Cradled between the ocean and snow-capped mountains, Vancouver's dazzling downtown district fills a narrow peninsula bounded by Burrard Inlet to the north, English Bay to the west and False Creek to the south, with greater Vancouver sprawling south to the Fraser River. Edged around its idyllic waterfront are fine beaches, a dynamic port and a magnificent swath of parkland, not to mention the mirror-fronted ranks of skyscrapers that look across Burrard Inlet and its bustling harbour to the residential districts of North and West Vancouver. Beyond these comfortable suburbs, the Coast Mountains rise in steep, forested slopes to form a dramatic counterpoint to the downtown skyline and the most stunning of the city's many outdoor playgrounds. Small wonder, given Vancouver's surroundings, that Greenpeace was founded in the city.
Vancouver's 1.9 million residents exploit their spectacular natural setting to the hilt, and when they tire of the immediate region can travel a short distance to the unimaginably vast wilderness of the BC interior. Whether it's sailing, swimming, fishing, hiking, skiing, golf or tennis, locals barely have to move to indulge in a plethora of recreational whims. Summer and winter the city oozes hedonism and healthy living - it comes as no surprise to find that you can lounge on beaches downtown - typically West Coast obsessions that spill over into its sophisticated arts and culture . Vancouver claims a world-class museum and symphony orchestra, as well as opera, theatre and dance companies at the cutting edge of contemporary arts. Festivals proliferate throughout its mild, if occasionally rain-soaked, summer and numerous music venues provide a hotbed for up-and-coming rock bands and a burgeoning jazz scene.
Vancouver is not all pleasure, however. Business growth continues apace in Canada's third-largest city, much of its prosperity stemming from a port so laden with the raw materials of the Canadian interior - lumber, wheat and minerals - that it ranks as one of North America's largest ports, handling more dry tonnage than the West Coast ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego put together. The port in turn owes its prominence to Vancouver's much-trumpeted position as a gateway to the Far East , and its increasingly pivotal role in the new global market of the Pacific Rim.
Vancouver is not a city which offers or requires lots of relentless sightseeing. Its breathtaking physical beauty makes it a place where often it's enough just to wander and watch the world go by - "the sort of town", wrote Jan Morris, "nearly everyone would want to live in." In summer you'll probably end up doing what the locals do – if not actually sailing, hiking, skiing, fishing or whatever, then certainly going to the beach, lounging in one of the parks or spending time in waterfront cafés.
While in Vancouver, though, you will want to do some exploring. You could visit Vancouver's vibrant Chinatown, where more than 100,000 Chinese make up one of North America's largest Chinatowns. Be sure to take an easy walk east of downtown to see Gastown, which is distinguished by new cobbles, fake gas lamps, Ye Olde English Tea Room-type cafés and a generally over-polished patina. Granville Island may appeal to you, too, with its shops, markets, galleries, marina and open spaces. And your visit won't be complete without a visit to Stanley Park, one of the world's great urban spaces. At nearly 1000 acres, it's the largest urban park in North America.
Of course, you'll want to experience Vancouver's Nightlife and Entertainment scene, and you'll have several options when it comes to Performing Arts & Cinema, including the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the new Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, and the refurbished Orpheum Theatre. To read up on Vancouver's varied Eating & Drinking establishments, click here. You may be surprised that Vancouver offers Chinese, Italian, French, Greek and other Ethnic restaurants.
To learn about Festivals held in Vancouver, click here. For information on city transportation, click here. To read up on the History of Vancouver before you visit, click here. To look for and make hotel reservations in Vancouver, click through to our Hotel Search page.
Here are a few more links to help you plan your relaxing holiday toVancouver:
• Arrival Information
• City Directory
• Search for Flights into Vancouver
• Search for Vacation Rentals
At a push, you could cram the city's essentials into a couple of days. But plan to stay a little longer so you can enjoy a ferry ride across Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver or maybe a cable-car trip up Grouse Mountain for some staggering views of the city.
Previous Destinations:
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Paris, France
• Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Sydney, Australia
• Japan
• The Bahamas
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• San Diego, California