Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver City

Vancouver is surrounded by beautiful rainforests, the sparkling Pacific Ocean and, most important for all winter sports enthusiasts, the majestic Rocky Mountain range.  It was originally claimed by the Spaniards back in 1592AD as part of their exploration, but April 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of this vibrant and cultural city as it is today. It is approximately 1.5 – 2hrs drive to the ski resort of Whistler from Vancouver, the city’s nearest ski resort, and the route will take you along one the worlds most awe-inspiring scenic drives – the Sea to Sky highway, which stretches from Vancouver to Whistler all along the west coast.

Vancouver is a melting pot of cultures; Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and Indian are some of the many different ethnicities living here today in the districts of Chinatown, Little Italy, and Little India. The city has been consistently rated as one of the top 5 most liveable cities in the world. 

Things to see and do

One of Vancouver’s most recent claims to fame has been the Olympics.  Vancouver was selected as the host city for the XXI Winter Games, and these were held in Whistler in February and March of 2010.  This bought much publicity and gave Vancouver the recognition as being a world famous sporting destination. Vancouver is an outdoorsy type of city, so you will always see its locals out and about, whether its fishing around the spectacular coastline, rollerblading in Stanley park or cycling around the city. As for activities and attractions, there is a wealth of things to see and do; realistically speaking, you would need at least 6 months to experience absolutely everything! So, to help you enhance your stay, we’ve selected a few of the definite must sees and do’s whilst you’re in town:

• Why not take a guided boat tour around the spectacular coastline, or enjoy a weeks  cruise up to the unspoilt territory of Anchorage, and Alaska
• If you visit Vancouver between March and October you will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to go whale watching! The waters around Vancouver are luckily enough to be the home for several  species of these amazing mammals, including the humpback whale
• For those who want a little more adventure then take a walk along the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1889 and measures 137m long and 70m high! Also part of this attraction is the new CliffWalk which takes visitors along a narrow walkway, around the granite cliff edge above Capilano Canyon.  If you can handle heights and want a birds eye view of the city then this is a must!
• For a more down to earth and perhaps even wetter experience, the Vancouver Aquarium is a fun way to see all of Canadas aquatic wildlife under 1 roof.  Its located in Stanley Park,  so you can also enjoy a walk around this natural 1000 acre beauty spot which or why not try a horse drawn carriage ride!
• If you are a more indoors type of person then you will have no problem in finding culture: Vancouver Art Gallery is a great way to experience the history of Canadian art; Science World is ideal for families and groups; theatres are aplenty throughout the city and at certain times of the year various festivals and exhibitions are held.

Eating out

You will be spoilt for choice by the variety of bars, restaurants and cafes available.  Why not try a dim sum in Chinatown, grab a locally brewed beer at Granville Island, or experience a seafood gastronomy alfresco on one of the many waterfront restaurants.  Over the years, Vancouver has been given rave reviews about the mecca of dining options.

Again these are just a small fraction of the things to see and do in Vancouver.  For more information about places to stay or for more information on this fabulous city please contact one of our North American Sales team.