Travel Guides > Vancouver, BC, CA

Vancouver Travel

Long touted as one of the best cities in which to live, work, and vacation, Vancouver is truly one of Canada's shining stars. This northwestern city is so special that it was recently selected as the location for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, along with the neighboring Whistler ski area.

There's a little of something for everyone in Vancouver. Thanks to the city's location on the water, watersports abound, including boating, fishing, and even cold-water scuba diving.

If it's culture that you prefer, the museums here are excellent and the performing arts abundant. Sports lovers will find the excitement of baseball, hockey, and Canadian football to be contagious in Vancouver.

Want to go shopping? No problem! Vancouver boasts some of the best shopping in North America, from designer duds to local Canadian artwork.

Start with a visit to Stanley Park, a beautiful lush green area in the middle of downtown Vancouver. One of the city's most visited sites, you'll find a myriad of activities to enjoy here, including sunning on the beach, visiting Vancouver Aquarium, stopping to pet the animals at the Children's Farmyard, or traveling to the Nature House, where you can explore the local flora and fauna in a controlled setting. The best and most popular attraction in the park are the eight native Canadian totem poles, placed there by the tribes indigenous to the area.

Granville Island is another favorite place for both locals and guests to hang out. It's easy to charter a yacht here for a leisurely cruise or a day of fishing on the waters of Burrard Inlet or the Pacific Ocean. There's also a fascinating Model Railroad Museum full of hundreds of working model trains. Adults will enjoy a stop at the Granville Island Brewery for a tour and a taste of some of their unique brews.

One of the best things about Vancouver, Canada is its diverse neighborhoods. A stop at Chinatown is a must. Vancouver's Chinatown is the second largest in North America (San Francisco's is a bit larger) and here you'll experience real Chinese food and the opportunity to shop for hand-made products like baskets, artwork, and linens.

While in Chinatown, visit the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, built to promote relations between the people of Canada and China, and designed to represent peace and tranquility.

Just a few minutes from downtown, you'll find Vancouver's oldest attraction, the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Originally built in 1889 (but refurbished or replaced several times), this bridge spans the Capilano River and is 230 feet high and 450 feet long. Crossing the bridge can be a little scary but the view from the center is breathtaking as visitors look down on forest floor below.

Time to shop? Head for Robson Street where you'll find stores peddling designer wear by such greats as Ferragamo and Armani and international brands like Swatch and BeBe. Don't miss the little boutiques full of wonderful creations by regional designers. The food here is fine, too, and the cuisine varies from Italian to the best in Pacific Northwest seafood.

Also worth checking out: Seattle, Washington