Top Reasons to Visit Vancouver

TOURISM VANCOUVER PHOTO. Pretty and cosmopolitan Vancouver is Canada’s busiest seaport.

Just over the border from Washington, the modern skyscraper city of Vancouver sits on the edge of the Canadian border, in British Columbia. First settled in the 1860s during the Canadian Gold Rush, the city is now the third biggest metropolis in Canada. Vancouver is the busiest seaport in Canada and exports more cargo than any other port in North America, doing over $43 billion in exports per year.

1. The spectacular backdrop of mountain scenery, sparkling water on three sides, active waterfront and numerous beaches make Vancouver a great spot for outdoor lovers who enjoy everything from boating, bicycling, hiking and running to snow skiing at nearby slopes.

2. The city’s multi-ethnic background and wide array of cultural events also draw tourists from all over the world. Because of the diverse background of its citizens, many unique outdoor festivals are celebrated. Some include the dragon boat festival and Hellenic cultural extravaganza in June, the lantern festival and Caribbean days in July, and the Pacific National Festival in August (with over 800 events).

3. Visitors often come just to enjoy the city’s more than 200 wonderful parks and gardens. Stanley Park, at 1,000 acres, is one of the largest urban parks in the world and has works of art on display. Notable park landmarks include a display of authentic totem poles. Activities range from lawn bowling to a theater under the stars. A miniature train transports visitors through the park, and children especially enjoy the barnyard (with over 200 animals), aquarium and water park. Look for spectacular rose, rhododendron and azalea gardens, plus a carpet bedding area, where each year a picture or phrase is created in plantings of flowers.

4. Other outstanding gardens include the 55-acre Van Dusen Botanical Garden, with an Elizabethan hedge maze and children’s topiary garden; Queen Elizabeth Park, with colorful sunken gardens and glass-domed tropical Bloedel Conservatory; the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens, including, a Japanese stroll-garden and classical Chinese garden.

5. Arts play a prominent role in the city, with a variety of theater companies and dozens of galleries. Vancouver has its own symphony, opera and ballet, and music plays a prominent role throughout the city, with many venues from nightclubs to concert halls. Many now-famous punk rock, alternative rock and hip-hop bands got their start here.

6. Vancouver is the third largest film production center in North America, after Los Angeles and New York City. Actors who have spent significant time here include Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Vancouver native James Doohan (Scottie on “Star Trek”), and Jason Priestly, as well as dozens of others. Star-gazers may bump unexpectedly into celebrities at trendy restaurants or hotels throughout the city.

7. Vancouver has exceptional museums. The Museum of Anthropology at UBC showcases Pacific Northwest Indian culture. The Vancouver Museum, with its wonderful setting right next to the water, interprets area history. The Vancouver Maritime Museum includes displays on shipwrecks, the fishing industry, pirates, lighthouses and a special display on Royal Navy Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer who mapped the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Venture aboard a real schooner. Tour the Granville Island Museums, which focus on miniature ships and trains.

8. Water is a way of everyday life here, so visitors enjoy dinner cruises, fishing charters, whale-watching tours, and can take lessons in sea kayaking, scuba diving or windsurfing. Ride the Pacific Northwest version of Venice gondolas, by hiring a Native American guide for an excursion in native cedar canoes, accompanied by the singing of narrative and traditional songs. Boat rentals are also available, and ferries connect people and cars to nearby islands.

9. Expect international diversity, especially in restaurants. Visit the Chinatown Night Market to find exotic fruits and flavors, head to a waterfront bistro for great seafood, or try an African or Southeast Asian restaurant. Enroll in a cooking class at Quince, for a culinary adventure.

10. Vancouver has been ranked as one of the world’s cleanest and most livable cities. A mild climate, diverse population and excellent trolley transportation system contribute to its reputation as a great travel destination.

For more travel information: www.tourismvancouver.com, 604-683-2000.

Post by Sylvia Forbes of Fayette, Mo.

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