About Vancouver
Transportation:
The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located about 14 km from SFU Vancouver. A taxi from the airport to the hotel will cost about $35.00-50.00 CAD. If you are planning to take a taxi/Uber/Lyft to leave the airport, you will need to look for the signs on the lower/Arrivals level in front of each terminal.
Public transit to and from the airport is easy and cheap ($3.10 CAD) on the Olympic line, which will take about 45 minutes gets you to a station that is approximately a 5-minute walk from your hotel. Follow signage in the airport to access the Skytrain station, board a train for Waterfront Station and disembark at Vanouver City Centre Station. From there, it is a short walk three (3) blocks east on Georgia Street and turn left at Burrard Street to arrive at the Hyatt Hotel.
Trankslink: For travel by public transportation (bus & skytrain) in the Vancouver area, route, cost, etc.
About Vancouver:
Vancouver, like the Queen of Cities, lives by the water. The city is well planned, so access to the sea is mostly unobstructed by private property. You could thus walk from the commercial harbor area, which is closed to the public, all the way to the University of British Columbia campus on the other side of town by following the seaside (>20km walk). Much of this waterfront is accessible to pedestrians, cyclists or both (there are public bike stations all around town for one who wishes to thus explore the city).
The place that nearly every visitor sees in Vancouver is Stanley Park and its seawall but, should time and weather permit, you could go all the way to Spanish Banks on the west side (to be distinguished from the downtown West End) and take in the sights and the city skyline.
Of other places that are worthwhile, Queen Elizabeth Park is very pretty and it is accessible on train (get out on the King Edward Olympic Line station and walk 5 to 10 minutes south on Cambie). It is rather manicured and in a way artificial but it offers one of the best views on the city and the mountains. Once you're there the walk to Main street, with its restaurants, cafés, shops, bars and microbreweries to the North (going downhill, around 6th ave) is going to be tempting.
A really good hike an hour and a half drive from Vancouver is going up Garibaldi Lake. Should you wish to make time for nature this is surely worth the effort. It takes three to four hours to walk up to the lake, where you take in the stunning views and then down you go again. Bring at least two bottles of water per person. There is no running water at the campground.
Back to Vancouver now: The city as a whole is worth exploring. Most of the downtown area is residential and represents one of the densest urban centres in North America. "Vancouverism" is the name given to the urban planing principle that led to this dense build-up and the creation of walkable, lived neighborhoods. It mostly works and makes for a livable city, which does not however, avoid social problems and human suffering, which will be evident in the downtown East Side.
Gastown, conveniently located in close walking distance to the Hyatt, is worth a visit. It is the oldest part of Vancouver (barring Strathcona which is also worth walking through – a nice old still fairly mixed residential neighborhood that retains a bit of its working class character, while gentrifying way too fast). Gastown was almost torn down for highways to come through in the 70s. People fought, people won, and it is now a hub of restaurants and bars and elegant mostly upmarket shops.
A short journey on the sea bus from Waterfront Station gets you to North Vancouver across the water. Here, the quay offers stunning views of Vancouver's downtown, while a short walk from the quay takes you to restaurants, microbreweries, and all manner of options.
Of Interest in Vancouver:
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
The Bill Reid Gallery was named after the acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid (1920 – 1998) who was a master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, writer, broadcaster and spokesman. Nestled in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Gallery is home to the Simon Fraser University Bill Reid Collection and special exhibitions of contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast of North America. The Bill Reid Gallery is Canada's only public gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast. - https://www.billreidgallery.ca/
Vancouver Art Gallery
Founded in 1931 and located on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəýəm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səĺilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations, the Vancouver Art Gallery is Western Canada’s largest public art museum. Our mission is to create—through art—paths to share perspectives, build and engage communities and shape our collective future together. This is expressed through exhibitions showcasing historical and contemporary art from BC and around the world; education programs that encourage dialogue and understanding; and publications that advance scholarship on a wide range of artistic subjects. Our permanent collection, representing the most comprehensive resource for visual culture in BC, has more than 12,600 works. We regularly feature highlights from our collection in temporary thematic exhibitions. Committed to inclusivity, we serve a broad public across the region. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors of all ages and backgrounds benefit from our online and in-person programs. - https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/about
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a magnificent green oasis in the midst of the urban landscape of Vancouver. Explore the 400-hectare natural West Coast rainforest and enjoy scenic views of water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park's famous Seawall. Discover kilometres of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, great eats, natural, cultural and historical landmarks, along with many other adventures. The park offers a wide range of unforgettable experiences for all ages and interests, including Canada’s largest aquarium. - https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx
Granville Island
In the 1970’s, Granville Island began its successful transformation from an industrial wasteland to one of the most beloved public spaces in Vancouver. As Vancouver’s premier artistic and cultural hub, located in an urban, waterfront location and steeped in a rich industrial and maritime heritage, this unique destination attracts millions of visitors each year from Vancouver and around the world.
The charm of Granville Island lies in its unexpected mix of uses. The famous Public Market, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, is home to more than 50 independent food purveyors and contributes to the Island’s appeal as a renowned culinary destination. In the Net Loft Shops and in the Artisan District, many of Canada’s best artists and designers can be found. Granville Island is home to many cultural venues and hosts numerous performing arts and cultural festivals year-round. - https://granvilleisland.com/about-us
Museum of Vancouver
The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) connects Vancouverites to each other and connects the city to the world. An enthusiastic civic advocate, MOV is dedicated to encouraging a deeper understanding of Vancouver through stories, objects and shared experiences. Its mission is to be a gathering space that fosters connection, learning, and new experiences of Vancouver’s diverse communities and histories. - https://museumofvancouver.ca/