1144
viewsDiscover Vancouver’s Granville Island
By shetravelsnearandfar, Sunday, May 9, 2010, 3 commentsIf you’re looking for a great place to eat, drink, shop, be entertained and enjoy pleasant views, put Granville Island at the top of your list.*
After a relaxing afternoon playing cards and drinking the local brews at the Yaletown Brewing Company**, Mark and I decided to do just that. We ambled the few blocks from Yaletown to False Creek and hopped a water taxi to the island.
Everyone will tell you to go to the Public Market there, and with good reason. Not only is it overflowing with the requisite fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats and flowers, it has a small collection of restaurant stands that turn that great raw food into delicious meals right before your eyes. I chose a selection of organic grain dishes with veggies and herbs, Mark a cheesy concoction from the pastry makers. After our simple dinners, I headed off for some retail therapy while Mark relaxed on the pier, watching the seagulls, the kids (who loved nothing more than to chase them), and the street entertainers.
Granville Island is known for its high-quality artisan shops. This was a deliberate approach taken by the city leaders when, in the 1970s, they transformed the Island from industrial wasteland to one of the biggest urban renewal projects on the continent. Don’t get me wrong, you can also buy stuff manufactured in China, but for the genuine Canadian article, try these:
Object Design Gallery: I could have blown a fortune in this place, featuring handcrafted jewelry from over 100 Canadian designers of all different artistic persuasions. So many styles, and a surprising array of price points. Husband and wife owners, Tamara Clark and Sako Khatcherian, display their own fabulous creations as they make you feel welcome browsing their gallery. If you like jewelry, plan to spend an hour or two here, and bring your credit card. Their website doesn’t appear to be working at the moment, but here it is anyway: www.objectdesigngallery.com
New-Small & Sterling Studio Glass: Owner David New-Small displays his own works alongside those of 50 other glass artisans in this sunny, intimate gallery. From vases to champagne glasses, jewelry to perfume bottles, you’re sure to find something you’ll love. I was especially intrigued by the “collages” of Miyuki Shinkai- fusions of lighthearted folk art paintings with glass ornamentation. Adjacent to the gallery, the huge furnace and blowing room are encased in wall-to-wall windows. You may get lucky and see work in progress during your visit. www.hotstudioglass.com
Between these galleries and some of the more traditional shops, I polished off my entire vacation gift list in one afternoon.
Buoyed by happy shopping endorphins, I found my hubby and we headed to our evening’s entertainment: Improv comedy at the New Revue Stage. They were running their “Theater Sports” format, where troupes of comedians pair into teams and battle for the votes and adoration of the audience. Like any improv, some bits fell flat, and others were downright hilarious. Best of all, my husband’s suggestion for one of their skits scored us a pair of free tickets for the next night’s show. www.vtsl.com
Next time, join me as we make a second visit to Granville Island, learn about the wonderful restaurant you must try, the other you should avoid at all costs, and a refreshing drink discovery….skirt.com/shetravelsnearandfar/blog/vancouver-dining-tale-two-restaurants
*For a directory and history of the Island, visit www.granvilleisland.com
**For the YBC, visit www.markjamesgroup.com/yaletown.html, or for the story of our visit there, skirt.com/shetravelsnearandfar/blog/discover-vancouver%E2%80%99s-jade-peony-chinatown-and-city%E2%80%99s-best-beer%E2%80%A6
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3 Comments
Great post! I wish it were
Great post! I wish it were closer. My husband I are scouting out places to go for our 1 year anniversary and want to stay within driving distance. We live in SC but would love love love to go somewhere like this. If you run across anywhere or can remember a favorite place. PLEASE SHARE! Thanks again for letting us "travel" with you :)
One year anniversary ideas for Lynzie
Hi, Lynzie, and thanks for your comment. Congrats on your upcoming anniversary.
Granville Island offers a pretty unique combination of things, but I do have couple ideas for you, each within driving distance:
1) Asheville, NC- This town has great bed and breakfasts, fabulous restaurants, local culture (check out the more than half a dozen theaters), quaint boutique shops (many of a hippy persuasion), a vibrant arts scene, and of course, Biltmore. I'm not sure if the tulips are still blooming, but if they are, you're in for a treat. Check out my first post, Where You Stay Matters, for ideas on finding great places to stay.
In the past, against many other people's recommendation, I would have told you to avoid staying at the Grove Park Inn. The public spaces are all fab, but in my view, the rooms leave a lot to be desired, especially for the money. However, I checked out the website and it looks like they've got some new options. The fully renovated Club Floor rooms look nice, and they've had a lot of fun with a handful of theme rooms (I could see you in the Swinging Sixties room...). Still not as warm and cosy as I prefer, but a big improvement. I've always wanted to try the spa there, so if you go, let me know what you think.
2) Chattanooga, TN- If you go, stay in the Bluff View Arts district. It's tiny- just about one city block- but has it all. A great B&B (spread between 3 buildings), an on-site art gallery, outdoor sculpture scattered around the grounds, bakery, coffee/chocolate/pastry shop, two great restaurants, hilltop view over the Tennessee river, and direct access to the River Walk. 50 feet away is the Hunter Museum of American Art, and just down the hill is the best aquarium around (yes, even better than my hometown Atlanta Aquarium). We were just there in April. If you can get it, I recommend the CG Martin Room. We coveted their huge porch overlooking the river.
Hope these ideas inspire you, and again, happy anniversary. My husband and I had our 10th last year, and we definitely believe the best way to celebrate is by sharing a wonderful getaway together.
Happy Travels!
Thanks so much! We go to
Thanks so much! We go to Asheville often, we live in Greenville, SC, but agree it is a really special place. Neither of us have been to Chattanooga so that sounds like an awesome idea! He's all about the views! Thanks again for the great suggestion and congrats to you too! Ten years, woop woop! :)
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