Granville Island is a man-made island built around 1915 for industrial purposes. It lies underneath the Granville Street Bridge, in False Creek. Many factories were established on the island, but starting in the 1950s, many closed down, burned down, or simply moved to a new location. Activity on the island dwindled down until a group of citizens decided to give it a new life in the 1970s, and turned it into a great example of urban redevelopment.
Today, the old factories and warehouses are still there, but the have become home to many restaurants, specialty shops, theatres, galleries, a kids market, the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, the Granville Island Brewing Company and the famous Granville Island Public Market. What makes spending a few hours on the island so much fun is that although its purpose has changed, it is still quite easy to picture life as it must have been during its industrial era. There is always plenty of activity going on, whether it be music by street performers or a show organized by a local radio station, kids playing in the park, visitors getting their picture taken, and so on - because another cool thing about the island is that it offers you a really great view of downtown Vancouver so don't forget your camera!
The Granville Island Public Market probably is the island's biggest draw. With over 100 stands, it offers an amazing selection of fresh products (fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese, cold cuts, pasta, bread, desserts, flowers and more) at a reasonably good price. There are also some crafts stands, and a food court that offers a great selection of food from all around the world. The market is open every day of the week, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. I would strongly suggest going to Granville Island on foot as driving and parking on the island is no easy task!
0 comments:
Post a Comment