Vancouver Vacations, Vancouver Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Vancouver Vacation Guide

Forever near the top of those ‘top places in the world to live’ surveys, in many ways Vancouver is like city meets rugged outdoor adventure park. The entire place is less than 150 years old, and stands on the site where an Englishman once rocked up and thought it was a good idea to build a pub there. In amongst the city sights you’ll find craggy mountains, pebbled beaches, forested waterfronts and a sense that the outdoors is every bit as important as the modern, glassy city interior.

Despite it’s rustic outlook, though, Vancouver’s also a great place to wallow in luxury. From a sumptuous dining scene to spa’s you’ll be writing home about (if you’re not too relaxed to bother), you’ll be just as tempted to stay in as head out. If you do chose the latter, be sure to head up Grouse Mountain for a panoramic overview, as well as clambering over the dizzy heights of the quivering Capilano Suspension Bridge, from which you can eye the Douglas Firs and try to keep your vertigo in check 70 meters above the river.

The city’s botanical gardens are spectacular – be sure to check out the colors of the VanDusen – while you’ll find the sporadic historic influences creeping into this modern town, like trams and aging fishing boats, make for charming additions, and keep the streets interesting.

Skiing, fishing, eco-tours, snowmobiles, whale watching, skydiving and bungee jumping will keep adventure lovers happy, while the locals famed aversion to staying at home in the evenings makes for an equally alluring entertainment scene, which draws in everything from sport and rock music to dance and performance arts. The city’s symphony orchestra is particularly notable, as is the Fringe Festival, which annually welcomes a plethora of offbeat influences to Vancouver’s many stages.

The world’s about to learn all about this vibrant city, when it hosts the Winter Olympics in 2010, so if you’re planning a visit, head over soon and beat the rush, or come and join in the party itself. Once the pictures hit the world’s screens, Vancouver will no doubt become a far larger fixture on the world tourism map.