfort.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 3 Grouse Inn, 1633 Capilano Rd, ☏ +1 604-988-7101, toll-free: +1-800-779-7888.
- 4 North Vancouver Hotel, 1800 Capilano Rd, ☏ +1 604-987-4461, toll-free: +1-800-663-4055, info@northvancouverhotel.ca.
Splurge
edit- 5 Holiday Inn, 700 Old Lillooet Rd (exit 22 from Hwy 1), ☏ +1 604 985-3111, toll-free: +1-877-985-3111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Rooms comes with fridge, microwave and flat screen TVs, while some suites have kitchenettes. The hotel includes free high-speed internet, indoor pool, sauna and fitness facility. $135 and up.
- 6 Lonsdale Quay Hotel, 123 Carrie Cates Court (top floor of Lonsdale Quay Market), ☏ +1 604 986-6111, toll-free: +1-800-836-6111. A mix of standard rooms and suites with a fitness facility on site. A number of suites have harbour views but expect to pay more. Rooms $150-$450. Parking is $10/night.
- 7 Ocean Breeze Executive B&B, 462 1st St E, ☏ +1 604 988-0546, toll-free: +1-800-567-5171. Check-in: call ahead, check-out: 11AM. Many rooms have a view of the Vancouver skyline, small pets are allowed and it has wireless Internet access. $125-$195.
- 8 Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, 138 Victory Ship Way (Lonsdale & Esplanade), ☏ +1 604 986-7437, toll-free: +1-877-986-7437. Opened in 2010 and has lovely rooms and amenities overlooking the Vancouver skyline. $125-$250.
Connect
editAll of the commercial and residential areas of the North Shore have cell phone coverage. However, the terrain is quite mountainous and therefore there are dead spots here and there. Once you get off on the hiking trails you lose cell phone coverage amazingly quickly.
Stay safe
editWhen hiking in the mountains here, do not go beyond your abilities or provisions. Stay on well marked trails and leave plenty of time to get back to the trailhead before night fall which happens quite quickly in the dense forest. Many hikers have to get rescued every weekend from the trails in the summer. Most of these are unnecessary rescues where tourists were completely unprepared and got lost on the trails.
There are a lot of black bears around in the summer. Be Bear aware when hiking around the North Shore areas.
Violent crime in North Vancouver is very rare, but property crime is a serious problem.
Hospitals
edit- 1 Lions Gate Hospital, 231 East 15th St (corner of 13th St and St. George's), ☏ +1 604-988-3131.
Cope
edit- North Shore News. Local paper that publishes three times a week. A good source of information for local events and restaurants. Free.
- Lynn Valley Today. Online community providing information, news, restaurant reviews, directory, maps and more for the North Vancouver community of Lynn Valley.
Go next
editIf you're not ready to return to Vancouver yet, the North Vancouver offers several options for day trips and moving on.
- West Vancouver, next door, has more parks, hiking and scenic views to take in.
- West and north on Hwy 99 takes you through the Sea to Sky region, which offers varied outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, rock climbing and camping. It also takes you to the resort area of Whistler, with its nightlife, fine dining and a wide variety of activities that will keep you busy regardless of the season.
- An alternative way to get to Whistler is by train on the Whistler Mountaineer. The trip is designed to maximize viewing opportunities so the train does not move fast (approximately 3 hrs each way). There are a variety of options available (day trip, overnight packages, one-way train with bus or float plane options back). One way on the standard Coast Classic car is $105/$55 (adult/child); round trip is $189/$99. The more upscale Glacier Dome car is $175/$125 one-way and $299/$209 round-trip. The train runs from May to October.
- For something more adventurous, rent a kayak in Deep Cove or charter a boat and head up Indian Arm to Indian Arm Provincial Park for the day or camp overnight with the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.