We’ve spent many nights at Granville Island in Vancouver over the years, all of them in our first boat on the public dock managed by the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. The little-known gem was right below Bridges restaurant, where we enjoyed many meals, and steps from the excellent public market.

This year we overnighted there on land for the first time, at the Granville Island Hotel, and spent a weekend catching up with friends, attending a Vancouver Canucks game, exploring the island, and, of course, visiting the public market.

Below are highlights from Jan 17th through 19th, 2025. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

1/17/2025

DeLaurenti Food & Wine Position: 47°36.51’N, -122°20.41’W At DeLaurenti Food & Wine in Seattle’s Pike Place Market to pick up a selection of meats, cheeses, olives and other nibbles for a charcuterie board dinner we’ll have on the road to Vancouver. It’s a nice way to enjoy the trip to Vancouver and have dinner at the same time.

En route to Vancouver Position: 47°44.61’N, -122°19.79’W We booked a van with Pacific Northwest Limo Service to take us to Vancouver. This worked out splendidly. We picked up James at the end of the Friday work day, then enjoyed a leisurely, tasty charcuterie board dinner and red wine underway without a care for the heavy traffic this route often entails.

1/18/2025

Granville Island Hotel Position: 49°16.18’N, -123°7.86’W Our room at the Granville Island hotel for the weekend.

Granville Island Hotel view Position: 49°16.18’N, -123°7.86’W The early morning view east up False Creek from the balcony of our room at the Granville Island Hotel.

Clarence Mills Carvings Position: 49°16.19’N, -123°7.94’W We passed Clarence Mills’ carving shed en route from our hotel to the Granville Island Market. We were delighted to read that Clarence Mills was a nephew of renowned Haida artist Doug Wilson, a good friend of James’ parents who we’d met several times.

Granville Island Market Position: 49°16.34’N, -123°8.12’W The Granville Island Market is full of mouth-watering food displays, such as this carefully-stacked fresh fruit.

Market Grill Position: 49°16.35’N, -123°8.08’W We had a delicious breakfast at the Market Grill in the Granville Island Market while the market stalls behind us began opening for business.

BC Blacksmith, Granville Island Position: 49°16.23’N, -123°8.07’W We find metal art quite appealing and enjoyed checking out the varied creations at BC Blacksmith on Granville Island.

Dalbergia Wood & Fine Objects Position: 49°16.21’N, -123°8.03’W Some beautiful carved wood pieces at Dalbergia Wood & Fine Objects on Granville Island.

Historic Yellow Crane Position: 49°16.18’N, -123°7.92’W Granville Island’s historic yellow crane is the oldest in metro Vancouver, dating from the early 1900s. The crane recently received a seismic and structural upgrade to ensure it will remain standing for years to come.

False Creek viewed from Granville Island Hotel Position: 49°16.17’N, -123°7.86’W The daytime view east up False Creek from the balcony of our room at the Granville Island Hotel. The dome prominent at center in the distance is the science center Science World, originally built as the Expo Center for the Expo 86 World’s Fair. James and I visited the fair with his parents when we were living in Victoria and attending University there.

False Creek ferry Position: 49°16.39’N, -123°8.15’W At the False Creek Ferry dock with the apartment buildings beyond ablaze in the setting sun. We’re taking the ferry to Yaletown on the north side of the waterway to attend the Vancouver Canucks hockey game tonight.

Float homes Position: 49°16.24’N, -123°7.82’W False Creek is full of beautiful, modern float homes.

Mainland St Position: 49°16.60’N, -123°7.13’W Yaletown formed in the late 1800s as an industrial settlement at the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In the past few decades, it has been transformed into a sought-after address with high-rise apartments, luxury retail stores and dozens of restaurants and bars. This is the view west along Mainland St. where original brick warehouses built on raised rail platforms (right) have been converted into loft residences at the top level with retail establishments below.

Ignite Pizzeria Position: 49°16.64’N, -123°7.13’W A delicious pizza at Ignite Pizzeria in Yaletown before heading over to Rogers Arena to watch the hockey game.

Vancouver Canucks Position: 49°16.67’N, -123°6.53’W At Rogers Arena to watch an all-Canadian match with the Vancouver Canucks taking on the Edmonton Oilers. In a close game, the Canucks beat the Oilers 3-2.

1/19/2025

Granville Island Hotel Gym Position: 49°16.16’N, -123°7.87’W A morning workout in the gym at the Granville Island Hotel. James’ head is nearly touching the surprisingly low ceiling.

The Sandbar Restaurant Position: 49°16.33’N, -123°8.04’W Former fishing vessel the Relief mounted against the bridge footing at the Granville Island restaurant the Sandbar. The vessel is one of several on display in and around the Sandbar Restaurant.

Kim & Joy Position: 49°16.33’N, -123°8.04’W An excellent meal at the Sandbar on Granville Island with Kim Knuttila and Joy Schiffer. James, Jennifer and Kim all worked at the IBM software lab in Toronto decades ago and we’ve not seen them since our last visit to Vancouver a couple of years back. We had a great evening catching up and enjoying their company.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.