Introduction
Even the ample rain doesn't dampen the good times. There aren't many cities in the world that offer Vancouver's combination of big-city lifestyle and outdoor fun in such cheek-by-jowl proximity. Ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town in time for a cocktail or three.
Vancouver is still a city of new immigrants - wander the streets and you'll hear a dozen different languages. The city also attracts young professionals and artists from the eastern provinces who come here to enjoy its recreation and laid-back sophistication.
Vancouver lies in the southwestern corner of British Columbia, the southwesternmost province in Canada. It's on the Pacific coast, backed by the Coast Mountains and fronting Vancouver Island across Georgia Strait. The city is 40km (25mi) north of the US border, 73km (45mi) north of Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) and 189km (117mi) north of Seattle. Downtown and the major neighborhoods are on a small peninsula, surrounded by English Bay on the west and the Burrard Inlet on the east. To the north of Burrard Inlet lie West and North Vancouver and the Coast Mountains. Bays, inlets and river branches, as well as the Pacific coastline, are major features of the city. The downtown peninsula is separated from the southern section of the city by the narrow inlet of False Creek. The centre of downtown is Pacific Centre, a three-block complex of offices, restaurants, shops and theaters at the corner of Robson and Howe Sts. Robson and Georgia Sts (two blocks north) are the two principal northwest-southeast streets. Both run into Stanley Park, the city's largest park, which occupies the tip of the peninsula. Chinatown, the West End and other major neighborhoods are within walking distance of downtown.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT -8
Area: 107
Coordinates: 49.2742996216 latitude and -122.963066101 longitude
Population: 2100000
Languages: English and French are the country's two official languages, though the province of New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual area in the country. You will, however, notice both languages on maps, tourist brochures and product labels.The French spoken in the province of Qu é bec has a rich local vocabulary, its own idioms and sayings and a range of accents. If you speak standard French, Qu é becers will have no problem understanding you. Also note that within the province of Qu é bec, French is legally the only official language and, outside of tourist areas, English is not widely spoken.
Currency: Canadian Dollar (C$)
Daylight Saving: From second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November
Area codes: 604
Getting around There
Vancouver International Airport is the West Coast's main hub for airlines from across Canada, the US and international locales. The main intercity bus terminal is at Pacific Central Station, and trains trundle in from across Canada and the USA northwest at Pacific Central Station. You can drive from the USA and other parts of Canada to Vancouver; the major highways are the I-5 (joining with Hwy 99) from the USA, and the Trans-Canada Hwy (Hwy 1) joining with Hwy 99 from the east.
It's a breeze getting around Vancouver, with SkyTrain, Canada Line, bus and SeaBus public transportation options available. All of these services are overseen by Translink.
Weather
Vancouver has one of the mildest climates in the country. It rarely snows in the city, and when it does, for maybe a week or two over winter, it tends to melt quickly or get washed away by the rain. Conversely, it seldom gets oppressively hot. What Vancouver is guaranteed to get - by the bucketload - is wet. The surrounding mountains, which on a clear day look close enough to touch, disappear completely when the clouds settle in and the rain pours down, which can be for days on end.
Places of Interest
There aren't many cities in the world that offer Vancouver's combination of big-city lifestyle and outdoor fun in such cheek-by-jowl proximity. Ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town in time for a cocktail or three. Vancouver is still a city of new immigrants - wander the streets and you'll hear a dozen different languages. The city also attracts young professionals and artists from the eastern provinces who come here to enjoy its recreation and laid-back sophistication.
Events
Just about any month you visit Vancouver there will be a festival of some sort taking place. The city kicks off the year with an icy dip in English Bay called the Polar Bear Swim, a New Year's Day event since 1920. The city's thriving Chinatown is the center of February's Chinese New Year celebrations, which feature dancing dragons, parades and the constant crackle of firecrackers. June heats up with the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. July starts with Canada Day Celebrations on the 1st and mid-July's Vancouver Folk Music Festival is three days of concerts and workshops with some of North America's best musicians. There's also Dancing on the Edge, Theatre Under the Stars, Vancouver International Comedy Festival and the highly regarded Vancouver Chamber Music Festival. From mid-August through Labor Day, the Pacific National Exhibition offers a little bit of everything - parades, livestock shows, concerts, sporting events and carnival rides. Gay Pride Day happens the first Sunday in August. The Vancouver International Fringe Festival, held from early to mid-September, is a mix of drama, musicals, comedy and dance from around the world. Vancouver International Film Festival gets it all happening for the celluloid community. October hosts the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival, and the uniquely Vancouver tradition of the Christmas Carolship Parade brings.
Even the ample rain doesn't dampen the good times. There aren't many cities in the world that offer Vancouver's combination of big-city lifestyle and outdoor fun in such cheek-by-jowl proximity. Ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town in time for a cocktail or three.
Vancouver is still a city of new immigrants - wander the streets and you'll hear a dozen different languages. The city also attracts young professionals and artists from the eastern provinces who come here to enjoy its recreation and laid-back sophistication.
Vancouver lies in the southwestern corner of British Columbia, the southwesternmost province in Canada. It's on the Pacific coast, backed by the Coast Mountains and fronting Vancouver Island across Georgia Strait. The city is 40km (25mi) north of the US border, 73km (45mi) north of Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) and 189km (117mi) north of Seattle. Downtown and the major neighborhoods are on a small peninsula, surrounded by English Bay on the west and the Burrard Inlet on the east. To the north of Burrard Inlet lie West and North Vancouver and the Coast Mountains. Bays, inlets and river branches, as well as the Pacific coastline, are major features of the city. The downtown peninsula is separated from the southern section of the city by the narrow inlet of False Creek. The centre of downtown is Pacific Centre, a three-block complex of offices, restaurants, shops and theaters at the corner of Robson and Howe Sts. Robson and Georgia Sts (two blocks north) are the two principal northwest-southeast streets. Both run into Stanley Park, the city's largest park, which occupies the tip of the peninsula. Chinatown, the West End and other major neighborhoods are within walking distance of downtown.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT -8
Area: 107
Coordinates: 49.2742996216 latitude and -122.963066101 longitude
Population: 2100000
Languages: English and French are the country's two official languages, though the province of New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual area in the country. You will, however, notice both languages on maps, tourist brochures and product labels.The French spoken in the province of Qu é bec has a rich local vocabulary, its own idioms and sayings and a range of accents. If you speak standard French, Qu é becers will have no problem understanding you. Also note that within the province of Qu é bec, French is legally the only official language and, outside of tourist areas, English is not widely spoken.
Currency: Canadian Dollar (C$)
Daylight Saving: From second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November
Area codes: 604
Getting around There
Vancouver International Airport is the West Coast's main hub for airlines from across Canada, the US and international locales. The main intercity bus terminal is at Pacific Central Station, and trains trundle in from across Canada and the USA northwest at Pacific Central Station. You can drive from the USA and other parts of Canada to Vancouver; the major highways are the I-5 (joining with Hwy 99) from the USA, and the Trans-Canada Hwy (Hwy 1) joining with Hwy 99 from the east.
It's a breeze getting around Vancouver, with SkyTrain, Canada Line, bus and SeaBus public transportation options available. All of these services are overseen by Translink.
Weather
Vancouver has one of the mildest climates in the country. It rarely snows in the city, and when it does, for maybe a week or two over winter, it tends to melt quickly or get washed away by the rain. Conversely, it seldom gets oppressively hot. What Vancouver is guaranteed to get - by the bucketload - is wet. The surrounding mountains, which on a clear day look close enough to touch, disappear completely when the clouds settle in and the rain pours down, which can be for days on end.
Places of Interest
There aren't many cities in the world that offer Vancouver's combination of big-city lifestyle and outdoor fun in such cheek-by-jowl proximity. Ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town in time for a cocktail or three. Vancouver is still a city of new immigrants - wander the streets and you'll hear a dozen different languages. The city also attracts young professionals and artists from the eastern provinces who come here to enjoy its recreation and laid-back sophistication.
Events
Just about any month you visit Vancouver there will be a festival of some sort taking place. The city kicks off the year with an icy dip in English Bay called the Polar Bear Swim, a New Year's Day event since 1920. The city's thriving Chinatown is the center of February's Chinese New Year celebrations, which feature dancing dragons, parades and the constant crackle of firecrackers. June heats up with the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. July starts with Canada Day Celebrations on the 1st and mid-July's Vancouver Folk Music Festival is three days of concerts and workshops with some of North America's best musicians. There's also Dancing on the Edge, Theatre Under the Stars, Vancouver International Comedy Festival and the highly regarded Vancouver Chamber Music Festival. From mid-August through Labor Day, the Pacific National Exhibition offers a little bit of everything - parades, livestock shows, concerts, sporting events and carnival rides. Gay Pride Day happens the first Sunday in August. The Vancouver International Fringe Festival, held from early to mid-September, is a mix of drama, musicals, comedy and dance from around the world. Vancouver International Film Festival gets it all happening for the celluloid community. October hosts the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival, and the uniquely Vancouver tradition of the Christmas Carolship Parade brings.
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