As you may have noticed in previous posts, there is a recurring theme around cycling so I can build up an appetite for great food and not feel too guilty for doing it. This post is no different, today we’re talking about cycling and eating in one of my favorite cities – Vancouver, BC.
What cycling route today?
Today’s route is brought to you by looping around downtown Vancouver through Stanley Park to Granville Island (Strava Route).
Let’s start at Coal Harbor
Nestled between Stanley Park and the West End of Vancouver is Coal Harbor. It has a number of cycling and walking routes that have wonderful views of the city and water. Follow the main cycling routes along Coal Harbor and you will be directed to Stanley Park.
Cycling around Stanley Park along the seawall
If you are starting off, a great way is to follow the cycling trails parallel to the walking trails. There are no climbs and it’s a nice easy way to enjoy the views from the seawall.
Climb to Prospect Point
For cyclists that like to climb, this is a great way to kick start your ride. Instead of following along the water, follow the signs to Prospect Point. The push is nice and steep but its provides you some amazing views.
And with any awesome up, there is a thrilling down with smooth pavement and wide slopes. One of the few times I managed to stop down the Stanley Park Drive was to take a look at the appropriately named Hollow Tree.
All Along the Watchtower Seawall
Yes, this is my dorky way of including a callout to one of the best TV shows – Battlestar Galactica – which was of course filmed in Vancouver. Composed by Bob Dylan, made transcendent by Jimi Hendrix, Bear McCreary pays homage to All Along the Watchtower‘s predecessors yet manages to take the song into a whole new direction.
Call outs to Battlestar Galactica aside, cycling along the seawall is a great way to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods. Leaving Stanley Park, you will go along Beach Ave pass English Bay Beak Park and Sunset Beach Park. Cutting underneath the Burrard St and Granville bridges, you will breeze through David Lam Park.
Continuing along the seawall, you will cut under Cambie Bridge and head toward Vancouver’s Olympic Village near Science World.
The last stop before looping back is Granville Island with its many artists and public market. In addition the great food (refer to below) , the public market has a wonderfully eclectic selection of foods from amazing desserts to tea.
If you’re coming from Stanley Park, you can loop back the way you came or cross the Burrard St. Bridge and connect back to the seawall route. The city of Vancouver closed one lane each side of the Burrard St. bridge to make them exclusively bike lanes. After the initial outcry, the Burrard St bike lanes are North America’s busiest with more than a million cyclists crossing the bridge each year (CBC News).
Head West toward Jericho Beach Park
If you want to bike farther, Vancouver has a plethora of dedicated bike lanes. This is the Strava Route you can continue your journey to Jericho Beach Park. While I didn’t record it this time, you can also continue cycling to UBC.
Through the wide bike lanes along residential streets you will initially cut through Kitsilano Beach Park.
Continue along the winding hills and residential streets all while hugging the coast line, you can admire the view of downtown Vancouver from Jericho Beach Park.
Dude, where’s the food?
In all of this cycling, I would be remiss if I didn’t call out some great places to carbo-load along the way / near these routes.
If you need coffee and great food, a great stop just off of this route is Nemesis Coffee. Outside the great name, they have a mean oat milk latte and pork belly benny. Note, you can take the convenient bike lanes off of Science World directly to Nemesis.
Once you make it to Granville Island, A Bread Affair has some of the best organic baked goods and is directly on this route. Their Fried Egg On Brioche and An Affair Club sandwiches are my favorites but I don’t think you can ever go wrong with any of their food (menu). Don’t forget to try their ice cream sandwiches – my favorite, a big scoop of mango ice cream between two gingersnap cookies.
But if you need both coffee and doughnuts instead, just slightly off this route is Lucky’s Doughnuts in Kitsilano. These are what I consider adult doughnuts – actual weight and complex flavors. Whenever they have it available – their bacon maple fritter is a must get.
For more information and pictures, also check out my other Vancouver foodie posts:
- Vancouver is for sushi aficionados and Miku is the destination
- Foodie Friday: Quick Trip to Vancouver.
- Foodie Friday: Vancouver’s Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine Restaurant
Carbo-load up and enjoy the ride!
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