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VENTURE TO VANCOUVER

Whether you arrive by car, plane, train, or cruise ship, you’ll quickly realize that Vancouver is one of North America’s most cosmopolitan cities. Located in the southwest corner of British Columbia (the westernmost of Canada’s ten provinces), the city of Vancouver is on the western end of a peninsula that is a major extension of the Fraser River’s delta--which juts into the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. border is just 24 miles south of downtown Vancouver, but this city is so Canadian.

Vancouver’s climate is among the mildest found in Canada. From late spring to fall, the days are typically warm and sunny--making for an ideal time to visit. However, winter is also a popular time to head to Vancouver--especially if you ski or enjoy other snow-oriented activities in the nearby mountains.

Canada Place

Located at the busy Port of Vancouver, Canada Place is a great place to start an exploration of downtown Vancouver. From spring to fall, more than 10 cruise ship lines use Vancouver as the convenient starting point for Alaskan cruises. These vessels are typically heading to Alaska along the easterly coast of a long string of islands up the British Columbia coast--through a waterway generally known as the Inside Passage. Many smart passengers also choose a pre- or post-cruise stay in Vancouver.

Canada Place is quite convenient, in that it’s located in Vancouver’s downtown core near the foot of busy Burrard Street. Appropriately enough, this Vancouver landmark was built to look like a ship with five stylized masts and sails.

Originally opened in 1986 and with a design often copied worldwide, sprawling Canada Place now includes the cruise terminal, a convention center, and the IMAX Theatre. The Pan Pacific Hotel at its “stern” rises like the superstructure of the cruise ships that dock alongside it.

Take a Walk

From Canada Place, it’s easy to explore downtown and many of Vancouver’s attractions by foot. The Vancouver Touristinfo Centre, located just across from Canada Place at the Plaza Level of 200 Burrard Street, is a great place to stop for lots of information--as well as attraction ticket discounts, currency exchange, hotel bookings, and more. Their “100 Days of Summer” calendar and brochure is a great way to get an overview of Vancouver’s sightseeing and super special events. For more information, call (604) 683-2000 or visit: www.tourismvancouver.com.

Staff members at the tourist office will likely recommend getting a great 360-degree aerial overview from nearby Vancouver Lookout! Harbour Centre Tower 581 feet above downtown (it’s the tallest in the city and province). Back down on ground level (thanks to a quick 50-second elevator ride each way), it’s just a short stroll to historic Gastown, the birthplace of Vancouver.

Gastown

Named after a talkative Yorkshire-born saloon owner, John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, Gastown is best known for it’s Steam Clock, which provides a whistle and steam show every 15 minutes (it used to play “Oh Canada,” but no longer does). Gastown also features local galleries of native art, photography, and local artisans, Storyeum (“The Theatre Under the Cars” highlights Canada’s west coast history with live theatrical presentations on unique underground stages), and several excellent restaurants--plus lots of gas lanterns to lead the way past information plaques placed strategically along the street to explain the history behind various buildings and landmarks.

All the Tea in Vancouver

Next, it’s a short walk to Vancouver’s sprawling Chinatown, which is the third largest in North America (behind San Francisco and New York City). Visitors and residents alike head to Chinatown to peer in the steamy windows of won-ton houses or the meat stores hung with displays of crimson Chinese barbecued ducks, as well as exploring the small stalls selling exotic Chinese teas, roots, jade, silk, and novelties. The street signs and much of the neon are bilingual, making exploration relatively easy (Pender and Keefer are two top streets to stroll, smell, and stare).

For a break from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, head for the peaceful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at 578 Carrall Street. Built at a cost of more than $5.3 million back in 1986, the garden was the first full-scale classical Chinese garden built outside China. More than 50 skilled artisans came from China with materials and traditional tools to build this retreat in 13 months.

A visit to Chinatown wouldn’t be complete without a traditional lunch or dinner at one of the numerous restaurants. The 1,000-seat Floata Restaurant (the largest in the country), Hon’s Wun-Tun House (casual), and wild rice (contemporary Chinese) are three tasty choices. Of course, any meal in Vancouver’s Chinatown will be enhanced by a cup or three of tea!

Science World British Columbia is nearby, with hands-on exhibits, cyclone chambers, shadow walls, and the OMNIMAX Theatre among many highlights at the province’s premier science center. From here, it’s easy to board the water taxi for a short ride over to got-to-see Granville Island (it’s also less than a two mile stroll along a waterfront boardwalk).

Go to Granville Island

Famed for the Granville Island Public Market featuring seafood, fresh produce, and much more, Granville Island also offers lots of artist’s studios, craft galleries, other varied shopping, and many interesting restaurants. Those with certain special interests might want to check out the Granville Island Model Ships Museum or the Granville Island Model Trains Museum (both in one location)--plus, Canada’s first microbrewery, Granville Island Brewing.

Heading back across Granville Bridge and along Granville Street, Robson Street is the place to head for some serious shopping, dining, and people-watching. Many locals and visitors call Robson Street “Rodeo Drive North.”

Robson Street leads to sprawling Stanley Park, which Vancouver visitors and locals all love. Highlights of this 1,000-acre forested park have to include: horse-drawn tours; stroll or bike the 6.5-mile Seawall; the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre (Canada’s largest aquarium); the views from Prospect Point; and the beaches of English Bay. Much of Stanley Park’s design was based on the planning principles of Frederick Law Olmsted--designer of New York City’s Central Park.

Head for the Mountains

Those spending more time in Vancouver will want to head for the mountains. The famed winter resorts of British Columbia are also quite popular outdoors spots from spring to fall. One of the easiest ways to check out Vancouver’s close mountains is to take the Grouse Mountain Skyride from up 2,800 feet in less than ten minutes. Those with more time will certainly want to head north to world-renowned Whistler Mountain (one of the venues for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics). Whistler is reached in 90 minutes along the stunning Sea to Sky Highway.