Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Nanaimo Boatyard: Holidays in Vancouver

At Nanaimo Yacht Charters we often have people splitting their holiday between a yacht charter to enjoy the beautiful nature and the peace and quiet and some time in wonderful Vancouver. The most popular way of travelling for tourists and locals is by bike.

Vancouver is a fantastic place to get on your bike! The City of Vancouver have invested in over 450 km of bike routes comprising of bike paths and bike lanes on the roads. Investment is as a result of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This plan was a visionary document to make Vancouver a global leader in urban sustainability. Amazingly, commuting by bicycle now makes up 10% of all trips.

There are all terrains from the flat areas of Stanley Park to mountain biking on the North Shore.

If you’re new to Vancouver and don’t like to plan, then you can simply get on a bike (with your helmet) and cycle. If you’re going outside of the downtown area you may want to have a look at the City of Vancouver’s Bicycle Route Map & Guide. The map can be downloaded or picked up from a list of locations. The website also provides information about road regulations and safety tips.

Many visitors head for the cobblestone streets of the oldest neighbourhood, Gastown. The area is a great place for food, fashion, coffee and people watching. Another popular area is the Chinatown and then on to Mount Pleasant, home of craft beer tasting rooms and boutique shopping.

The most famous bike routes in Vancouver is the paved pathway along the Stanley Park Seawall. It’s well sign posted and is fairly flat. If you’re looking for something more adventurous then north of downtown Vancouver is the North Shore which is known for challenging mountain bike trails; Mount Fromme, Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour all have great trails which are well signed and established.

There are plenty of places to hire bikes around Stanley Park – mountain bikes, tandems, hybrids, mountain bikes and even electric bikes for those wanting to be on a bike but not have to push up the hills. There are rental places in Denman Street between Davie and West Georgia streets.

The City of Vancouver have also launched a public bike share system called Mobi which has pick up/drop off stations all around the downtown area.