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Directions to Whistler, BC
From Vancouver Airport and downtown Vancouver
Scenic drive to Whistler – alternative I, part II
Start with Part I, if you haven’t read it.
This continues your scenic drive to Whistler via Vancouver to Spanish Banks, your first outstandingly beautiful vista point in Vancouver.
On the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, continue eastbound on Marine Drive to UBC Gate 3.
This is the most easily missed turn on your entire drive, so watch for when the highway straight ahead becomes divided. You don’t want to get on the divided road.
Overhead, you see blue signs marking this intersection as "East Mall."
INSTEAD OF CONTINUING STRAIGHT, follow Marine Drive as it veers off to the left.
It looks as If you've turned left onto East Mall, but actually you're continuing on North West Marine Drive. (The little sign for Marine Drive has always gone nearly unnoticed on this corner, dwarfed by the much bigger and brighter East Mall sign, and was recently missing altogether.)
If you find yourself on divided Chancellor Boulevard, you have NOT made the correct turn.
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Save up to 75% on 4-star Whistler hotels!
Spanish Banks
You’re now going downhill on North West Marine Drive to sea level.
Suddenly, an awesomely magnificent view of English Bay, downtown Vancouver, and the mountains beyond spreads out before you.
Turn left into a parking lot near one of the washroom and changing room structures and park.
Rain or shine, winter or summer, day or evening, this is a must stop.
The large green area you’ll see just to the left of the city center is Stanley Park, which you’ll explore later. The open body of water to your left, as you look out at English Bay, is the Georgia Strait. This is a northern extension of Puget Sound. The land beyond that is Vancouver Island.
What a view!
If there are no clouds, you’ll see the ski area on the mountain above downtown Vancouver. This is Goose Mountain, and its base is just 20 minutes from the city center outside of rush hour.
The Goose Mountain skyride operates all year, and offers wonderful views of Vancouver on clear evenings—and the views aren’t bad during the day either! You can easily see as far as Mount Baker (still an active volcano) in Washington State.
In front of you, anchored in English Bay, ships are always waiting their turn to dock. If you watch these long enough, you’ll notice them turn around as the tide goes in or out. The entrance to Vancouver Harbor is on the other side of Stanley Park.
If the weather’s warm, you can enjoy the long beach here, and perhaps join in one of the many volleyball games. Because this part of English Bay is so shallow, the water tends to be warmer than expected. The small waves are ideal for small children.
The Naam
Continue on North West Marine Drive.
North West Marine Drive makes a series of turns away from the shoreline, but just follow the flow of traffic.
As you approach the first signaled intersection since the UBC campus, stay to the left.
Turn left onto Fourth Avenue.
Stay eastbound on Fourth to the second major intersection (approximately two kilometers).
Turn left onto MacDonald Street—or . . .
Getting hungry? Don’t turn left onto McDonald.
Instead, visit Vancouver’s oldest natural food vegetarian restaurant, The Naam, one-half block beyond McDonald at 2724 West Fourth on your right. The Naam stays open 24 hours.
This is one of Vancouver’s favorite restaurants. It’s been one of my favorites, also, for over 30 years.
The Canadian-style veggie dishes and desserts are quite good. Try a “Sam’s veggie burger,” with or without cheese, which comes with a small salad, plus the sesame fries with miso gravy. Meat eaters won’t miss a thing. Forget your low carb diet (just this once, eh?), and top this meal off with warm pecan pie with ice cream. I love this place!
When done, go around the block to McDonald, and turn north.
Click here to go on to Part III of your scenic drive.
Or go to:
- The fastest driving directions to Whistler from Vancouver International Airport.
- Timing your trip to Whistler, in order to avoid traffic jams.
- Scenic drive to Whistler - alternative I.
- Scenic drive to Whistler - alternative II. (under construction)
- Transportation to Whistler from Vancouver and Vancouver Airport.
- What U.S. travelers need to know about returning to Vancouver Airport.
