Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Once you've eaten your fill, take a look at some of the market's other stands. There's a
cool arts and crafts focus here, especially at the collection of
day vendors
that dot the
market and which change every week. Hand-knitted hats, hand-painted ceramics,
framed art photography and quirky carvings will make for excellent one-of-a-kind
souvenirs - far better than the typical canned salmon and maple-sugar cookies. Further
artisan stands are added to the roster in the run-up to Christmas, if you happen to be
here at that time. For more information on the sorts of day vendors that appear at the
market, visit
www.gidva.org
.
Insider's Tour
If you're an incurable foodie, the fascinating market tour organized by
Edible Canada
at the Market
is the way to go. Taking about two hours to weave around the vendors,
the $40 morning-only guided tour includes tastings of regional foods and chef-ap-
proved tips on how to pair and prepare local ingredients. A Public Market success story,
Edible Canada started in the market as Edible BC and has grown so successfully that it
now runs a Canadian-focused bistro and artisan food shop just across the street - the
tour includes a 10% discount on goodies at the shop (organic Vancouver Island chocol-
ate bars and jars of artisan ice cream are recommended). The company also runs Chin-
atown food-focused tours if you're hungry to compare the two scenes. Its old spot in
the market has been taken by French-themed
L'Epicerie Rotisserie and Gourmet
Shop
, which combines vinegars, olive oils and Barbapapa pop bottles with delicious,
fresh-cooked picnic-friendly takeout chicken and sausages.
PUBLIC MARKET TIPS
The market is the perfect place to wander around gathering the makings of a great
picnic. But once you've filled your backpack with cured sausages, stinky cheeses,
fresh bagels and a cake or three, where should you head? There's a hidden grassy
knoll at the eastern tip of the island that's popular with picnickers, but even better is
to hit the seawall westwards, just off the island. Within 10 minutes, you'll be in verd-
ant Vanier Park (
Click here
) with panoramic water-city-mountain views to accom-
pany your dining.
If you're out enjoying the buskers on the market's waterfront exterior, you'll
notice your False Creek view is sandwiched between two of Vancouver's
