Surrounded by the clear waters of False Creek and English Bay and ringed by mountains reflected in glass skyscrapers, Vancouver easily earns its rep as one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. But a work trip to the city doesn’t have to mean staring at the sights from your hotel or boardroom window.
Some savvy planning means you can hit many of the city’s highlights by extending your lunch break and taking a 90-minute whistle-stop tour.
Admire Indigenous Art at the Bill Reid Gallery
Walking time from Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites: 8 minutes
Duration: 30 minutes
Discover one of Canada’s most famed artists, Bill Reid, whose bold Haida sculptures and jewelry pieces brought attention to the work of indigenous peoples of the Northwest. You’ll recognize his work after seeing Reid’s awe-inspiring Spirit Of Haida Gwaii : the Jade Canoe statue when you arrive at YVR airport.
At the gallery, look for Reid’s Mythic Messengers bronze frieze along with his gold and silver works. Don’t miss the towering totem pole carved by Haida artist James Hart, which features the the ‘Wasgo’, or Haida Sea-Wolf.
See the City from Above
Walking time from gallery: 9 minutes
Duration: 30 minutes
Make time to head to the highest point in the city, the Vancouver Lookout. Bring a camera to capture the 360-degree views that the 553-foot tower commands. A glass elevator whisks you up to the observation deck in 40 ear-popping seconds.
Take a brisk stroll around the Lookout to soak up the panoramic views. Stanley Park, the North Shore and Olympic mountain ranges, and float planes taking off and landing in Coal Harbour are laid out before you.
Best of all, the ticket is valid all day, and the Lookout is open until 9 p.m. in the winter and 10:30 p.m. in the summer. If you have time, swing back to see one of Vancouver’s legendary sunsets or gaze at the stars above the city lights.
Snap a Selfie at the Vancouver Steam Clock
Walk time from Lookout: 4 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Sure, it may be super-touristy; but c’mon, you know you secretly want to snap a selfie in front of the famous Gastown Steam Clock. Beloved by visitors to the city, the steam (and electric, just don’t tell the tourists!) clock is at the corner of Cambie and Water streets. It whistles the Westminster Quarters every 15 minutes, releasing a photogenic plume of steam as it does so.
Grab the City’s Best Lunch to Go
Walk time from the Steam Clock: 3 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
Quite simply the best sandwich in the city, and possibly in Canada, awaits you at Meat & Bread. A bold claim, sure, but the restaurant’s empire (outposts are now in Victoria and Seattle, too) wasn’t built on flabby bread.
There are other daily specials here, but order their legendary porchetta. Made from ethically-raised, custom-butchered loin and belly pork, it’s slow-roasted and rolled in herbs with a crunch of salty crackling. It’s served on a fresh-baked ciabatta bun with a punchy salsa verde and a side of yellow mustard. Ask for extra crackling.
Seek a Moment of Solitude in a Gorgeous Garden
Walk time from Meat & Bread: 7 minutes
Duration: 30 minutes
You’ll find the perfect spot for a contemplative lunch at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a city hideaway reminiscent of a 15th-century Chinese garden. Sip jasmine tea (free with entry) under a willow tree and admire the Ming Dynasty design and gardening technique of asymmetric rocks and plants, winding pathways and reflecting pools.
Take a closer look at the halls and walkways, which were built in the traditional style without nails, screws or glue, and admire the craftsmanship.
This article was brought to you by Delta Hotels, where simple is made perfect.
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