Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, Canada (cc)

Vancouver Travel Guide

Introduction

Vancouver, as major cities go, is at the top of the heap, literally. Check any list of the top travel destinations in North America, and there it is – Vancouver! – at the very top or near the top of the chosen lot. And not only is it one of the top draws from the visitor's perspective, but it has also been polled time and time again as one of the world's most desirable cities to live in. But that really oughtn't come as a big surprise, for here is a city with skyscrapers and all the trappings of a modern metropolis, yet with a huge offering of nature escapes, both in and around the city, which is to say, on its doorstep – think skiing, mountain biking and paddling kayaks – enabling office workers to exit their workplace and hit the slopes or dirt or white-water at the end of the workday. Absolutely priceless!

Location

Vancouver is situated on the Burrard Peninsula on the west coast of Canada, in the province of British Columbia – or BC. It sits in the shadow of the snow-capped Mount Baker and the North Shore Mountains, just over the border of the United States, all but a stone's throw from Seattle, Washington.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Vancouver's biggest draw is its 1,000-acre (405-hectare) wilderness known as Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, which has lush, wooded areas and myriad trails, smack in the middle of the city – just 20 minutes from downtown! Other priorities here include the neoclassical Vancouver Art Gallery and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, both designed by Francis Rattenbury, and the Vancouver Library Square in downtown, which has echoes of the Colosseum in Rome. The city, besides, has its fair share of museums, galleries, cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, live music venues, and a healthy dose of theater, as well as well-attended international film festivals. There's also a well-regarded university here, giving the city the verve of a university town.

Main Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Party

Where to Eat

Where to Stay

Trivia

Vancouver's pride and joy is its hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks. Its most famous punk rock band is D.O.A., one of the pioneers of the genre. Its biggest bash is the Gay Pride Parade.

Know Before You Go