False Creek, Vancouver

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Favorite thing: One of the nicest memories is our few hours at Granville Market, not the market itself which is a nice attraction but sitting on the wharf and having lunch whilst taking in the spectacular view provided by False Creek, the boats moored in the marinas, the apartment buildings on the other side of the Creek, Granville Bridge and the activity of the market.

If you do not enjoy any of the above you can always fall back onto People Watching, and you most certainly will be entertained.

Favorite thing: False Creek is not actually a creek, but more like a shallow inlet from the ocean that seperates downtown Vancouver from the rest of the city. The name "False Creek" was given to this body of water by Captain George Richards in 1859, before Vancouver even existed.

Writes author Catherine Gourley, "On entering the creek he expected to discover a water link to coal deposits he had noticed in Burrard Inlet. When he met a dead end he gave the basin the mundane name of False Creek. "

The shores of False Creek were used for industrial purposes during the first century of Vancouver's existance, however, industry has slowed since the 1970's, and the land has been turned into popular residential and commercial neighbourhoods, including the famous Vancouver attraction, Granville Island.

False Creek is surrounded by a man-made wall - the sea wall, as it's known... which makes for a very scenic and peaceful route for walking, cycling or rollerblading.

Fondest memory: Walking along False Creek after Canada's men's hockey team won the gold medal at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics. It was the first real spring day - not a cloud in the sky and the air was warm.

In the photo you see the seawall along the north shore of False Creek. The glass building on the left is the Plaza of Nations (from Expo 86, used for many concerts). The tall buildings in the back are apartments and office buildings. The spherical building in the distance is none other than Science World, Vancouver's little version of the Epcot Center (also from Expo 86). Photo taken by me!

Favorite thing: hang out at False Creek. This is another picture of it as we participated in the Save False Creek campaign which was trying to draw attention to the clean-up and rehab of False Creek. Although you can't see it in this picture there is someone swimming through False Creek surrounded by Voyageur canoes, Haida War Canoes, rowers, kayakers, etc. The waters in Flase creek have undergone a major improvement since it's early days as an industrial dumping ground and some of the local sealife has returned and the water no longer has that somewhat repugnant smell. You can also see some of the many condominium developments that have sprung up as a legacy to Expo 1986 held along these shores.