Visual Arts - Superb examples of public art abound and may well be one reason why there are so many smiles around. Vancouver North Shore has numerous galleries featuring the works of talented painters, weavers, photographers, printers and sculptors in metals, clay, stone, wood, found materials and glass.

Live Theatre - From musical theatre to high drama, from thought provoking historical portrayals to side-splitting comedies and heart-rending local stories, you will find it all on stage in many venues. The drama community here is unlike any other, drawing technical skills and thespian talent from a huge resident pool in this Hollywood of the North.

Music and Dance - The range of musical talent on Vancouver North Shore is extreme and numerous internationally acclaimed recording artists make their homes here. Jazz, reggae and Celtic bands play at Waterfront Park, in Deep Cove and Horseshoe Bay, and gypsy-like buskers perform at Lonsdale Quay. Ethnic, ballet and contemporary dancers appear at venues all over the North Shore.

Festivals and Cultural Events - Vancouver North Shore is home to a rich assortment of festivals, each with its own flavour and all providing a chance to kick back, unwind, learn something and, above all, have fun. The largest of these may be Caribbean Days at Waterfront Park with 15,000 to 20,000 in attendance, but throngs also enjoy Deep Cove Daze, Under the Volcano Festival, outdoor art exhibits, Edgemont Harvest Festival, the Folk Festival, weekend concerts in several parks and numerous ethnic events. The Salish Pow-Wow is a rare opportunity to watch north coast native dancing at its very best.

Architecture, Heritage and Antiques - Many of Vancouver North Shore's fine heritage buildings are included in walking tours that also drop in for a look at old streetcars and ferries. Several museums offer more than a glimpse of the region's past. Over a dozen fine antique shops display the superb craftsmanship of earlier times at take-it-home prices.

Villages and Shopping Centres - From designer fashions to one-of-a-kind souvenirs, Vancouver North Shore is a total shopping experience. From Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove, unique villages are the multiple hearts of the community. Caulfeild Village, on its high plateau, is home to exclusive boutiques. Picturesque Dundarave Village, far below on the seaside, has sidewalk and oceanview cafes and an array of small shops. Ambleside, one of the oldest North Shore neighbourhoods, was a seaside retreat for city dwellers in days gone by and is now a mecca for strollers, gallery-hoppers and shoppers.

Edgemont Village in the Capilano Highlands below Grouse Mountain has many charming specialty shops and restaurants. Lynn Valley developed around a forest economy, but today is a lively residential and commercial community. Lower Lonsdale, the historical heart of the North Shore, is now the site of Lonsdale Quay and the northern SeaBus terminal.

Park Royal, in the geographic midst of it all, is a modern, multi-level shopping centre with large department stores and 250 fine small shops offering everything imaginable in a world class mall environment.