I'm working on a couple of stories right now, but since Translink recently replaced my favorite bus ever with the 14, I'm sharing the mock magazine article I wrote for my university composition class. It's from 2006, so it was already out of date even before they changed the route, but oh well.
A Day Along the 17 Bus Route
Go on an enjoyable journey through parts of Vancouver
you may know well and others you may not.
you may know well and others you may not.
A good public transportation system is one of the marks of a great world-class city. Luckily for us, Vancouver has good public transit. Not only is that beneficial to the environment in an area of ecologically conscious citizens, but it’s key with Vancouver’s Olympic future. Parking will become even more scarce and expensive as thousands of visitors converge for the Games. For these reasons we should all think carefully about using our cars. Transit provides an alternative way for everyone to get around Vancouver. It relieves you from having to look for parking, buy gas, or deal with bad drivers in traffic. One of the best things about taking a public bus is that you can easily discover places on the way that you might miss while driving.
Discovering what’s along the 17 bus route provides a full day of enjoyable activity for locals and tourists alike. Starting downtown, it goes down Granville, turns onto Broadway, then onto 10th Avenue, and ends at UBC. With lots of great places to stop, there’s something along the way for everyone in the family. One of the appeals of this route through the western side of Vancouver is the mix of different environments. You start out in a bustling city centre with skyscrapers and professionals intermingled with the grit of the edgier population. Gradually you move onto wider streets with a more suburban feel. Finally, you end on a university campus that feels secluded from the rest of the world.
Begin your adventure by exploring downtown. You can shop on Robson Street or in the Pacific View Mall. The Vancouver Art Gallery, which is placed among other major museums such as the Met, MOMA, and MOCA when it’s referred to as the VAG, also has a store full of funky fun things you probably don’t need but will love anyway. If shopping isn’t your idea of bliss, you check out the VAG’s exhibits, or the people who gather on its steps, often protesting or performing. Or stroll the streets looking at some of the wonderful city architecture. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, at 900 West Georgia Street, stands out from its surroundings thanks to its green copper roof. Another striking building is Holy Rosary Cathedral, an amazing example of gothic architecture, at 646 Richards Street. Seeing the Central Library is worth the walk over to 350 West Georgia Street. Inspired by Roman architecture, the circular building was initially controversial but residents have grown used to it. A feature that sets it apart from other libraries is the enclosed entrance with stores and coffee shops.
When you’re ready to start your journey, get on a bus that says 17 UBC at any of the stops on Granville. You might not want to walk too far down the street because the lower section looks a little dodgy due to the numerous porn shops and peep shows. The area is harmless, however; I’ve never been made to feel uncomfortable there. Soon you’ll cross the Granville Street Bridge. This is the third bridge in that spot; the first one was wooden and opened way back in 1889. Once across you can get off at 5th Avenue to walk down to Granville Island. Follow the signs to the pedestrian underpass and then take the right fork out of the tunnel. Walk through the park (remember to stop at the fountain to make a wish), cross 4th Avenue, and then cross to the right side of the street. Then just keep walking straight until you reach the island.
The most well known thing on Granville Island is the Public Market, which sells fresh meats and produce, prepared food, plants, and craft items. This huge indoor area is a maze of stands and people where the various smells, sounds, and colours can easily be overwhelming. Everywhere you turn you’ll see lots of mouthwatering food so go hungry (or full if you prefer not to be tempted). In addition to the Public Market is the Kids Market with its own special entrance for children. The stores inside also sell board games and puzzles for people of all ages so it’s fun even if you’re not a kid.
The main shopping building is the Net Loft, which has some one of a kind stores, like the shop that only sells postcards or the cookbook bookstore. A real treasure for paper or journal lovers is Paper-Ya. This little store has rare supplies and lots of fun little items. The rest of Granville Island is covered with more businesses, artists’ workshops, restaurants, and theatres. Make sure to walk carefully in the streets because drivers tend to be inconsiderate here.
When you’re done on Granville Island, walk back to Granville Street. There you can either get back on the bus at the 5th Avenue stop, or if you like art galleries, walk up Granville to Broadway. This section of Granville is sometimes referred to as Gallery Row because so many line the street. There are also a few high-end furniture stores that can be interesting to look at. Turn right (west) when you get to Broadway. If you like hats then I Love Hats is definitely worth a look. It’s just around the corner and the bus stop is just a few yards down so hop back on there.
Dainty rosebud bouquets for sale on Broadway
The next place I would get off is Macdonald. This stretch of Broadway is full of great stores and provides a more laid-back shopping experience than downtown. Adding to the famed West Coast feel are numerous restaurants and coffee shops with patio seating along the sidewalk. This is a great area for buying gifts. For the younger generations there’s Kidsbooks, which has lots for young adults as well as children, and The Toy Box, which has very nice selection. Women will likely love LouLou, a small store with nice cards and funky small items. Next door to it is LouLou Luv, which has bigger items such as jewelry and hats. Another great place to find a present (possibly for yourself) is Karisma. For animal lovers there’s Noah’s Pet Ark, known for their friendly service. Once you’ve done your shopping, get back on the bus at Macdonald, Bayswater, Balaclava or Blenheim.
At Alma Street the bus turns onto 10th Avenue. This section of the route passes through a residential area full of nice houses. As the bus climbs upward, if you look out the right hand side windows you can see in between houses across the water to downtown. By now you may be getting tired from all of your exploring so take this time to relax. Don’t worry; you’re getting close to UBC.
The final area worth exploring along the 17 route is 10th Avenue between Trimble and Sasamat. This area is relatively quiet and slow-paced. For crafty people, The Cloth Shop and Urban Yarns are conveniently located right next door to each other. A couple of blocks up, Splish Splash Bath Boutique is also a fun place to look. Those shopping for clothes will enjoy the cute stores that are much less crowded than those downtown. Climb back aboard the bus at Sasamat. As you ride along the final section to the UBC campus enjoy the magnificent trees that border the road.
The bus route ends at the gorgeous University of British Columbia Point Grey Campus. The campus architecture varies greatly from classic stone buildings to modern structures. My favorite is Koerner Library. Made of glass and shaped like an open book, Koerner has been featured in many films and shows. The Museum of Anthropology is even more famous for its design. Inspired by traditional Northwest Coast buildings, the museum houses some incredible pieces, including a large collection of totem polls.
UBC also has many lovely gardens. I especially love the Rose Garden at the north end of Main Mall. Colourful all year long, this charming area has stunning views of the ocean and islands. If you want to identify the visible islands you can look on the map in the middle of the railing above the garden. Another outdoor gem is The Nitobe Memorial Garden. Tucked away in the northwest corner of campus, this unique garden features many native plants in traditional Japanese style. It was carefully designed to provide visitors with a different experience in each season while always looking amazing.
Wyman Plaza with Flag Pole Plaza in the background on Main Mall at The University of British Columbia.
After taking in the beauty of UBC you can get back onto the 17 to return to downtown or you can get on one of the many other buses that run from campus to all over the Vancouver area. If you want to stop for dinner there are lots of yummy options back along the 17 route. I love Enigma, which is right next to the stop at Trimble. It’s nice but not fancy and relatively inexpensive. Just off campus at 10th and Sasamat is Candia Taverna. This Greek restaurant has been around for decades: my parents ate there when they were dating while my dad was still in graduate school. If you want a more casual meal, try Moderne Burger. Only serving burgers has allowed them to perfect the dish. Located at 2507 West Broadway (a couple of blocks east of Macdonald), this 50s style diner comes complete with fun old-fashioned atmosphere.
Although you’ll see a lot during you busy day on the 17, remember that this is only a tiny fraction of what Vancouver has to offer. There are dozens of other great places to visit and plenty of ways to get there on public transportation. So put on your walking shoes, grab a water bottle, and get out and explore this lively city!
