Vancouver is my hometown. It’s where I grew up and where I live. I love to share the city’s stories.
My Vancouver travel writing has appeared in Fodor’s guidebooks, the Vancouver Courier, PAX News West, Hitched Magazine, North Shore Living Magazine, YP Dine, and more.
While it’s hard to think of today’s Mount Pleasant as a suburb – it’s a thriving neighbourhood that spans Vancouver’s east and west sides and offers easy access to all parts of the city – it did start out that way. In the early 1900s, the area was one of the first residential communities south of False Creek. Today, it’s one of the hottest places in Vancouver to call home. Here are five reasons why the more than 26,000 people who live in Mount Pleasant love their neighbourhood…
False Creek became a unique waterfront community in the 1970s, when the former industrial land was developed into a planned community with plenty of green space and prime waterfront views. It’s now dealing with some uncertainty, as two-thirds of residents live on leasehold land, with many of the leases set to expire in 2036. What that means for the future of real estate in the community remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a hotbed of culture and recreational activities. Here are five great things about living in this slice of the city that embodies Vancouver’s West Coast vibe..
Kerrisdale is a historic area of Vancouver dating back to the 1860s. It retains much of its heritage charm, with a very active business improvement association working to maintain the main shopping village area as a slice of living Vancouver history.
With 50 structures listed in the Vancouver Heritage inventory and plenty of grand, estate-style homes, Kerrisdale is a tony neighbourhood with strong ties to its British colonial past…
Downtown East Vancouver is a neighbourhood of contrasts. It’s a historic neighbourhood in which heritage buildings house hip new cocktail bars, and where hot young chefs are taking advantage of lower rents to open up innovative restaurants. The MLS-defined boundaries of Main and Carrall to the east and west and the waterfront and Pacific Boulevard to the north and south create a slice of town that incorporates the eastern parts Chinatown and Gastown along with a small corner of Railtown – all neighbourhoods that are changing fast. This area has plenty of challenges, including crippling urban poverty in the Downtown Eastside, and it’s not for everyone. But those who live here love their neighbourhood…
With its unique combination of heritage brick buildings, modern boutiques and cocktail bars, cobblestone streets and sparkling waterfront, what’s not to love about this trendy enclave of downtown?
1. Walk to Work (and Everywhere Else)
Yaletown is home to many creative and high-tech enterprises, a good number of law and medical/dental offices, and plenty of shops and restaurants, meaning there are professional and service sector jobs right in the neighbourhood…
The MLS-defined Grandview East, also known as Grandview-Woodland, is the East Vancouver area between Clark and Nanaimo, bounded by Venables to the north and stretching to around 19th Avenue to the south. It is a lively neighbourhood full of East Vancouver flavour, known for its eclectic shopping, dining and great real estate options. With some of the city’s best Italian food, easy transport to downtown and an impressive assortment of heritage homes at lower prices than those on the West Side, it’s become a gathering place for young families looking for a first home with a built-in sense of community…
From beaches to parks to gardens galore, Kitsilano is Vancouver’s outdoor playground – and a great place to live for those seeking a healthy and active lifestyle.
1. Kits Beach
Kitsilano Beach (Kits Beach to locals) is the place to see and be seen in Kitsilano. On a warm summer day, you’ll find families playing by the shore, multiple beach volleyball games in full swing, and the occasional juggler or street performer working on new moves…
