The Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC is a place of silence and balance -- every tree, stone, and…read morereflection feels carefully placed. Film photo In black and white, the garden becomes timeless -- a meditation in tones and texture. See more fine-art film photography: @aaronshaphoto #UBC #NitobeGarden #VancouverPhotography #AaronShaPhoto #FilmPhotography #FineArtLandscape

A place of serenity in UBC. Came here for a leisurely stroll and it was beautifully lush with…read moreshades of green, clear walking paths, quiet surroundings and an intimate feel. Perhaps a bit on the smaller side it is still large enough to feel 'lost' in your surroundings. It is free for UBC students or $7 for the general public. I spent about an hour walking around the lake, over all the bridges and most offset paths, whilst stopping several times along the way. I likely won't go again for the price but am glad to have visited. I recommend this as a place for a date, a place to take pictures, or for anyone that is passionate about nature and beautiful gardens.

If you love Art Deco, pop into this 1930s office building near the water. It's open to the public…read moreto see the architecture inside. Most of the design is in the lobby and don't sleep on going inside one of the elevators. There are a few shops in the basement. Restrooms are in the basement but they aren't open to the public unless you ask a shop owner to let you in.

Went there under renovation, but the side decor is still able to be seen alongside the building…read more Very iconic, but wish it was not under construction

While passing by this behemoth one night in December, the males I was walking with mistook the…read moreknees held against the sculpture's chest for a pair of boobs. Perhaps that has soured my experience with said behemoth, though only slightly, as I can now gaze upon it and smile at what could have been if only the artist were more boobily inclined. But really, it's intended to showcase the diversity of Vancouver with all its different letters and number making up a person. It's also fun to walk around in it.

The Stanley Park Hollow Tree stump, standing approximately 40-50 feet tall, is a popular spot for…read moretaking photos. It is worth checking out if you're already in the park, but I wouldn't go out of my way just to see it. The Hollow Tree is located towards the interior or central part of the area, away from the water, while Siwash Rock is closer to the shoreline.

Honestly, I'm not sure what the big deal is. It's an oddly big and hollow tree. You can see hollow…read moretrees in nature all the time as there are always in some sort of state of decay or rot if they're not alive. This is nothing special and would be more impressive if it were a live tree that was still flourishing whilst being hollow. There is a metal substructure holding the wood together and upright. It's a remnant of the past & a dead upright lower trunk of a tree. You can see trees of this size in the redwood forests in California and maybe even the large spruces in the Hoh Rainforest. Granted it's been around since grass began to grow (more than 700+ years old) but I feel like it's nothing but a place for free photos op. It was slightly nice to read the informational placard nearby dealing with the history of the tree and how it's always been a tourist destination because apparently people don't see big trees often. I can say I've seen it though.

Okay, I don't know why I like this art so much, but I really do!!…read more The statue was presented to Vancouver by the city of Olympia, Greece to commemorate the 2010 Olympics. It is made of bronze and was installed in 2014. It's located at the intersection of Cordova and Thurlow Street, in the median.

In Greek mythology, Nike (Greek: , "Victory", pronounced [nk]) was a goddess who personified…read morevictory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the goddess Styx, and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal). Nike and her siblings were close companions of Zeus, the dominant deity of the Greek pantheon. According to classical (later) myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she often is portrayed in Classical Greek art. Nike flew around battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame, symbolized by a wreath of Laurel leaves. Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance of Athena, and is thought to have stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon. Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins. Names stemming from Nike include among others: Nikolaos, Nicholas, Nicola, Nick, Nicolai, Nikolai, Nicolae, Nils, Klaas, Nicole, Ike, Niki, Nikita, Nika, Niketas, Nikki, Nico, and Veronica.

Everybody has a word or two that they dislike, for whatever reason. For me, I can't stand the word…read more"iconic". It is SO overused, and often it is used so loosely and inappropriately, that it has lost a lot of its true meaning. We've become somewhat numb to what the word is supposed to mean because it's thrown about so often in describing people and things that, while they might be really swell, they are by no means "iconic". That said, this inukshuk sculpture truly IS iconic. It is THE iconic sculpture and signature piece that, if one had to choose ONE symbol or work that represented the City of Vancouver, this would be it. Proudly standing on a grassy outpost of land overseeing the Burrard Inlet, just to the west of the seawall, halfway. between Sunset Beach and English Bay, this Inukshuk sculpture rises tall, like a monarch on her throne overseeing her realm. This massive granite piece is extremely popular with city residents and tourists alike, and I always see people taking photos of it and by it, regardless of the weather or time of day (it's particularly striking at sunrise and sunset, but at dusk, when it's illuminated by its footlights, it's spectacular! I like how it's illuminated by different colored lights at various nightly festivals during the year). One of the reasons that it's so majestic is its setting, right by the water. In my opinion, this is one of the most successful pairings of artwork to context ever, as its setting here on the water by the seawall at English Bay could not have been more perfect. I see one reviewer gave this landmark a mediocre review due to the fencing erected around the work during the annual fireworks celebration, noting he could not get up close to the sculpture due to the barrier. To this I say, get over it! I applaud the City for protecting this iconic, precious sculpture and appreciating its worth and value by preserving it as best they can. If that means putting fencing up around it a few nights out of the year, so be it. Better that then having it defaced by graffiti or climbed upon by drunken revelers during some nights when there are thousands and thousands of party-goers in this area. I applaud the City for protecting this sculpture in this way. Vancouver has a lot of wonderful artwork to showcase, and this particular work represents and pays homage to much of the City's cultural history and values. Truly not-to-be-missed!

The mighty monument that overlooks the beautiful English Bay. The Inukshuk is a symbol of Canada…read moreand Inuit culture. A tranquil and relaxing atmosphere to observe the moving ships and sunsets.

Cute little historic area in downtown Vancouver with cobblestone streets, restaurants, and souvenir…read moreshops. It reminded me of a cross between Boston and Greenwich Village in New York. It's worth visiting if it's your first time in Vancouver, but it's not a place I'd come again and again.

Historical part of Vancouver. Basically the oldest part of the city. Named after "gassy" Jack…read moreDeighton, but don't say that too loud in the modern era. Apparently he did some (by modern standards) bad stuff. They toppled his statue in February 2022. Look for the weird mound to the SW corner of Powell/Water and Carrall/Alexander (ie Maple Tree Square). They try to keep this old district as historic looking as possible. Roads are will made of brick, and the pedestrian barriers are old school posts and chains. Some of the buildings are newer, but they keep the old historical facades. Actually has a nice 19th century feel with a bit of imagination. Food is overpriced, and the streets are filled with hordes of tourists during the cruise ship season (summer months). Nice lively feel. Be sure to visit the famous steam clock (spoiler - it is actually electrically powered, but belches steam to keep the tourists happy), and pop by the Lamplighter Pub (officially Vancouver's oldest pub, but I think the Cambie pub nearby is technically older) for a beer.

Irving House, completed in 1865, is the one oldest homes in the Lower Mainland and it is the oldest…read moreheritage house museum in B.C.! Being a fan of Burnaby Heritage Museum, I never knew about this place until my family told me about it. I came here with my parents, and there were no other visitors other than my family during the entire tour of the house. Tracy, the tour guide, was super friendly and helpful with the tour and I was able to stop and ask any questions during the tour. I loved how Tracy did a vintage vacuum demonstration as I haven't seen anything like it before. I loved the fact that visitors could go upstairs and see the entire house! Many of the items in the home were original from the original owners, though some were purchased or donated from other sources.

Irving House was built in 1865, back when New Westminster was striving to be the capital of British…read moreColumbia. It was lived in by family members up to about 1950, when it was sold to the city of New Westminster, and turned into a historical centre. Thus, if you're a history buff, love antiques (especially Victorian-era pieces), or ever watched the show "America's Castles", you should take a tour of Irving House. The house was built in high style by Captain Irving, a man who made a lot of money in the California, Alaska, and BC Gold Rush, and virtually poured it into the house. The architectural details of the house are interesting and well explained by the costumed guides. Since I was practically the only visitor at the time, I pretty much got my own personal tour. According to them, all the furniture and pieces displayed in the house are authentic to the period - no reproductions (except for some fake food in the kitchen, perhaps). Many belonged to the Irving family and their descendants; others were donated. The house is currently decorated, Victorian-style, for Christmas. Lots of garlands, an amazing Christmas dinner setting, and a beautiful little Christmas tree. Those into old-fashioned decorations should check it out. Legend has it too, that the house is haunted by none other than Captain Irving himself. At the very least, you can see the bed he reportedly died in, and it's one enormous piece of furniture. My guide demurred on confirming the story that an indentation of a body can sometimes be seen in the bedcovers. I saw nothing on my visit, though. In any case, it is New Westminster's oldest surviving home, and thus probably one of the oldest homes in the Vancouver area. It's a wonderful glimpse into what life was like in the early years of British Columbia, if you were high society folk. Admission is by donation, so it's affordable even for writers to visit.

For the ladies that act as docents for the Pickett house, this is truly a labor of love. Their…read moreexcitement about the house and it's history are contagious. When you visit, donate well, as the house needs a lot of care. Many of the repairs are done by the ladies themselves.