Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours

01/12/2024

🚨 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭! 🚨

Black Friday deals on our walking tour gift certificates are almost gone! 🎁✨

Don't miss out on gifting an unforgettable adventure into our city's hidden history. From Victorian-era Gastown's charming streets to the serene trails of Stanley Park, it's a memory waiting to happen! 🏙️🌲

These deals are vanishing soon:
🎁 $50 now $40
🎁 $75 now $60
🎁 $100 now $80
🎁 $200 now $160
🎁 $300 now $240

Act fast and grab yours before it's too late! ⏰💨

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/zhddnuamwv

27/11/2024

🎄Ever wondered what Christmas was like in early 1900s Vancouver?

Check out these snaps courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives! 📸✨

Learn about L.D. Taylor, the city’s most notorious mayor, and his scandalous ties on the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour!

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/oxfuq9px9u


Image with thanks to City of Vancouver Archives

27/11/2024

Fascinating time last night at the Chin Wing Chun Tong Society in Chinatown. The Tong building at 158 East Pender was built in 1925 and is one of the oldest and best preserved in Chinatown.

Tongs functioned as community hubs for new Chinese immigrants to Canada in the early 20th century, with facilities including temporary accommodation, job postings, and basic banking services. To this day, the tongs provide services for seniors in Chinatown (check out the photo of the Mah Jong table in the seniors centre!)

This tong welcomes members connected by the last name Chin, and its variations (e.g. Chan, Tan, Tran). There are dozens of tongs in Vancouver, each with a membership based on common family name or regional connection.

Thanks to host Larry Kin Fah Chin who walked us through the building and its history, and the wonderful folks at the The Vancouver Heritage Foundation for staging the event!

25/11/2024

Rest in peace Ray Saunders, the man behind the Gastown Steam Clock and an absolute gentleman.

Leading walking tours in Gastown for over 13 years, our storytellers often crossed paths with Ray. Here's a snap from back in 2013, when our founder Will ran into Ray fixing the clock one evening.

Truly incredible to think he built the clock back in 1977 and he was still servicing it as recently at this summer. A lifetime of dedication and passion! It's remarkable how much the steam clock has become an iconic Vancouver landmark -- a credit to Ray, who will forever remain a Vancouver legend!

23/11/2024

🎄 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 & 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫🎅☕️

1️⃣ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔: Meet Aisylnn, Emm, Glenn, Rachel, Rob, or Will—our local history buffs with 3,000+ 5-star reviews! 🌟

2️⃣ 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Uncover tales of drama and intrigue—murdered architects, Hollywood glam, and rum-running millionaires! 🎭

3️⃣ 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔: Get a private peek inside the stunning Art Deco Marine Building! 🏢✨

4️⃣ 𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: Soak in the holiday spirit with the dazzling décor of downtown's finest hotels. 🎇

5️⃣ 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: Use your Black Friday discount to save 20% on this enchanting experience! 🤑🎁

Don’t miss out—book your tour now and dive into a festive adventure!
https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/lkhv214dp1

20/11/2024

🎉 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓! 🎉

Gift an unforgettable experience this holiday season! 🎁✨

Our ONLY sale of the year is here, and it's the perfect time to surprise your loved ones with a unique adventure into our city's hidden history. 🏙️✨

Imagine wandering through the cobblestone streets of Victorian-era Gastown, exploring the lush trails of Stanley Park, or uncovering the secrets of our cherished heritage buildings. 🏛️🌲

Our Gift Certificates are perfect for any public walking tour and they NEVER expire! 🚶‍♂️💕

🌟 Special Black Friday Deals:
🎁 $50 Gift Cert now $40
🎁 $75 Gift Cert now $60
🎁 $100 Gift Cert now $80
🎁 $200 Gift Cert now $160
🎁 $300 Gift Cert now $240

Don’t miss out—these deals are for a LIMITED TIME only! ⏰ Grab your gift certificates now and start making memories that last a lifetime! 💫

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/ey8nmkzaaf

29/10/2024

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬: Dec 18th!

Celebrate holiday season with a night of intrigue at Vancouver's most infamous club!

It's a holiday outing with a twist—perfect for those who like their festivities with a dash of mischief and mystery.

Join club owner Danny Filippone and friends for an exclusive tour, where tales of mobsters and wild Rat Pack parties come alive in the very halls where they happened! With live jazz from the Russell Sholberg Trio and feast on Mama Filippone's legendary spaghetti and meatballs, it's guaranteed to be a night to remember. 🍝🎶

Book now and make this cheeky 🍑😉 holiday adventure part of your festive season, all while supporting Variety – The Children’s Charity! 🎟️❤️ https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/fbyga6xtbl

24/10/2024

👻 Looking for something different to do this Halloween? Check out the Lost Souls of Gastown tour! Stroll through Vancouver's oldest neighborhood and hear some seriously spine-tingling (TRUE) stories about murder, fires, and smallpox—all under the glow of lantern light of your guide. 🔦

This immersive experience will make you see Gastown in a whole new light. 🎭

Ready for a little Halloween adventure? Book your spot now! 🎟️

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/hlkgsnnptx

📍 Gastown
🎩 Cappelleria Bertacchi

15/10/2024

🚨 Last chance alert! 🚨 Just a few tickets left for the Vancouver Vice Tour happening this weekend!

Don't miss the opportunity to dive into the hidden criminal history of Vancouver's West End with acclaimed author Aaron Chapman. Hear all about those wild ‘70s and ‘80s—think unsolved murders, vice cops, and turf wars! 😲

Plus, your ticket helps out the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives Society. 🎟️

If you’re down for an adventure, snag your spot now before they're all gone! 🙌 $33

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/dzzozmcbc4

13/10/2024

Hey, thrill-seekers and story-lovers! 🌧️ As the rain gets ready to take over, four of our tours are gearing up for a cozy break. But don't worry, you still have a few more weeks...

Join us for The Dark Secrets of Stanley Park Tour, The Forbidden Vancouver Tour, and The Really Gay History Tour before November 1.

The Lost Souls of Gastown Tour is haunting the streets for Halloween until November 2nd. 🎃👻

Don't let the rain wash away your chance for adventure! Dive into the tales that make Vancouver legendary, and snag your spot before we go on pause. Let’s make some memories before the spring thaw! 🌧️🕵️‍♀️

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/tzmcfwvxr5

Image with thanks to City of Vancouver Archives

12/10/2024

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 🎃

Discover the dark tales of Vancouver's past where real history brings real chills. Let the lamplight lead you through a world of murder, revenge, and true grit as tales of deadly fires and heartbreak come to life. Perfect for a thrilling date night out, or bring your friends!

Book now for Halloween!

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/jwy3vtaibg

11/10/2024

Are you familiar with Vancouver's "Brown Skin Beach"? The name might raise eyebrows, but its history is certainly worth exploring.

See CBC's video on the beach near Vanier Park where local people of colour enjoyed leisure time in the segregation era.

CBC's Ashley Moliere delves into the history and tells the story.

CBC Vancouver

There’s a beach in Vancouver with an eyebrow-raising nickname you may not have heard before. CBC's Ashley Moliere spent time looking into the history of "Brown Skin Beach" and why some believe we should know more about it.

30/09/2024

It's the perfect time to dive into the rich Indigenous culture and history that helps make Vancouver and British Columbia so unique.

Check out our blog to discover our top 10 list of remarkable indigenous experiences in Vancouver and BC.

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/iqt4wluhgw

27/09/2024

👻𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯", 𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯!

🧐No wait, that's actually a photo of storyteller Amy in full 1880s garb, leading her group through the cobblestones streets of Gastown. While our 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 is decidedly NOT a ghost tour, it's perfect for fans of the genre.

With its dark, gothic themes and stories steeped in real Vancouver history, it's a journey into the past that'll send chills up your spine. Join us for an unforgettable stroll through Gastown, where the truth is haunting. Secure your tickets for Halloween now, as we're sure to sell out!🕯️✨

https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/o5oo7ybfde

Gastown

27/09/2024

NEW EVENT DATES: Rescheduled to Oct 19 & 20, 11AM & 3PM

Delve into the gritty history of the 1970s and ’80s, a time when Vancouver’s West End was a cauldron of social and cultural upheaval. Walk alongside the expert himself as he shares gripping stories of unsolved murder, vigilant vice cops, s*x worker turf wars, gambling dens, and wiretapped hustlers in a neighbourhood on the brink of change.

Step inside a world where Vancouver’s vices ruled… but at what cost?

Reserve your spot now! https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/zmu8bgbrcz

Vancouver Vice West End BIA

25/09/2024

🏳️‍🌈The Forbidden Vancouver team celebrated Vancouver Pride Month with a Really Gay History Tour! Big thanks to Glenn, who led the team around Davie Village, regaling stories of our city's q***r heroes.

💗Happy Pride from the Forbidden Team!

The Really Gay History Tour runs year-round. Find out more at the link https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/ogaupxfd6y

24/09/2024

🍫𝗔 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿!

Step inside Downtown Vancouver’s iconic heritage buildings to uncover the juicy secrets of the city's past and savor the scrumptious sweet treats of today! 🤫🥐

End your adventure with an exclusive VIP tour of the Art Deco gem, the Marine Building 🏛️ Book your spot today! https://forbiddenvancouver.pulse.ly/m2itye3ybw