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Discover Vancouver's Secrets: Top 8 Fun Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love with the City

illustration of vancouver
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Vancouver, as we unveil its quirks, hidden gems, and amusing tales that are sure to pique your curiosity and make you say "eh?"

1. Stanley Park: Nature's Netflix

Who needs Netflix and chill when you can sea-wall and forest in Vancouver's Stanley Park? That's right, forget cozying up on the couch: Stanley Park is a massive 1,001-acre urban oasis, teeming with attractions like a seawall, beaches, gardens, and an awe-inspiring aquarium, providing splendid views of the city skyline and breathtaking mountain ranges in the backdrop.
Source => dailyhive.com

2. Grouse Mountain: Quick Slope Getaway

Why did the Vancouverite cross the road? To get to the powder on the other side: Grouse Mountain is shockingly only a brisk 20-minute drive away from downtown and boasts 212 acres of skiable terrain, accessible by the picturesque Skyride Tram – and to sweeten the deal, night owls can even shred some stellar slopes until 10pm, under the sparkling lights of the city.
Source => evo.com

3. Hollywood North: Vancouver's Film Fame

Lights, camera, action in Hollywood North: Vancouver's film and TV industry rakes in a cool $1 billion annually, having served as the perfect backdrop for blockbusters like Deadpool, Skyscraper, and 50 Shades of Grey, as well as hit TV shows like Star Trek, Riverdale, and The Flash.
Source => destinationvancouver.com

4. Gastown Steam Clock: Father Time Meets Steampunk

When Father Time met Steampunk and had a lovechild in the heart of Canada: Vancouver is home to Gastown's iconic steam clock, crafted by horologist Raymond Saunders in 1977. It's one of only five functioning steam clocks in the world, chiming the Westminster Quarters tune and charming tourists with its Victorian-era eccentricity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Chinatown Spring Festival: Dragon Dance Party

5. Chinatown Spring Festival: Dragon Dance Party

In a mythical East-meets-West clash of dragons, kung-fu masters, and exuberant, satiated onlookers, Vancouver's historic Chinatown becomes the ultimate battleground (or rather, celebration ground!): This vibrant area plays host to a massive annual Spring Festival Parade, which attracts around 100,000 spectators and 4,000 performers, showcasing traditional dragon dances, food booths, cultural exhibits, shadow puppets, martial arts performers from China, and multicultural performances from the local community.
Source => usa.chinadaily.com.cn

6. Public Art Rain: Real Estate's Creative Splash

When it rains, it pours... public art! Vancouver is no stranger to making it rain masterpieces, with real estate moguls acting as modern-day Medici patrons sponsoring beautiful oddities across the city: In Vancouver, when developers construct a project of 100,000 square feet or more, they're required to either contribute to the city's public art fund or provide an on-site art commission of equivalent value, leading to a vast array of public art, such as the lavish $4.8 million spinning chandelier by Westbank.
Source => thestar.com

7. Cannabis Craze: Rolling in Vancouver's Deep

In Vancouver, the phrase "rolling in the deep" takes on a whole new meaning with its love for all things cannabis: The city boasts several licensed cannabis stores, such as City Cannabis, Hobo, and Kiaro, although the rumored count of over a hundred dispensaries is more fiction than fact due to the lengthy licensing process.
Source => vancouver-ecodensity.ca

8. Sam Kee Building: All Hail the Endo Condo

Who needs space when you've got style and gumption? Just ask the architects of the "endo of all condos": The Sam Kee Building in Vancouver, BC, is the proud owner of the Guinness World Record for the narrowest commercial building in the world, measuring a petite 4'11" on the ground floor and 6' on the second floor. Originally cornered into a slender existence due to street expansion, this pint-sized powerhouse now boasts an insurance office and a reputation as a tourist hotspot.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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