New Westminster, Western Canada's oldest city, offers a unique glimpse of days gone by at both the Irving House Historical Centre and New Westminster Museum.
Irving House was constructed in 1865 by Captain William Irving. Today the house has been faithfully restored -complete with ornate ceilings and original wallpaper- enabling visitors to revisit the elegance of the Victorian era.
Just steps away sits the New Westminster Museum, which pays homage to the city's earliest days. Art, bayonets and china teacups are just three samples of the artifacts on display. Learn about the town's celebrated May Day, the oldest event of its kind in the British Commonwealth.
New Westminster is approximately a 40-minute drive southeast of Vancouver.
A word or two on your visit:
• Admission by donation
• Approximate time required: 1-2 hours
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Irving House website.
The historic district of Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood and still as colourful as ever.
A daytime stroll down its cobblestone streets reveals artists' studios and designer shops, First Nations galleries and antique stores in refurbished heritage buildings. Gastown is also home to the world's first steam-powered clock, now one of the city's most photographed attractions.
Located a short walk from many downtown hotels as well as the cruise ship, floatplane and public transportation terminals, Gastown's lamp-lit core beckons to one and all. Guided walking tours are available.
Gastown is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver's.
A word or two on your visit:
• Approximate time required: 1-2 hours
A word or two on safety:
• Be mindful of the fact that Gastown, while very safe, is partially located in a more graphic part of the city
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Gastown website.
The buildings on the 3.2- ha (8-ac) Britannia Heritage Shipyard stand today as a reminder of British Columbia's rich fishing history.
As the oldest surviving structure of its kind still standing on the banks of the Fraser River, the shipyard has officially been named a National Historic Site. Visitors who explore Murakami House, constructed in 1885, get a glimpse of what life was like for a Japanese-Canadian family back then.
Take some additional time to tour the village itself. Steveston is also home to the
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site.
Steveston Village is a 40-minute drive from Vancouver via Highway 99.
A word or two on your visit:
• No admission fee in effect
• Approximate time required: 1 hour
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Britannia Shipyard website.