KITSILANO, Vancouver

THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER-
KITSILANO
Kitsilano was named after chief Khahtsahlanough of the aboriginal village Sun'ahk by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The village stood on the land that is today Vanier Park until 1901 when the local government moved them on to the Capilano Indian Reserve on the north shore and others to Squamish. The first houses were built some four years later, prompted by the first street car service. There was not any huge change to the housing until the 1960's when many buildings were converted into rooming houses which were popular with students throughout the 1960's and 1970's. The Kitsilano apartments may not be full of students any more as the house prices here rocked along side its popularity but the vibe in Kisilano has stayed very relaxed and laid back.

Today the area is home to an array of art centres, galleries, little cafes, good restaurants, bars, nightclubs and a vast selection of shops. The shops range from hemp and crystal shops still retained from years past to the branded clothing boutiques for the modern day shopper. The town also has three museums the first being the HR Macmillan Space Centre on Chestnut Street. This Space Museum has a Virtual Voyages Simulator, which takes about thirty people at a time on a mission to Mars or tries to divert a comet from collision with Earth. There is also a laser show in the Planetarium Star Theatre and an observatory with a 0.5 meter telescope. Another museum is the Vancouver Maritime Museum which is home to the 1928 RCMP Arctic patrol sailing ship the St Roch. There are also many other vessels to see from rowboats, kayaks, pirate and shipwrecks. Lastly is the Vancouver History Museum, also based on Chestnut Street it houses information on the city's history, recent and years past.

Kitsilano is not just known for its laid back atmosphere but also for its beautiful beach. Kitsilano beach looks out onto English Bay and the Coastal Mountains, it is the place to be seen if you are a sun worshipper. For anyone wanting more than a dip in the sea there is also Kitsilano Pool which is the world's largest heated outdoor salt water pool.