A few days ago, a friend of mine took me to her favorite hidden secret road in the city, one that goes over the bridge at Main and Alexander, winding up parallel to the train tracks and behind the buildings on along Gastown's Alexander and Water streets.
Not only does the road meander by little-known Crab Park at Portside (where you can catch sun rays or watch the water without having to jockey for a spot -- hello, Kits Beach grass patch!), you also get to see decades-old white words -- which have faded over time and which you don't see on the front -- painted on the brick buildings from way before they became contemporary live/work lofts.
It's a cool contrast between the heritage lettering and the modern spaces below them, and a pretty neat spot to cruise by on the next Lazy Sunday drive being a tourist in your own town.