Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

Harbour Cruises is well-known amongst the Vancouver tourist circuit, but I discovered that as a local, it’s an equally enjoyable experience that offers an alternative view of our beautiful city.

I boarded the MVP Constitution today, a ship built in North Vancouver in 1983, for a one hour Harbour Tour. Along with classic cityscape scenery, the tour includes local history.

A couple of tidbits? Our Stanley Park is 10% bigger than New York City’s Central Park.

In terms of foreign exports, Vancouver’s harbour is the largest of its kind in North America.

In 1870, Gastown was renamed to Granville, but its residents insisted on continuing to call it Gastown. Long live Gassy Jack!

Within the space of an hour, the wheel-propelled boat takes in the Burrard Inlet, cruising past Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge, Canada Place and the North Shore mountains.

For more information, check out the website. The Harbour Tour departs daily (from April 23 to September 30) at 11 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:45 pm. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure and other tours (Sunset Dinner Cruise or Indian Arm Luncheon Cruise) are also available.

[I hadn’t seen the Olympic cauldron from this angle before]

I was invited aboard the MVP Constitution for the purpose of this feature. Opinions, as always, are my own.