Discover Vibrant Vancouver

The Creek Marina and Boatyard – with its accommodating boating services – is the gateway to this beautiful city’s attractions.

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Words by Steve Fennell

There are many advantages of staying in a slip at a marina in a large Canadian city. It offers the opportunity to experience new culture through many popular attractions and allows the chance to utilize the variety of boating services among the grounds. The largest city on the BC Coast is Vancouver, which is home to The Creek Marina and Boatyard, a true boating gateway where you can discover diverse culture, a surprising number of natural attractions, and exciting city life that are all easily accessible from your boat.

Formerly known as Mosquito Creek Marina, The Creek Marina and Boatyard in North Vancouver offers many services and benefits after you land in a slip. It’s easily accessible from the Salish Sea and the Gulf Islands, and offers transient moorage among its capacity of 500 boats. Some of the essential services include 30- and 50-amp shorepower, laundry and shower facilities, pump-out stations, gas/diesel, as well dock boxes for temporary storage. You’ll also appreciate the fact that its grounds are gated and secured 24/7.

For more specific needs, and in the event you need some minor repairs to your boat, its fully-equipped boat yard stocks parts, offers on-site engine/boat service, and has a 50-ton travel lift if you need serious hull or engine work completed in its yard. Certified engine mechanics for Cummins, MerCruiser, Volvo Penta, and Yanmar Marine are also on-site and tenants among the grounds are ABYC master-certified to complete welds, machining, fibreglass repair, even electronics installations and re-wiring. In other words, if something breaks on your boat, chances are likely it can be fixed here.

Explore City Life and More

Another great thing about this marina is it’s the nearby to all of attractions you’ll want to check out during your stay. Acclaimed for being one of the most beautiful cities in the country, Vancouver has a lot to offer. While you could just relax in any one of its transient slips (as summers are beautiful here), perhaps venture away for the day and see what it has to offer. The marina is extra convenient for this.

As an example, the Spirit Trail, which meanders past its grounds, is popular among walkers, cyclists, and joggers as it leads to nearby Lonsdale Quay Market with a variety of restaurants, craft breweries, grocery stores, and shops located along Esplanade Avenue.  Or, the nearby Waterfront Park is a great place to sit and relax for a while and admire excellent views of downtown Vancouver.

More of the “big city” can be discovered by hopping on the City SeaBus to downtown Vancouver. The terminal is close to the marina and the passenger-only ferry makes scheduled trips from North Vancouver every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Stanley Park is one of the attractions to experience and is where you can admire many landmarks including First Nations totem poles, expansive gardens, and dominating western red cedars and Douglas firs. Bring your camera as there’s a lot to capture. There’s also Granville Island and Granville Island Public Market, which are other big draws to this area. The shoreside indoor market is considered “the jewel in the Island’s crown” and has an amazing display of food and produce, handcrafted products, not to mention an array of fresh seafood, meats, baked breads, dairy, and more.

After you replenish your galley back at the marina, chances are likely you’ll notice the marina’s unique modern float home community developed by Spirit Trail Ocean Home Development. This community was introduced in recent years and considered to be the first residence of its kind in Canada. It allows the chance for interested buyers to live right on the water in modern, multi-story dwellings with excellent views of the marina and the city’s harbour. They are definitely worth inquiring about as these residences have several amenities including on-demand hot water, stainless steel gas appliances, spacious decks, comfortable, plush living spaces, and more.

With too many attractions and entertaining aspects to list, it’s best to see it all for yourself. The Creek Marina and Boatyard and the City of Vancouver welcome recreational boaters all season and it will certainly be one of the highlights of any boating trip. Although it’s mandatory to follow provincial COVID-19 safety guidelines during your visit, be sure to contact local businesses and even the marina to learn about additional measures before your arrival to ensure safety for you and your crew.

For more information visit www.mosquitocreekmarina.com and www.tourismvancouver.com