Getting to Vancouver's North Shore is simple, quick, and impressively scenic. If you're not driving, sit back and drink in the sights. If you're coming from downtown Vancouver, you'll cross over Burrard Inlet on one of two historic bridges: The landmark Lions Gate Bridge or the Iron Worker's Memorial Bridge. One of the most popular and scenic ways to cross Burrard Inlet is by SeaBus, a short 12-minute harbour-hop that zips you from downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay, amidst freighters, tugs, float planes, helicopters and occasional cruise ships and kayaks that ply the bustling harbour. Other approaches-along Highway 1 from the east or Highway 99 from Pemberton and Whistler-are equally scenic.
The Lions Gate Bridge, also known as the First Narrows Bridge, was built in 1938 by the Guinness family (of the Irish beer fame) in order to access their West Vancouver mountainside property-all 4,000 acres of it. A toll bridge for many years, it cost a princely 25 cents. Tolls were removed in 1955 when the Guinnesses sold the bridge to the Province of British Columbia. The bridge was named for the Lions, two visually striking North Shore mountains, and the most recognizable Vancouver landmarks. Film director Robert Altman, who founded Lions Gate Films, named the company after the bridge.
The Iron Worker's Memorial Bridge, also called the Second Narrows Bridge, is several kilometres east and got its name because of a bridge collapse during construction. It's now serves as a memorial to the eighteen men who were killed at the scene.
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