Beautiful and blooming, Vancouver is one of the world's most diverse holiday hotspots with its combination of a big city vibe and outdoor pursuits galore in its beautiful, scenic setting framed by snow-capped mountains. Business is thriving in a city which houses more than two million people, and that includes many stylish shops, excellent restaurants and an exciting nightlife scene. June to October is the optimum time to visit if you want to make the most of the weather with less rain, warm temperatures and regular transportation. Those who are travelling for skiing will prefer the peak season of January-February, though resorts such as the popular Whistler destination are open all year round. Flights to Vancouver take approximately ten hours.
| Vancouver is a city that entertains by day and night.... |
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Vancouver is a city set in stunning scenery that offers an endless supply of activities for people on all budgets...
Vancouver is a brilliant family destination as it offers an endless supply of activities all year round for relatively small budgets. Though its number one attraction is as a water harbour and as a gateway to a ski resort, there's plenty for people to do who prefer to have fun off-piste. There is a laid-back sophistication to the city, which makes it popular with young business travellers and the real value of Vancouver can be found in its true diversity - with as many as twelve different languages spoken within this small area.
What to do...
The number one attraction of Vancouver is unquestionably the mountain backdrop and the excellent ski resorts in the area. Grouse Mountain is the most popular among locals and is open year-round. The Super Sky-ride is an experience in itself as you travel up 3,700ft above sea level. Along with the magnificent views at the top of the mountain, you can experience the 'Theatre in the Sky' presentation about Vancouver, while mountain biking is also popular along the side of the mountain. Vancouver is also just two hours away from the Whistler resort, with its incredible Blackcomb mountains.
Away from the slopes, Vancouver's Chinatown is a bustling tourist centre with many unusual shops and the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is a quiet area filled with walkways and water features that acts as a soothing sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the main town area.
There are many museums and art galleries to enjoy throughout Vancouver including the Museum of Anthropology, which focuses on art and artefacts around the area. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre contains nearly 9,000 sea creatures, while the Vancouver art gallery in the downtown area has many contemporary and historical exhibitions. Meanwhile, if you want to pack in all that the city has to offer with just one glance then head to The Lookout with its awesome 360 degree views.
Gastown can be found in the centre of Vancouver and can be seen as a track back to the olden days with cobbled streets, Victorian architecture, boutiques and restaurants. There are daily walking tours of the area that can be taken at 2pm, which begin at 'Gassy Jack', a statue in Maple Tree Square.
Vancouver is a city that entertains by day and night, and even the rainfall doesn't dampen the spirits. Sports and live music are the most popular form of entertainment though there are many bars and clubs, such as Irish Heather in the Gastown area, with an authentic Irish vibe, Sonar, the city's premier club and Bacchus, which is cutting-edge and sophisticated.
The music stores in Vancouver are fascinating and contain great bargains. The downtown area is the shopping hotspot with areas including Canadian Maple Delights, which is a café that contains many maple associated goodies and John Fluevog which showcases the work of Vancouver's most famous shoe stylist, with many of his creations housed in the Toronto Shoe Museum.
From its harbour you can head to Victoria Island, which has an authentic British vibe. Victoria Island is full of attractions with whale and wildlife watching particularly popular - the best time to see the grey whales is during March and April. There are many cruise ships exploring small bays like Nanaimo and Alert Bay, along with departures to Alaska. Victoria is world renowned for its gardens and in particular the Butchart Gardens with its vast range of colours and varieties. There are also many museums including the Royal British Columbia, which has many special exhibitions.
