 | Vancouver Gastown Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
Down the Gas Town area of Vancouver you can see the famous Steam clock which blows out steamand every hour it whistles.
It is a very clever piece of engineering and well worth a visit.
There are some very nice little gift shops and a shopping mall nearby too.
Every part of the city is different to the next area.you find. Leave a Comment
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Life does not stop in Vancouver when it rains... and there's something about the atmosphere of a rainy afternoon in Vancouver that I enjoy, particularly in the neighbourhood of Gastown. Perhaps it's the way the light reflects over the city... and the buildings and people are reflected in the wet pavement. There's something cozy about it though: the crowds tend to stay indoors, the windows in the coffee shops fog up, and I feel like I have the whole city to myself, wandering the streets in my rain jacket.
While Vancouver is known for its rain, essentially the rain is only a drizzle. There are exceptions of course, but generally, rain in Vancouver is random; on and off, misty, spitting, and gentle. Leave a Comment
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When I was a kid, about once a year my parents would take me and my sister to Gastown for the afternoon. We'd almost always go there on Remembrance Day (November 11th) as we'd have the day off from work and school.
We'd park in the parking lot where Storyeum currently sits, and we'd walk up and down Water Street looking in the stores.
We'd walk into the Landing, a small indoor shopping centre where somebody would be playing a grand piano. There were a few gift shops in there that we'd browse through.
Outside on Water Street, there was the "Games People" which was a really peculiar shop selling every kind of board game you can imagine. The interior was old and shabby and felt like it hadn't changed since the 1970's.
There was also an old fashioned cigar store right across from the Gassy Jack statue, where you had to walk up wooden porch steps to get inside. It felt like a store from the 1880's!
My mom would always go into this gift shop called Calico Cats. It was a typical feminine gift shop selling gift cards, soaps, and ornaments, including ceramic cats.
Next door was a kite shop that we loved to visit. We'd walk by the Steamclock hoping that it would blow its whistle. Then, if we were lucky, we'd have lunch at Brother's restaurant - a family restaurant located in an old brick building where the servers are dressed like monks.
That's Gastown for you in my memory, in the mid-late 80's. Things have certainly changed.
Nowadays Gastown feels a bit more edgy. Begging wasn't common in Gastown in the 80's, whereas these days you can't walk down Water Street without several people hassling you for spare change.
However, the side streets off Water Street are becoming more interesting. There are more independent boutiques opening up, and a real artists community seems to be flourishing. New restaurants are also opening up, greatly improving Gastown's dining scene.
So my point to this is that while Gastown is historic, it's modern identity is always evolving. Leave a Comment
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The historic district of Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. Still as colourful as ever, it is a favourite destination of tourists.
A daytime stroll down its cobblestone streets reveals artist studios, designers' shops, First Nations' galleries and antique stores in refurbished heritage buildings. Gastown is also home to the world's first steam-powered clock, now one of the city's most photographed attractions.
Gastown's structures share a common Late Victorian and Edwardian commercial vernacular indicative of the region's development in the late 19th century. Visitors are encouraged to check out the old Canadian Pacific Railway Station of 1912 for a tangible example of the decorative tastes of the time.
Don't miss the new attraction in Gastown called "Storyeum": Storyeum brings BC’s history to life with an intriguing cast of characters, amazing sets and an unforgettable experience. Grand stories wrap around you and make you part of a theatrical adventure as you travel deep below the streets of historic Gastown.
Begin your adventure by descending below the streets in one of the world’s largest passenger lifts. Finish your journey with a 46-foot high, 360° visual experience of modern day, multicultural BC.
Be mindful of the fact that Gastown, while very safe, is partially located in a more graphic part of the city and you might bump into some beggars. Leave a Comment
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I browsed through VT's Gastown pages and the famous Steam Clock is shown in 8 out of 10 photos. Many of them are from the exact same angle as mine. By adding my own page, I wonder if I can add anything new, photo or words, to such a tourist obligation.
Anyway, for my own completeness, here it goes. I visited Gastown early Sunday morning at 7:40am (according to my own steam clock photo). Streets were still empty, and the waitresses from the coffee bar next door just began to set up tables at sidewalk. No night life or fancy shops for me. I guess this is the kind of place that you have to stay long to sink into...
Being in Gastown early in the morning, I didn't have to wait for tourists to clear my Steam Clock shot. The photo shows Steam Clock and Harbour Centre (the tall building behind). Leave a Comment
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Gas Town.
The town was founded in 1867 when a certain saloon keeper named John 'Gassy Eye' Deighton opened his doors to the public. At the start of 1971, it was declared as a heritage zone when the government designated Water Street as a historical area. Gastown was literally transformed into streets filled with shops, stores, restaurants and coffee bar thus becoming on the most frequent tourist stop.
Born John Deighton (b.1830 d.1875) in Hull, England, this ambitious saloon keeper was affectionately known as Gassy Jack.
This is a picture of me with Gassy Jack. Leave a Comment
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WE visited on foot---Gastown and Chinatown which were not to far from our Hotel but a good long walk. Leave a Comment
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Gas Town is a kind of old street. There is Steam Clock, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes. Leave a Comment
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This is a picture taken of a description of Gastown located underneath the steam clock. Gastown is famous for being a significant part of Vancouver's history, but other than that I think Gastown is not as fun as some of the other places in Vancouver. Leave a Comment
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