Brimming with arts and crafts studios, bars and restaurants with eye-popping views, Granville Island is a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. Though it’s really a peninsula, jutting out into False Creek, the island draws those who come to wander the pedestrian-friendly alleyways while enjoying the sounds of the buskers and the sights along the waterfront.
One of the highlights is the Granville Island Public Market, where you can trawl the deli-style food stalls and artisan stands. Art lovers can wander through the three galleries of up-and-coming artists at the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. For the under-10 set, the Kids Market bristles with kid-friendly stores, mostly of the toy variety. For a little respite, entice the kids away from the shops and head to the huge Granville Island Water Park.
Once you’ve exhausted the market and artisan stores, you’ll have no problem finding other things to do here. You can paddle False Creek with a kayak, tour Granville Island Brewing, or catch and evening show. Come September and the ever-popular Vancouver International Fringe Festival stages myriad performances in many of the Granville Island venues.
The main access to Granville Island is by bus and the False Creek miniferry, a treat in itself. You can pick up the ferry from several points in downtown; the trip to Granville Island takes only a few minutes. Allow an afternoon for a visit to the island.
