Granville Island, Vancouver

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It has stores, galleries, artist's studios and it houses the world famous Grandville Public Market where you also find restaurants. Outside the Market you find the center for the performing arts, music, dance and theater.

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Granville island is a magical place and a must see for any visitor to Vancouver. It is considered to be part of downtown Vancouver.

It is physically connected to the city by a causeway from the south that provides no hint of the treasures that await visitors. Its humble origins are philosophically far removed from what it has become, a sophisticated home to performing arts, art education, dining, artists' studios and workshops, art galleries and a fabulous public market that offers the widest array of fresh food in the Lower Mainland as well as a favourite place for people to meet, eat and spend some time in a safe and relaxing environment.
Its location close to two of Vancouver main city bridges, at the place where English Bay becomes False Creek. Having exciting water views from any point along its perimeter contibutes to the sense that this is truly a unique space in more than just a local context.

There is a surreal aspect to the various juxtopositions apparent on the island. Marinas that have working fishing vessels as well as luxurious hi-tech personal pleasure craft. A cement plant that fits in visually as a unique element. Views of False Creek condo towers with marinas at their base suggesting Miami or other holiday centres. Within this context one can find a child friendly collection of attractions including A Kid's Market, a waterpark and playground, a Floating Village of houseboats and tiny colourful ferries taking people back and forth among points on the waterfronts.

Take time to enjoy.
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We started our day with a grease filled breakfast at Central Kitchen & Eurobar, walked down Robson Street to Richards towards Granville Island. Once we found the AquaBus we made our way to the island. It was a rainy day, typical of Vancouver but still a nice day. We stopped at many of the little local shops and shopped. You must check out the hat store in the Net Loft Shop & Galleries, great hats and the floor moves. We met a couple later that evening from Vancouver who told us the lady that owns the hat store is a flamingo (sp?) dancer and moves the tables and chairs to dance. And that yes ... its typical for these dancers to have a floor with some bounce in it. Im glad I wasn't going crazy, I thought I was seasick from the 3 minute Aquabus ride over. HA.

We stopped at The Granville Brewery and did the typical beer tasting. Ate some calamari at The Keg.

Granville Island is a great place to spend the day. You can browse the shops, chill out on the deck, watch the boats on False Creek and just generally relax. There are many festivals happening on Granville Island all year round, and some great food to eat. It is just a great place with a lot of action and fun for adults (Granville Island Brewery) and Kids (the large children's area is great for them).

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First things first - Granville Island is *not* a real island, although it once used to be. It's a tiny peninsula located on the shore of False Creek, south of downtown Vancouver.

Granville Island is worth visiting because there's a lot going on in a very small area. It has a large public market, the Kids Only market, lots of public art studios and art galleries, a prestigious art college (Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design), several small performing arts theatres, boat yards and rentals, one hotel, a good selection of restaurants (with some of the best patios in the city), and a lot of one-of-a-kind boutiques. Oh yes, and the buskers. I recommend Granville Island for its unique atmosphere where you can wander through the alleys discovering neat places around every hidden corner.

Granville Island is most famous for the Granville Island Public Market, and a trip to Granville Island would not be complete without a visit. It's a great place to buy fresh local products like gourmet pasta and sauces, cheeses, meats, pastries and desserts, fish and seafood, poultry, flowers, spices, chocolate, coffee, and more. It's a foodie's paradise for both locals and visitors. Many people come to the market to pick up ingredients for picnics.

If you're planning to visit, go in the morning or the afternoon. The market closes at 7pm every day, and most of the stores close at that time too. Only come to Granville Island in the evening if you plan to have dinner or see a local production at one of the theatres. Don't come after 7pm to windowshop or to find a vibrant nightlife scene because it's very quiet and there are more interesting parts of the city to visit during the evening.

I feel that Granville Island should be considered a "must see" Vancouver attraction for first time visitors as it gives you beautiful scenic views, good food, and a fun atmosphere. If you only have one day in Vancouver for example, then Granville Island should always be in there.

Granville Island is a little island/peninsula located just on the outskirts of downtown Vancouver. You can get there via the little harbour ferries that run along the water (for example, to English Bay) or you can take any bus heading up Granville and get off at the first stop after the bridge. From there, follow the signs leading you safely under the road, under a bridge or two, and down onto the island.

We visited Granville Island on a Sunday which happened to be Chinese New Year. We found about 25% of the stores to be closed, which was a bit of a surprise. There are lots of funky local stores selling jewelry, arts and crafts, housewares and gourmet and international food. There are also a handful of restaurants and a proper public market where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses or hit up the food court for an internationally-inspired fast-food dish. If you can't resist cute little boutiques budget a few hours to explore the market. Otherwise, an hour or two should suffice.

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The Granville Bridge was built in 1954. This bridge can be somewhat intimidating to walk across. The narrow pathways on either side of the bridge can be reached only by crossing access ramps where motorists seem intent on building up as much speed as possible. Getting off the bridge is just as exciting when you have to cross an off ramp. For your efforts you’ll get a panoramic view of downtown view of Vancouver’s high rises, marinas and the Burrard Bridge to the west. On the south end of the bridge you’ll be passing over Granville Island, an interesting destination in its own right. As you’re passing over the island you’ll wonder if there isn’t some easy way to get down to the island, but unfortunately, you’ll have to go all the way to the south end of the bridge and then work your way back.

Granville Island has been transformed from a dirty industrial park to a farmers market and collection of artists galleries. The businesses may have changed, but the original buildings are still there as are the railroad tracks. Enjoy a lunch outside on a warm day, and you will probably be entertained by a local musician and children playing the engrossing but ultimately futile game of “Catch a Sea Gull”. The galleries are really great and include special one-of-a-kind pieces. The best part about the island is how much it promotes art from local Canadian artists. The island has dozens of galleries and studios with the works of these artists. Sometimes art can be difficult to appreciate, but one gallery that has a wide range of art that should appeal to everyone is the Crafthouse Gallery. It houses a variety of artworks in a range of mediums from several different artists. The collections are always changing, so there is something fresh to see all the time. Granville Island is popular with both locals and travelers. If you are visit on a crowded weekend, you really should leave your car behind and get their by a water taxi from Aqua Bus (http://www.theaquabus.com/). It is a relaxing way to get there with the added bonus of a short cruise around this lovely, ever-changing city.