July 3, 2026 • 9 mins
"Fresh off the fever of the FIFA Football World Cup,Vancouver has been a fond and familiar sight on our screens. Undeniably one of the world’s most photogenic cities, it’s the interlay of soaring mountain ranges and sweeping waterways that quickly proves so seductive. I’m freshly back from my third visit to Vancouver and it’s the drama of the scenery that continues to command my affections, alongside its urban enticements."
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Mike Yardley is our travel correspondent. He's with us
this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Got O, good morning, Good morning Jack.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are focusing on Vancouver this morning, a city that
those of us have been glued to the FIFA World
Cup I've seen a little bit of lately, but fresh
from FIFA football fever, it's become a familiar city, a
ridiculously good looking city.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
A Yeah, it certainly is, Jack, one of the world's
most photogenic, instamatic cities.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And I think it's nature.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
It just always strikes me when I go to Vancouver
that it feels like a city in the wilderness because
of those soaring mountain ranges, those sweeping, glossy bodies of
water that just wrap the entire city. And I mean
that drama, that visual symphony is just instantly seductive. No
matter how many times you go there, I think it
(01:04):
still just blows your way. The other thing I noticed
a couple of weeks ago when I was there, which
I hadn't previously appreciated all of their apartment buildings, and
obviously they've got a forest of apartment towers they've all
got that really interesting green tinted hue and apparently it's
I think it's sea foam green they call it. So
(01:26):
it just helps blend in with the environment. Everything just
feels at one in Vancouver.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It's a good observation. Actually I hadn't noticed that before,
but yeah, that makes that makes a lot of sense.
It's an amazing city to fly into, isn't it. You
always feel, yes, it feels very Pacific, though it feels
like strangely familiar, you know. Yeah, yeah, So for first time,
as in Vancouver, where would you recommend they start?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Well, I would say after you've heard the air horns
belt out the first four notes of O Canada at
Canada Place down on the waterfront, just strike out on
that waterfront trail that leads you past the float places
at Cole Harbor, and just keep going all the way
to Stanley Park. Even better, grab some rental bikes and
(02:15):
then you can complete the entire circuit on the sea
wall that lassus the park.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It stitches together all the.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Landmarks, like those fantastic collection of totem poles, Lionsgate, Bradge
and Vancouver's answer to the Little Mermaid statute, of the
girl in the web suit.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It's like a vast park.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Oh, it's a colossus, isn't it really? Of forest green
and red cedars. Apparently it's one thousand acres that wonder
land and Central Park is a point of references. I
think about eight hundred acres from memory. So yes, definitely
the biggest urban park in North America. I actually went
back the following day after doing the bike riding and
(03:01):
jumped on board the horse draw and carriage, so once
again a bit like Central Park. It's been a staple
for over a century. Organically powered by hayanotes. Obviously these
rides and I had these two huge draft horses. They
looked like they'd been pumped up. They were so massive,
gripped and percy and apparently they are amongst the most
(03:25):
pampered animals in Vancouver because their working hours are so
strictly limited. But yeah, they lugged me around the park.
It's all fully narrated, so you'll glean lots of insights.
The other thing about Stanley Jack, if you're traveling with kids,
you've got to take your children to the aquarium for
(03:45):
one particular creature, the rescued sea otters. Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I thought I.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Thought seals and sea lions were natural born performers. These
sea otters just smash it out of the park.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, okay, this sounds good. So what about Granville Island.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, just south of downtown.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
The island is technically a sand bar, but apparently it
is the second most visited attraction in Canada after Niagara Falls.
And it's the public market on Granville Island that everyone
goes cray cray over. And interestingly, the market the are
partly inspired christ Church's Riverside Market because it's part farmer's market,
(04:31):
part food hall and when you go there you will
definitely be rubbing shoulders with so many top restaurant chefs
in Vancouver because they just go there every morning to
source their ingredients for the evening menu.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah. Nice, So that means there are some good eats.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh yes, I think I could go to Grandville Isine
in public Market every day, Jack and still find new discoveries.
I think they've got something like one hundred and fifty
vendor stalls there, so grazing options galore. If you need
some suggestions, I would give my sales of approval to
the honey dipped Donuts from Lee's Donuts, who are just
(05:11):
like world famous in Vancouver Lee's Donuts.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
But yeah, honey dip donuts really good.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
If you're after some super good Fromage Benton Brothers fine
cheese really good. And best of all, this was my
favorite Jack from Stuart's Artists and Bakery.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Maple glazed cinnamon rolls.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yes, so they've basically got cinnamon rolls and they're like,
how can we make this less healthy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So do you guys see the stadium BC plays, Yes?
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I did, Yes, the All Whites Graveyard. So, like one
New Zealand, it is quite centrally centrally located. It's very
walkable from downtown Vancouver, and it backs on too False Creek.
I hadn't really checked out False Creek before, but it's
such a gorgeous little waterway and you've got BC player
(06:06):
on one side, you've got Granville Island on the other,
and then a whole lot of other alluring neighborhoods. So,
for example, if you jump on one of these False
Creek ferries and that's super cute, they're like little toot
you can just hop scotch away around. Make sure you
stop at the village because that's where the Science Center
is and its enormous dome, which you'll know, Jack, is
(06:28):
what has been famously doubling lately. Is that giant FIFA
football Yes, so yeah, just across from the stadium.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
And also go to Kitsilano.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
If you share my fetish for real estate porn man alive,
take an aimless stroll through Kitsilano's leafy lanes.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
They are stunningly beautiful.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
And it's because they've just got street after street of
impeccably maintained Victorian mansions and villas.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
It is unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, okay, yes, sounds amazing. So talk to us a
little bit about gas Town. Why is Gastown so popular?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, well this is vintage Vancouver, probably the best revitalized
heritage precinct, the birthplace of colonial Vancouver. If you like
soupern air shopping, go to Hudson House. HUDs and House
cannot be beaten, and they've got really cool things like
the woolen maple leaf jerseys.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
They are so good.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Everyone you've got to buy a gift for will be
happy with a woolen maple leaf jersey. Definitely get your
fill of Guestown's eclectic steam clock. So this thing huff
puffs and whistles every fifteen minutes.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Jack.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
The weird thing is it looks seriously antique, but it
was only built in the seventies to cover a sidewalk
steam vent, and they harnessed the underground steam to power
the clock's whistles, and it was principally designed to deter
loiterers from sleeping on the footpaths. Warm great, So I
(08:02):
thought Paul Goldsmith would be quite impressed with that, because
you know that was sling every fifteen minutes.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It is quite the move on order.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, yeah, amazing, what an interesting little piece of design. Hey,
I've knowdeda if you haven't included one thing on your list,
And I just want to say that usually we grade
you on the things that you recommend, but I'm actually
loving that you haven't put the Capillana suspension bridge on there.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I'm going to actually talk about it next week.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Are you okay? Well, I'm going to hold my I'm
going to hold my tongue a little bit. Then I'm
willing to be convinced. That's your challenge for next week. Mike, Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Do you think it's ober rated.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, I just think when you're from New Zealand, you're like,
I've seen a suspension bridge before. So I'm that's your
challenge for next week. You you've got to convince me
on the Capillana suspension. It is a big suspension bridge.
Yeah it is.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I actually found a new discovery. Okay, don't give us
too much next week.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Okay, yeah, okay. Look as you, as we all know,
famously open minded on the show. So I'm going to go.
You know that I'm a little bit skeptical, but I'm
willing to have my changed. So very good.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Oh well, I'll love my game next week, Jack, I'll
see if I can pass the test.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yes, well, if anyone can, I'm backing you. Moke. Hey,
thank you so for all of you tips on soaking
up the Vancouver vibe. You can go to newstalksb dot
co dot nz forward slash Jack
Speaker 1 (09:24):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, Listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Mike Yardley is our travel correspondent. He's with us
this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Got O, good morning, Good morning Jack.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are focusing on Vancouver this morning, a city that
those of us have been glued to the FIFA World
Cup I've seen a little bit of lately, but fresh
from FIFA football fever, it's become a familiar city, a
ridiculously good looking city.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
A Yeah, it certainly is, Jack, one of the world's
most photogenic, instamatic cities.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And I think it's nature.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
It just always strikes me when I go to Vancouver
that it feels like a city in the wilderness because
of those soaring mountain ranges, those sweeping, glossy bodies of
water that just wrap the entire city. And I mean
that drama, that visual symphony is just instantly seductive. No
matter how many times you go there, I think it
(01:04):
still just blows your way. The other thing I noticed
a couple of weeks ago when I was there, which
I hadn't previously appreciated all of their apartment buildings, and
obviously they've got a forest of apartment towers they've all
got that really interesting green tinted hue and apparently it's
I think it's sea foam green they call it. So
(01:26):
it just helps blend in with the environment. Everything just
feels at one in Vancouver.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It's a good observation. Actually I hadn't noticed that before,
but yeah, that makes that makes a lot of sense.
It's an amazing city to fly into, isn't it. You
always feel, yes, it feels very Pacific, though it feels
like strangely familiar, you know. Yeah, yeah, So for first time,
as in Vancouver, where would you recommend they start?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Well, I would say after you've heard the air horns
belt out the first four notes of O Canada at
Canada Place down on the waterfront, just strike out on
that waterfront trail that leads you past the float places
at Cole Harbor, and just keep going all the way
to Stanley Park. Even better, grab some rental bikes and
(02:15):
then you can complete the entire circuit on the sea
wall that lassus the park.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It stitches together all the.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Landmarks, like those fantastic collection of totem poles, Lionsgate, Bradge
and Vancouver's answer to the Little Mermaid statute, of the
girl in the web suit.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It's like a vast park.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Oh, it's a colossus, isn't it really? Of forest green
and red cedars. Apparently it's one thousand acres that wonder
land and Central Park is a point of references. I
think about eight hundred acres from memory. So yes, definitely
the biggest urban park in North America. I actually went
back the following day after doing the bike riding and
(03:01):
jumped on board the horse draw and carriage, so once
again a bit like Central Park. It's been a staple
for over a century. Organically powered by hayanotes. Obviously these
rides and I had these two huge draft horses. They
looked like they'd been pumped up. They were so massive,
gripped and percy and apparently they are amongst the most
(03:25):
pampered animals in Vancouver because their working hours are so
strictly limited. But yeah, they lugged me around the park.
It's all fully narrated, so you'll glean lots of insights.
The other thing about Stanley Jack, if you're traveling with kids,
you've got to take your children to the aquarium for
(03:45):
one particular creature, the rescued sea otters. Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I thought I.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Thought seals and sea lions were natural born performers. These
sea otters just smash it out of the park.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah, okay, this sounds good. So what about Granville Island.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, just south of downtown.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
The island is technically a sand bar, but apparently it
is the second most visited attraction in Canada after Niagara Falls.
And it's the public market on Granville Island that everyone
goes cray cray over. And interestingly, the market the are
partly inspired christ Church's Riverside Market because it's part farmer's market,
(04:31):
part food hall and when you go there you will
definitely be rubbing shoulders with so many top restaurant chefs
in Vancouver because they just go there every morning to
source their ingredients for the evening menu.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah. Nice, So that means there are some good eats.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh yes, I think I could go to Grandville Isine
in public Market every day, Jack and still find new discoveries.
I think they've got something like one hundred and fifty
vendor stalls there, so grazing options galore. If you need
some suggestions, I would give my sales of approval to
the honey dipped Donuts from Lee's Donuts, who are just
(05:11):
like world famous in Vancouver Lee's Donuts.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
But yeah, honey dip donuts really good.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
If you're after some super good Fromage Benton Brothers fine
cheese really good. And best of all, this was my
favorite Jack from Stuart's Artists and Bakery.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Maple glazed cinnamon rolls.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yes, so they've basically got cinnamon rolls and they're like,
how can we make this less healthy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So do you guys see the stadium BC plays, Yes?
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I did, Yes, the All Whites Graveyard. So, like one
New Zealand, it is quite centrally centrally located. It's very
walkable from downtown Vancouver, and it backs on too False Creek.
I hadn't really checked out False Creek before, but it's
such a gorgeous little waterway and you've got BC player
(06:06):
on one side, you've got Granville Island on the other,
and then a whole lot of other alluring neighborhoods. So,
for example, if you jump on one of these False
Creek ferries and that's super cute, they're like little toot
you can just hop scotch away around. Make sure you
stop at the village because that's where the Science Center
is and its enormous dome, which you'll know, Jack, is
(06:28):
what has been famously doubling lately. Is that giant FIFA
football Yes, so yeah, just across from the stadium.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
And also go to Kitsilano.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
If you share my fetish for real estate porn man alive,
take an aimless stroll through Kitsilano's leafy lanes.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
They are stunningly beautiful.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
And it's because they've just got street after street of
impeccably maintained Victorian mansions and villas.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
It is unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, okay, yes, sounds amazing. So talk to us a
little bit about gas Town. Why is Gastown so popular?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, well this is vintage Vancouver, probably the best revitalized
heritage precinct, the birthplace of colonial Vancouver. If you like
soupern air shopping, go to Hudson House. HUDs and House
cannot be beaten, and they've got really cool things like
the woolen maple leaf jerseys.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
They are so good.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Everyone you've got to buy a gift for will be
happy with a woolen maple leaf jersey. Definitely get your
fill of Guestown's eclectic steam clock. So this thing huff
puffs and whistles every fifteen minutes.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Jack.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
The weird thing is it looks seriously antique, but it
was only built in the seventies to cover a sidewalk
steam vent, and they harnessed the underground steam to power
the clock's whistles, and it was principally designed to deter
loiterers from sleeping on the footpaths. Warm great, So I
(08:02):
thought Paul Goldsmith would be quite impressed with that, because
you know that was sling every fifteen minutes.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It is quite the move on order.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, yeah, amazing, what an interesting little piece of design. Hey,
I've knowdeda if you haven't included one thing on your list,
And I just want to say that usually we grade
you on the things that you recommend, but I'm actually
loving that you haven't put the Capillana suspension bridge on there.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I'm going to actually talk about it next week.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Are you okay? Well, I'm going to hold my I'm
going to hold my tongue a little bit. Then I'm
willing to be convinced. That's your challenge for next week. Mike, Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Do you think it's ober rated.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, I just think when you're from New Zealand, you're like,
I've seen a suspension bridge before. So I'm that's your
challenge for next week. You you've got to convince me
on the Capillana suspension. It is a big suspension bridge.
Yeah it is.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I actually found a new discovery. Okay, don't give us
too much next week.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Okay, yeah, okay. Look as you, as we all know,
famously open minded on the show. So I'm going to go.
You know that I'm a little bit skeptical, but I'm
willing to have my changed. So very good.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Oh well, I'll love my game next week, Jack, I'll
see if I can pass the test.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yes, well, if anyone can, I'm backing you. Moke. Hey,
thank you so for all of you tips on soaking
up the Vancouver vibe. You can go to newstalksb dot
co dot nz forward slash Jack
Speaker 1 (09:24):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, Listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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