Uncover Vancouver’s dark secrets while exploring Market Alley and other key attractions where gritty Prohibition-era crimes took place when you embark on this thrilling walking tour in Vancouver. Learn why former mayor L.D. Taylor implied that this port city is far from a Sunday school, as your expert guide shares its dark tales of bootlegging booze, blind pigs and opium dens along Shanghai Alley in Chinatown, and the mobsters and crooked politicians involved in a myriad of crimes and vice about town. Walk Maple Tree Square’s cobblestoned streets and take in the beautiful architecture of buildings like the Jack Chow Building and the Sun Tower. This walking tour is perfect for history buffs and culture enthusiasts alike.

Start your journey by meeting your guide across from the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Cathedral Square, where you’ll first hear about the villainous tales of Vancouver’s Prohibition days. You’ll learn from your guide about Vancouver mayor LD Taylor’s link to corrupt figures as your guide shares Vancouver’s dark tales of bootlegging booze, opium dens, mobsters and crooked politicians involved in countless crimes and vice. Taylor, a Michigan native, and Canadian emigrant was a fugitive that fled America to avoid facing the Chicago authorities’ embezzlement accusations. When Prohibition arrived in British Columbia in 1917, Vancouver saw increased crime as saloons closed, and a myriad of illegal booze manufacturing and distribution, gambling, and more crimes became rampant in the city. Vancouver’s main mobster Joe Celona had a reputation that rivaled that of Al Capone, including owning gambling dens and brothels that increased significantly during L.D. Taylor’s reign as mayor of Vancouver.

View the iconic buildings that were built by corrupt politicians, like the Sun Tower, which L.D. Taylor commissioned. Gaze on the intricate architecture of the Hotel Victorian, the Dominion Building, the Old Grand Hotel, and the Jack Chow Building–the world’s narrowest building. Discover the popular shopping districts and public spaces like Victory Square Park, Woodward’s Complex, Market Alley and the Shanghai Alley in Chinatown- a location that once was a haven for opium dens and where you can see the best preservation of the illegal Prohibition-era drinking dens known as blind pigs.

Your tour guide will also share stories about the rum-running routes and underground tunnels used to smuggle illicit booze. Pass by the Old Grand Hotel–a stylish hotel known as the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver that was built post-Prohibition and also served as a secret gay meetup location. Wrap up your guided walking tour as you walk down Maple Tree Square’s cobblestoned streets to see some of the popular restaurants and bars in Gastown, like the Lamplighter- Vancouver’s oldest pub. It’s the ideal area to revel in the details of the stories you’ve learned from your tour while enjoying a drink or two with friends before heading back to your port destination.

From suspenseful stories about mobsters and Prohibition-era crime to visiting the places where these crimes took place, this walking tour offers an inside look into Vancouver’s scandalous secrets. Book this epic walking tour and prepare to delve into Vancouver’s dark past!

Your introduction to all things Vancouver begins with an exciting journey through Vancouver’s unique neighborhoods, including Yaletown, Chinatown, and Gastown. From elaborate Chinese storefronts to the iconic Gastown Steam Clock, these historic boroughs are a feast for the senses! Drive past the harbors and English Bay, then stop in Stanley Park to see the First Nations totem poles, as well as stunning views of the Lions Gate Bridge and Burrard Inlet from Prospect Point at the park’s peak. Granville Island will mesmerize you with its food, teas, artisans, and music inside its bustling public market. Have your camera ready for 360-degree views of Vancouver’s skyline when you reach the Vancouver Lookout Observation Deck!

From there you will leave the downtown area behind, as you head to the rugged North Shore landscape. Cross the famous Lions Gate Bridge into the coastal rainforest where you will learn all about the fascinating life cycle of local salmon at the Capilano Salmon Factory. Complete your tour at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and test your bravery when you walk across the iconic bridge. This century-old bridge spans 137 meters (430 feet) across the winding Capilano River located 73 meters (230 feet) below. While at the park you can gaze out over the firs at the Cliffwalk or zoom through an aerial tree course with the Treetops Adventure. This 7-hour moderate tour sells out fast! Reserve your spot now and get ready to experience the many sides of Vancouver. Please note: Guests must be able to walk over uneven surfaces or on inclines. Those with wheelchairs must have a collapsible wheelchair and a companion to assist.

The excitement begins in the heart of Vancouver as you canvass the downtown area. Stand at the 2010 Olympic Cauldron at Canada Place, wind past the Arts and Financial Districts and see the latest fashions on Robson Street. From there you will leave the mix of modern and historic architecture behind as you enter Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre urban rainforest and green oasis connecting the bustling city to its wilderness past. While here, see the First Nations totem poles recognizing the area’s original inhabitants.

Continue across Lions Gate Bridge to Vancouver’s North Shore with its historic Story Centre and First Nations artwork. At the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park you will get your turn to walk across a centuries-old bridge spanning the Capilano River that draws over 1 million visitors per year. Gaze out over the cedars from the Cliffwalk and see the many other experiences here such as the Treetop Adventure.

Back in downtown Vancouver you will experience the sights, smells and sounds of the colorful Granville Island Market where you can find everything from delicious food and teas to eclectic artwork, handicrafts, and music. Travel through Chinatown with its Far East flair, imported goodies and its Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, then conclude your tour in historic Gastown where Vancouver began. Get your phone ready to record the chimes and smoke from Gastown’s world famous Steam Clock!

This cultural tour is a must-do for first timers to the amazing city of Vancouver.