With ocean, mountains and city all within one view, Vancouver wins most beauty contests. Situated in British Columbia, Vancouver doesn’t need makeup or alteration. Its appearance is enough to draw in visitors, but what the city contains tends to transform visitors to locals. The modern North American metropolis hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, coming to the forefront of the world’s attention. Not that the city needed such publicity for it contains that Pacific flavor, stunning location, and a wealth of things to see and do.
The reconstructed old center of Vancouver lies in the Gastown District. Cobblestone streets, cafes, and stores mix together in the most complete of fashions. Visitors looking to pick up a few curios for grandma will discover several establishments for souvenirs such as native Pacific Northwest artwork.
The city’s other areas and neighborhoods warrant exploration. Granville Island functions as the city’s regenerated formerly industrial area. Today, the Island entertains with restaurants, shops, and a popular public market. Getting there is half of the experience. Visitors load up on a tiny ferryboat to reach the artists, potters, glass blowers, concerts and outdoor events held throughout the year on Granville Island. Vancouver’s Chinatown neighborhood continues the entertainment. The large district perfumes with rich scents and a rainbow of colors. The night markets here are worth a gander, as are the Dr Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens. They serve as the first full sized classical Chinese gardens constructed outside of China.
Being a major Canadian city, Vancouver doesn’t lack museums and galleries for entertainment. The Museum of Vancouver may be the best starting point for visitors. The Museum contains over 100,000 artifacts pertaining to the city. Heading on to the Museum of Anthropology, visitors will uncover a comprehensive collection of British Columbia’s First Nations heritage. Art lovers take in the Vancouver Art Gallery for its paintings by Emily Car and other Canadian and international artists. Even marine life is represented in Vancouver. The Vancouver Aquarium hosts some notable west coast marine life.
Circling 9 kilometers along the seawall, Stanley Park allows for lazy day strolling or quick workouts. The park admires its ocean views and so too do its visitors. Strollers, cyclists, and joggers come here to maze through the network of trails. Stanley Park covers 400 hectares of parkland and rainforest right in the heart of the city. Getting outside the city center by around 20 minutes will prove satisfying at Grouse Mountain. Seen from the downtown, Grouse Mountain fills with skiers, hikers, mountain bikers, and zip-liners. For the ultimate view of Vancouver take the Grouse Mountain Skyride gondola. Ascending to 1,100 meters, the view atop covers all bases, showcasing city, mountains and ocean all in one perspective.
If you tend to get a thrill out of heights, Grouse Mountain is not the only option in the area. The Capilano Suspension Bridge remains one of the world’s longest suspended footbridges. Stretching 140 meters in length, the views of the gorge below are not for the faint of heart. Visitors gaze down 70 meters from this great height.
It is no wonder Vancouver is usually on those lists of the world’s greatest places to live. The city is one you can certainly judge by its cover of snowcapped mountains, cosmopolitan life, beaches and thick waterfront forests. That judgment turns up positive most ever time.
