Downtown Vancouver:

Arguably the busiest area of all of Vancouver, but also, the most liveliest. Home of the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, and Vancouver White Caps. There’s plenty to do here. Mainly consists of high rise condos, and some townhouses. Downtown Vancouver is very biker friendly and encourages most to take advantage of the public transit system.

Downtown Vancouver is a younger demographic. It is very culturally diverse and consists of mostly upper, to upper-middle class people who enjoy having everything at their doorstep.

Schools

The closest school would be Elsie Roy Elementary on Drake Street in Yaletown. Lord Roberts Elementary School and Lord Roberts Annex Elementary are both within walking distance of Downtown Vancouver as well. For older kids, The renowned King George Secondary School is also nearby. If you prefer private school over the public system, Pattison High School is a great option. It offers private education for grades 8-12. Another private school option is The Westside School. It offers two locations, one for grades K-9, the other for 10-12. Both options are within walking distance of Downtown Vancouver.

For continued education, The University of British Columbia has a downtown campus featuring Continuing Studies, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine. They also offer the respected Sauder School of Business, providing part-time MBA Studies. Also nearby, on Seymour Street there is the downtown campus for BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) with a plethora of courses available.

Over at Harbour Centre on West Hastings, Simon Fraser University offers a full selection of continuing studies. Another downtown location (Gastown), in the iconic Woodwards Building, is SFU’s renowned School for Contemporary Arts.

Shopping and Restaurants:

Downtown Vancouver consists of a plethora of restaurants and shopping. Many big name restaurants, but also offers many smaller family owned gems. Tons of small coffee shops, but also includes more Starbucks stores than you can count. The main shopping centre is Pacific Centre, which consists of larger Canadian department stores, but also features many high end fashion stores as well. If you’re looking to have a couple drinks and blow off some steam, Granville Street is the main hub for local bars and nightclubs. The iconic Roxy Nightclub has been a staple of the Vancouver nightlife for decades and has been a go to spot of many celebrities.

Transportation:

Transportation is the most easily accessible in Downtown Vancouver. Plenty of skytrain stations available, and bus routes.

Another unique part of Downtown Vancouver is the small neighbourhood within it called Gastown. One of the main tourist attractions. A little more about Gastown Here. (Video)