Footloose
on the North Shore
by Jerry W.
Bird
There's
an part of Vancouver that tugs at my heart strings
and has played various tunes on them for decades
while I was living east of the Rocky Mountains.
There's good reason for this nostalgia, since North
Vancouver was home during my teens including
studies and activities at North Van High.
Unfortunately, like many souvenirs from the past,
our beloved Alma Mater is no longer there. However
the area is as attractive as ever with live theater
and related activities. My family's first home in
North Vancouver was near Mosquito Creek on Kings
Road West in Upper Lonsdale. I attended North Star
School, another icon that has gone with the wind.
From our area, you could climb the tortuous trail
up Grouse Mountain if so inclined, or freewheel it
in the other direction, coasting on your bicycle,
daredevil style all the way down Lonsdale for 28
blocks to the Ferry Dock, now part of Lonsdale
Quay. As a people-place, the Quay is a story all of
it's own, and a massive new complex is taking shape
at the old Burrard Shipyards. The transformation
will be outstanding as it retains some of the
heritage of those heady days of the 40s. I will
profile that project and its implications
later.
Our second home on
the North Shore was a two-story structure, with a
giant weeping willow tree out front. It was on
Pemberton Avenue near Marine Drive in Lower
Capilano. A steep, spiral dirt path led to Upper
Capilano, where we played ball and pursued other
teen activities. I drove by recently and the dirt
path still exists. Down Marine Drive a few blocks
at Philips Avenue, was Chic's Barbecue, now known
as the Tomahawk. They told me Chic knew half the
youngsters on the North Shore byname, and their
dads before them. Surprise, surprise - the
restaurant's still going strong, and the whole
place is like a museum dedicated to the local
tribes. Believe me, if you are hungry for a truly
Canadian breakfast with ham, eggs, Klondike- size
hot cakes that cover the plate, and a coffee pot
that never runs dry, that's the place.
City
of North Vancouver Website
Mother of All
Dagwoods. The Tomahawk's hamburger list is
awesome. All the burgers are named after famous
Indian chiefs from the area, the top sellers being
named for "Chief Dan George," costar of " Little
Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman. The Tomahawk is a
North Shore icon, even though Chic Chamberlain
passed away soon after I returned prior to Expo
'86. On the lot our big yellow house once occupied,
is the Cactus Club. The Kettners (my friends) home
across Pemberton, is now a Macdonalds. Don't we
sometimes wish things would never
change.
Park Royal,
Ambleside and Dundarave
Down Marine Drive, or west on the Upper Levels
Highway #1 from North Van (take your choice) is
West Vancouver, site of Park Royal Shopping Center.
If my facts are correct, this was the first modern
shopping center in Canada. West Vancouver, Canada's
Beverly HIlls, is home of two great public beaches.
They are Ambleside, in the shadow of Lions Gate
Bridge, and Dundarave, a friendly seaside village
further down Marine Drive. Because it is smaller,
more secluded and private, this one brings back the
most vivid memories. In the early, early days when
there were still rental facilities at the beach, I
spent an entire summer there with my grand folks.
Small wonder this tiny Shangri-La keeps drawing me
back. The twenties-style Beach House Restaurant has
gone through several different names and owners in
recent years, yet still ranks among my top venues.
Not long ago I entertained 30 Kenya based Safari
operators and government ministry officials there.
We descended on them for lunch with almost no
warning, and the the staff performed brilliantly.
Of Love Boats
and Float Planes
Talk about a laid back, seaside getaway,
Dundarave is it. You can head for the pier, lay on
the sandy beach, or park on a camp table and watch
the Alaska cruise ships glide by. You can wave to
the train passengers heading up Howe Sound or watch
the float planes and helicopters winging their way
to Vancouver Island or Whistler. When the famous
Royal Hudson steam train was still operating, it
was even more special.
You will find no
shortage of brochures and maps featuring the
attractions of Vancouver's North Shore, however
here are a few recommended attractions to consider.
We've experienced most of them at one time or
another and can vouch for their quality.
Deep Cove
Bowen Island Capilano Suspension
Bridge Cypress Bowl Grouse Mountain
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Maplewood Farm Mount Seymour * Mahon Park
Lynn Canyon Park Museum and Archives
Presentation House Gallery. Air Highways and
BC Scene will comment on shopping centers, golf
courses, accommodation and other facilities
including transportation later in this
section.
For more
information, contact:
North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
131 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V7L 1C2
Phone 604.987.4488 Fax 604.987.8272
mailto:
info@nvchamber.bc.ca
www.nvchamber.bc.ca
BC
Scene Magazine:
New web
site featuring Economic Development, Travel and
Tourism in British Columbia-Yukon and
Cascadia
(Washington-Oregon)
Tourism
Vancouver's Main Website
http://www.tourism-vancouver.org/docs/visit/
Visitors
requiring assistance for accommodation can
call:
Tourism
British Columbia's 1.800.HELLOBC Tourism
Vancouver's Visitor InfoCentre on Burrard Street.
604.683.2000
World66
Vancouver Guide: http://www.world66.com/vancouver/htm
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