Gastown
The oldest part of downtown. You will find cobble-paved boulevards and over-priced tourist traps selling every imaginable thing you can print "Vancouver" on. Popular with tourists are the Gastown Steam Clock, promoted as the only active steam clock in the world but in fact an electric clock that pumps steam rather an underwhelming experience; the Gassy Jack sculpture immortalizing the legendary Vancouver pioneer. The area is notorious for aggressive beggars-drug addicts who are quite unsettling.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
A Ming-dynasty style garden located in Chinatown. The gardens combines traditional Chinese buildings, plants, a small lake, and curved footpaths to create the illusion of a very big place within a single block. Tours are available. $10/$9/$8 Adults/Seniors/Students
Vancouver Police Museum
Exhibits on the history of Vancouver's police, unusual weapons that have been confiscated and notable Vancouver crimes. There are also a number of programs and activities geared towards kids.
The Man, The Legend, The Statue
Gastown is reputed to have got its name from one "Gassy" Jack Deighton, a steamboat operator, storyteller and the first proprietor of a saloon in Vancouver. Story has it that Jack rowed to the sawmill that had been built in present day Gastown, and in exchange for free whiskey, had the sawmill workers build a saloon within 24 hours of arriving. Business took off and the early townsite came to be known as Gastown. Jack passed away eight years later, but a statue stands today near the spot of his original saloon to commemorate his thirst-quenching contributions to Vancouver's development.
Both Gastown and Chinatown are interesting places to wander around in and of themselves. Some of the oldest buildings in the city are located here and Gastown has been refreshed with distinctive lamps and paving stone streets. Perhaps not authentic, but a nice contrast to the glass and steel towers just a couple of blocks away.
Gastown Steam Clock
corner of Water & Cambie streets. A clock that tries to look old and belches steam every 15 minutes may not be the most stunning landmark, but it has an endearing charm in a kitschy kind of way. Originally built to take advantage of the steam vents that are all over downtown Vancouver, it never lived up to its billing and now relies on electricity to count the minutes. It is one of a kind though and remains a photographic pilgrimage for thousands of Vancouver tourists.
Sam Kee Building
This two story building is the world's narrowest commercial building according to the Guinness Book of World Records, with a width of just 4'11" 1.5 m at its base. Its slim size is due to the city expropriating most of the lot to widen the street. The owner went ahead and built anyway, and businesses have been operating out of its confines since 1913. If you do take a look, the perspective is better from the other north side of Pender.